O

Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Global pharma maker of Abilify

Senior Manager - Travel and Expense

Full-Time
$150k - $224.3k/yr+ Incentive opportunity
Senior
Bachelor's
Princeton, NJ, USA
HybridHybrid schedule required.
Operations & LogisticsProcurement & Sourcing

About the job

Requirements
  • Experience managing complex programs and stakeholder relationships.
  • Experience managing outside companies, travel programs, and corporate card programs.
  • Experience with SAP Concur or similar expense management platforms.
  • Strong understanding of financial controls, compliance requirements, and governance practices.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills, especially with benchmarking and effectively summarizing and presenting insights.
  • Strong creative thinking skills focused on developing innovative solutions to solve complex problems and quantify financial benefits for identified opportunities and initiatives.
  • Ability to effectively create and implement business processes and related metrics across organizational boundaries.
  • A Bachelor's Degree is required.
  • Seven or more years of experience in Finance Operations, Shared Services, Procurement, or related areas.
Responsibilities
  • Lead day-to-day operations of the Travel & Expense program.
  • Ensure consistent application of policies, controls, and processes.
  • Monitor program performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Resolve complex issues and escalations related to travel, expense, and payment activities.
  • Support the development and execution of program strategies and initiatives.
  • Oversee approximately $30 million in travel spend and $95 million in corporate card spend.
  • Maintain financial controls and governance across all Travel & Expense activities.
  • Partner with Finance on reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and spend analysis.
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies.
  • Support audit readiness and compliance objectives.
  • Oversee expense audit processes, including AppZen administration and governance.
  • Monitor compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Identify risk trends and partner with stakeholders to implement corrective actions.
  • Support internal and external audits as required.
  • Manage escalations involving policy violations, audit findings, and compliance concerns.
  • Serve as the business owner of the SAP Concur platform.
  • Lead system governance, configuration management, and enhancement activities.
  • Partner with Information Technology on integrations, upgrades, testing, and system improvements.
  • Evaluate and prioritize enhancement requests.
  • Drive automation and user experience improvements.
  • Manage relationships with travel and expense-related vendors, including airlines, hotels, car rental suppliers, card providers, travel management companies, expense technology providers, and duty-of-care partners.
  • Conduct regular business reviews with vendors.
  • Monitor service levels and vendor performance.
  • Support contract negotiations and renewal activities.
  • Drive supplier initiatives that improve traveler experience and program value.
  • Lead employee and manager training initiatives related to Travel & Expense programs.
  • Promote policy awareness, compliance, and adoption of best practices.
  • Develop communication strategies supporting program changes and enhancements.
  • Reinforce manager accountability within the expense approval process.
  • Continuously enhance training materials and user support resources.
  • Partner with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Human Resources, and Information Technology.
  • Support governance committees and stakeholder meetings.
  • Lead cross-functional projects and process improvement initiatives.
  • Drive alignment across stakeholders to support program objectives.
  • Act as a key resource and subject matter expert for Travel & Expense matters.
  • Provide support for executive travel and expense-related needs.
  • Manage high-touch requests and escalations.
  • Build strong relationships with executive assistants and leadership teams.
  • Ensure timely resolution of executive-related issues.
  • Identify and implement process improvements.
  • Leverage reporting and analytics to drive decision-making.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends.
  • Support program modernization and operational excellence initiatives.
  • Develop scalable processes that support organizational growth.
Desired Qualifications
  • Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing process flows.
  • Experience serving as a business owner for SAP Concur or similar enterprise systems.
  • Experience managing corporate card and travel programs.
  • Vendor management and contract negotiation experience.
  • Experience working with Compliance, Audit, Legal, and Information Technology functions.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Proven ability to build scalable processes and operational frameworks.
  • Finance, Engineering, or Business discipline.

About the company

Otsuka Pharmaceutical develops and markets medicines and health products worldwide, including prescription drugs and nutraceutical beverages. Its product lineup ranges from pharmaceutical treatments such as Abilify (an antipsychotic) to consumer health drinks like Pocari Sweat, which helps replenish electrolytes. Abilify works as a psychiatric medication used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while Pocari Sweat is an ion-replacement beverage designed to restore minerals and fluids after activity or heat. The company differentiates itself through a long history dating back to its founding in 1921, a broad, globally scaled portfolio spanning drugs and health beverages, and a focus on health improvements across populations. Its stated goal is to create new products for better health worldwide.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

Founded

1921

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • VOYXACT's August 2026 two-year data supports a supplemental FDA approval filing.
  • Transcend acquisition closed June 15, 2026, adding a differentiated neuropsychiatry pipeline.
  • Paradise renal denervation gained Japan insurance coverage March 1, 2026, accelerating sales.

What critics are saying

  • Abilify patents keep expiring through 2027, pressuring a legacy revenue engine.
  • Otsuka v Sun Pharma in Australia threatens ABILIFY MAINTENA patent-extension protection.
  • Transcend's PTSD asset, TSND-201, reaches Phase 3 completion only in late 2027.

What makes Otsuka Pharmaceutical unique

  • Otsuka pairs pharmaceuticals, devices, and diagnostics across renal, psychiatric, and cardiovascular care.
  • SIMTRIYO, approved July 23, 2026, is the first approved NDSRI for ADHD.
  • VOYXACT delivered 24-month eGFR stabilization, strengthening Otsuka's IgA nephropathy leadership.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Assistance

Paid Holidays

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
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Sep 20th, 2026
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Otsuka America, Inc., a subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has completed the acquisition of Transcend Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a rapid-acting treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is the latest in a series of investments Otsuka has made to advance next-generation treatments for serious neuropsychiatric conditions.

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Jul 25th, 2026
FDA approves Otsuka's Simtriyo, first-in-class ADHD treatment for adults and children 6+

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Otsuka Pharmaceutical has acquired Transcend Therapeutics for $700 million upfront through its subsidiary Otsuka America, with potential milestone payments of up to $525 million. The deal gives Otsuka access to Transcend's MDMA analogue for psychiatric conditions currently in development.