From EY and Tax to FP&A at Eli Lilly, And What Came Next for David Wheeler - Candidate Spotlight #10

In this episode of The Offer Letter – Candidate Spotlight, I sit down with David Wheeler, a finance leader whose career spans public accounting at Ernst & Young and nearly a decade at Eli Lilly, where he progressed from global tax into senior FP&A roles supporting research, clinical development, and large-scale operations.David walks through the early foundation he built at EY, what drew him into corporate finance, and the cultural shift from public accounting into a global biopharma organization. We unpack how his tax background became a strategic advantage in FP&A, particularly in scenario planning, forecasting, and influencing decisions in highly complex, matrixed environments.We also dive deep into David’s time at Eli Lilly, including his experience partnering with senior leaders, implementing new financial tools, navigating vendor relationships, and building trust across teams. Throughout the conversation, David shares candid insights on mentorship, leadership, and what it takes to influence without formal authority.Finally, David reflects on his decision to take a planned sabbatical, what that time away helped him clarify about his professional identity, and how he’s thinking about the next chapter of his finance career.This episode is especially relevant for professionals considering a transition from tax or accounting into FP&A and for leaders interested in how strategic finance partners create impact beyond the numbers.If you want to connect with David reach out to him on LinkedIn