Global Head of GBSO
About this role
Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.
Lonza is seeking a senior leader to head its Global Business Services Organization (GBSO) for Finance, with full accountability for delivering high-quality, standardized, and efficient finance services at enterprise scale. This role owns end-to-end global finance operations across Order-to-Cash, Source-to-Pay, and Record-to-Report, leading a 300+ person organization structured in global process towers.
Operating within a multi-location shared services model across the UK, Costa Rica, and India, the role partners closely with the Lonza Capability Centre to ensure world-class service delivery, scalability, and operational excellence. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Finance, the GBSO acts as the global functional owner for Finance services, driving performance, governance, and continuous improvement across regions.
Beyond core transactional finance, the role leads strategic value creation through global service towers, including Finance Legal Entity Representation, SAR Controlling, and a Finance Centre of Excellence covering SAP access, finance applications, master data governance, and corporate finance project delivery. A key mandate is to modernize finance operations through digitalization and AI, positioning Finance as a high-impact, future-ready global service organization.
Responsibilities
- Set and execute the global Finance Shared Services strategy aligned to Lonza’s enterprise goals
- Act as global functional owner for Finance services with clear governance, KPIs, and accountability
- Partner with the Lonza Capability Centre to align service delivery capabilities and infrastructure
- Ensure high‑quality, efficient global delivery across O2C, S2P, R2R, FLER, SAR, and Finance CoE
- Drive global standardization, simplification, and continuous performance improvement
- Lead Finance Shared Services transformation through digitalization, automation, AI, and analytics
- Ensure strong financial governance, controls, and regulatory compliance across all regions
- Oversee Finance Legal Entity Representation and serve as primary audit interface
- Act as a trusted partner to senior Finance, business platforms, and corporate stakeholders
- Lead and develop a high‑performing global leadership team, delivering measurable cost, quality, and value outcomes
- Key Requirements
- 15+ years’ experience within shared services, consulting / Finance
- Advanced degree in Finance and/or Business Administration. MBA preferred
- Proven experience with end-to-end accountability for finance process delivery in an operational environment
- Proven leader of large, complex, global organizations operating in matrix environments
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into execution and measurable outcomes
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise‑wide transformation, including process redesign and change management
- Influential leader able to drive alignment and results without direct authority across functions and geographies
- Strong project and change management capability, delivering multiple, complex initiatives in parallel
- Digitally savvy with hands‑on experience leveraging automation, AI, analytics, and modern finance technologies
- Deep finance and business acumen with end‑to‑end ownership of core finance processes (O2C, S2P, R2R)
- Solid understanding of financial governance, controls, compliance, and regulatory requirements
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with senior leadership and business partners
- People‑focused leader committed to talent development, cultural inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.
- People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world — the satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.
- Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.