Forecast Analyst, Clinical Trial Payments & Cost Forecasting

Job Overview

IQVIA is seeking a Forecast Analyst to join the Investigator Cost Forecasting team. This role is responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing financial forecasts related to clinical trial investigator payments and study costs. The Forecast Analyst serves as a subject matter expert for forecasting activities, partnering with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure accurate financial projections throughout the clinical trial lifecycle.

The successful candidate will prepare and deliver forecast reports, analyze forecast performance against actual study data, maintain forecasting assumptions, and support ongoing enhancements to forecasting processes and systems. This role combines financial analysis, clinical trial knowledge, stakeholder management, and data-driven decision making to support operational excellence and client satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Forecast Development & Analysis

• Develop and maintain forecasting assumptions for assigned clinical trials.
• Build and manage investigator payment and study cost forecasts throughout the duration of a study.
• Analyze forecast outputs and validate results against actual payment and operational data.
• Identify forecast variances and recommend adjustments to improve accuracy.
• Support financial forecasting, accrual reporting, and budget analysis activities.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with internal teams and external clients to understand study-specific forecasting requirements.
• Gather and interpret information needed to support forecast development and ongoing maintenance.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for forecasting-related questions and reporting requests.
• Communicate forecast assumptions, methodologies, and findings to stakeholders.

Reporting & Data Management

• Produce, review, and distribute forecast reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and analyze ad hoc reports to support business and client needs.
• Work with technology teams to ensure accurate implementation of forecast assumptions and reporting requirements.
• Leverage reporting and business intelligence tools to analyze trends and provide insights.

Process Improvement

• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to forecasting methodology, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in testing and implementation of forecast enhancements and system improvements.
• Contribute to standardization efforts and best practices within the Investigator Cost Forecasting team.
• Support operational excellence initiatives across the organization.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with special projects and business initiatives as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Statistics, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience

• 2–3 years of relevant experience in financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, or clinical trial operations.
• Experience developing, maintaining, and analyzing financial forecasts.
• Experience working with large datasets and performing data validation and reconciliation.

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge of clinical trial processes, including investigator contracts, site payments, and essential site documentation.
• Experience with financial forecasting, accrual reporting, and budget analysis.
• Experience using business intelligence and reporting platforms such as MicroStrategy, Spotfire, Business Objects, or similar tools.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, formulas, data analysis, and reporting.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with a customer-focused mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other business systems.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies, reporting tools, and forecasting systems.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing business needs.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivers accurate and timely clinical trial payment and cost forecasts.
• Maintains high-quality forecasting assumptions and reporting outputs.
• Builds strong partnerships with stakeholders and effectively addresses forecasting inquiries.
• Identifies opportunities to improve forecasting accuracy and efficiency.
• Contributes to continuous process improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. …