Senior Project Manager – Budgeting & Financial Operations

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to provide dedicated budgeting and financial coordination support for a highly confidential, enterprise-wide initiative.

This role will support budget planning, tracking, forecasting, financial reporting, and related project coordination activities. The Senior Project Manager will partner closely with the project core team, PMO, Finance, Procurement, global stakeholders, third-party vendors, and external agencies to ensure assigned project funds are effectively managed.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in budget management, financial operations, forecasting, project management, and cross-functional stakeholder coordination, preferably within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another highly regulated industry.

Work Schedule

• Location: 100% Remote
• Hours: 30–40 hours per week; flexible
• Schedule: EST business hours, generally between 8:00 AM–5:00 PM or 9:00 AM–5:00 PM EST
• Travel: Limited; potentially 1–2 times per year

Scope of Work & Core Responsibilities

Budget Tracking & Administration

• Maintain and update budget trackers and related financial records.
• Track planned, committed, actual, and forecasted spend across supported workstreams.
• Monitor budget availability for internal teams, third-party vendors, and agency partners.
• Identify and flag potential budget overages, funding gaps, and timing risks.
• Maintain accurate documentation supporting project-related financial activities.

Forecasting & Variance Analysis

• Support recurring budget forecasting and reforecasting cycles.
• Analyze variances between budgeted, forecasted, committed, and actual spend.
• Identify changes in financial assumptions, emerging risks, and opportunities for reforecasting.
• Recommend solutions to address budget risks, discrepancies, or changing project requirements.
• Support financial scenario planning as needed, including potential advertising and external announcement costs.

Reporting & Leadership Materials

• Prepare budget summaries, dashboards, status reports, and financial presentations.
• Develop materials for leadership, Finance partners, budget review meetings, and executive updates.
• Maintain clear documentation of budget changes, assumptions, approvals, and outstanding action items.
• Respond to ad hoc reporting and financial analysis requests related to project budgeting.
• Translate complex budget information into clear and actionable insights for stakeholders and leadership.

Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Partner closely with the project core team, PMO, Finance, Procurement, and other key enterprise stakeholders.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, finance partners, procurement contacts, vendors, and agency representatives to gather required financial inputs.
• Follow up on outstanding invoices, estimates, Statements of Work (SOWs), and other budget-related documentation.
• Assist with aligning financial and budget information across global teams and external partners.
• Communicate budget issues, risks, dependencies, and required actions to project leadership in a timely manner.
• Manage multiple budgets, projects, and workstreams simultaneously while maintaining established timelines and financial objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• 7 years of experience supporting budgets, financial operations, project management, procurement, agency management, or related business functions.
• Experience supporting annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes.
• Demonstrated ability to identify budget risks and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Experience tracking and reconciling planned, committed, actual, and forecasted spend.
• Strong experience with financial variance analysis and reconciliation.
• Experience preparing budget summaries, dashboards, financial reports, and leadership presentations.
• Ability to manage multiple budgets, projects, or workstreams simultaneously.
• Experience partnering with external agencies, vendors, Procurement, and Finance teams.
• Proven track record of managing projects involving multiple stakeholders across functions and geographic regions.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve project objectives within established timelines and budgets.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with SAP, Ariba, Power BI, or similar financial and reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience supporting large-scale, confidential, or enterprise-level initiatives.
• Experience working across global and cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing budgets involving third-party vendors and external agencies.

Key Competencies

• Budget planning and financial management
• Forecasting and reforecasting
• Variance analysis and reconciliation
• Financial reporting and dashboard development
• Senior-level project management
• Cross-functional stakeholder management
• Vendor and agency coordination
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Exceptional collaboration skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Proactive problem-solving
• Ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously