Job Description

Finance Manager, Operations and Global Functions

Do you enjoy using financial insight to shape decisions and improve business performance?

Do you enjoy partnering with senior stakeholders across global functions to turn financial insights into sound business decisions?

About our Team

This role is part of the Elsevier Business Decision Support (BDS) team and reports to the Finance Director, Operations and Global Functions. The BDS team serves as a strategic and financial partner to business leadership, enabling better decision-making and driving improved financial performance by translating financial and operational data into forward-looking insights, constructive challenge and actionable recommendations.

About the Role

As our Finance Manager – Operations & Global Functions, you’ll be a trusted finance partner to senior leaders, helping them manage costs, make sound financial decisions, and shape and deliver their longer-term plans.

You’ll support Operations and Global Functions leadership across areas including HR, Strategy, Global Communications and Marketing. You’ll lead budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis for operating expenses and direct costs, turning financial information into clear recommendations and practical actions.

As our business moves from traditional workflows towards agentic AI-enabled ways of working, you’ll help leaders understand the financial impact of that change. You’ll model the opportunities, reflect them in forecasts, and monitor outcomes so the business can make informed decisions and adjust course when needed.

This hands-on role is suited to an experienced finance professional with strong business acumen, a solid understanding of operational cost drivers and direct-cost management, and the ability to independently partner with and influence senior stakeholders in an international environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted finance partner to senior leaders across Operations and Global Functions, developing a deep understanding of business priorities, operational processes and underlying cost drivers to support effective decision-making.
• Take end-to-end ownership of financial planning and performance for assigned areas, including budgeting, rolling forecasts and long-term planning, ensuring robust assumptions, reliable financial outlooks and clear accountability for risks and opportunities.
• Translate financial and operational data into actionable insights, explaining performance drivers, anticipating developments, identifying risks and opportunities, and proactively recommending actions to improve financial outcomes.
• Provide independent financial challenge and decision support, evaluating alternatives, developing business cases and scenarios, and influencing strategic and operational decisions through sound financial judgement.
• Drive direct-cost transparency and productivity improvements, developing a thorough understanding of cost structures, operational volumes, unit economics and efficiency drivers to identify, quantify and monitor opportunities for sustainable cost improvement.
• Support business transformation and AI-enabled workflows, modelling the financial impact of operational and technology changes, incorporating agreed initiatives into financial plans and monitoring the delivery of expected benefits.
• Ensure high standards of financial integrity and control, including accurate reporting, robust forecasting, appropriate accruals, effective cost governance and timely resolution of financial issues.
• Proactively lead the financial agenda across assigned areas, engaging stakeholders, challenging assumptions, communicating clear financial narratives and driving agreed actions through to completion.

Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification in Finance, Business, Economics or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. Professional qualifications such as CA, CMA or MBA (Finance) are valued.
• At least five years of relevant experience in finance business partnering, FP&A, performance consulting or financial advisory, preferably within an international corporate environment, with a proven track record of independently supporting senior stakeholders and owning financial planning for a significant business scope.
• Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial performance analysis, management reporting and cost management, including direct costs.
• A proactive, self-driven approach, with demonstrated ability to take end-to-end ownership of complex financial responsibilities, anticipate issues, identify opportunities and deliver results independently.
• Proven ability to understand complex operational processes and cost structures, identify the underlying drivers of financial performance and translate business developments into actionable financial insights and recommendations.
• Experience in scenario planning, investment appraisal, business case development and financial modelling, ideally supporting business transformation or technology-driven initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, sound financial judgement and a solid understanding of accounting principles, financial governance and controls, with the confidence to constructively challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial planning, reporting and analytical tools. Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, Hyperion, Anaplan or Power BI is an advantage.
• Excellent communication, analytical and organisational skills, with fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively across functions, geographies and time zones.

Work in a way that works for you

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long-term goals.

• Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive

Working for you

We know that your wellbeing and happiness are key to a long and successful career. These are some of the benefits we are delighted to offer:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Covers you, your immediate family, and parents.
• Enhanced Health Insurance Options: Competitive rates negotiated by the company.
• Group Life Insurance: Ensuring financial security for your loved ones.
• Group Accident Insurance: Extra protection for accidental death and permanent disablement.
• Flexible Working Arrangement: Achieve a harmonious work-life balance.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access support for personal and work-related challenges.
• Medical Screening: Your well-being is a top priority.
• Modern Family Benefits: Maternity, paternity, and adoption support.
• Long-Service Awards: Recognizing dedication and commitment.
• New Baby Gift: Celebrating the joy of parenthood.
• Subsidized Meals in Chennai: Enjoy delicious meals at discounted rates.
• Various Paid Time Off: Take time off with Casual Leave, Sick Leave, Privilege Leave, Compassionate Leave, Special Sick Leave, and Gazetted Public Holidays.
• Free Transport pick up and drop from the home -office - home (applies in Chennai)

About the Business

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world’s grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.

We know your well-being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click here to access benefits specific to your location.

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We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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