Associate Director, Research Labs Center of Excellence

Job Description

Our company is committed to being the world’s premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company.  Our company's Research Laboratories drives breakthrough science through drug discovery, development and clinical evaluation that radically changes approaches to medical need.  Finance is a trusted business partner, playing a critical role in ensuring effective resource utilization to achieve this mission. This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure and contribute to the R&D engine that drives our company's biopharmaceutical business.

The Associate Director, Financial Planning & Analysis for our Research Labs Finance is responsible for providing timely and effective management reporting and financial analysis for the consolidated portfolio. The Associate Director is responsible for consolidating the research & development division results to create high-quality, on time, and accurate deliverables to all stakeholders for monthly and quarterly close results, periodic forecasts and tallies, various survey and government reporting, with a focus on accurately identifying, analyzing, and articulating key performance drivers.

The Associate Director’s role will leverage and utilize digital, automation and analytical tools with a continuous improvement mindset. This position reports to the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis in this division.

Position Description:

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

Primary oversight for the monthly Close process including: Divisional tie out with Corporate, completion of all divisional reporting requirements to Corporate Financial Services, Global Controllers, external auditors and other internal/external stakeholders.

Responsible for performing detailed expense analysis in support of research & development division labs management reporting; leverage data to drive analyses of business growth drivers and trends and support Close Optimization initiatives

Manage quarterly alignment (Tally) submissions

Ensure full compliance with the accounting requirements and to maintain sound financial internal control environment

Partnering with the FS Project Accounting team, Research & Development Division Finance  subdivision leads, Tax Department and other areas outside of this divisions' financial services.

Responsible for the timely and accurate submission of various reports and surveys. Examples include PhRMA, KMR, G-Finder, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) etc.

Serve as the divisional GOA (Grant of Authority) lead for the division

Serve as the Finance COE liaison for digital enablement, partnering across teams to identify, prioritize, and advance opportunities to leverage digital tools, automation, and analytics that improve planning, reporting, and decision-making processes

Lead forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting activities for the Administration sub-organization, ensuring accurate expense planning and timely variance analysis

Provide financial guidance and conduct ad-hoc analyses as needed to continuously improve the visibility and accuracy of financial planning and reporting

This position reports to the Director, Financial Planning, Reporting and Analysis (FP&A) COE.

This FS COE role is a unique opportunity to:

Gain end-to-end exposure to the drug development process and the R&D pipeline while building relevant business experience supporting a division

Develop insights into the research & development division pipeline, prioritization process and program funding

Further develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills

Build proficiency in financial systems, including BPC, SAP, FCCS, FSA and Power BI

Increase network through engagement with business partners (Corporate, Legal, Market Access, GPAM, Tax, etc.) as well as with the functional area experts within Research & Development Finance and beyond

Education:

Minimum B.A./B.S., in Finance/Accounting, Business, Science or Engineering.

MBA or CPA Preferred

Required Experience and Skills:

Minimum of 5 years of work experience in finance, accounting, or financial analysis or similar role.

Strong financial acumen with a focus on accuracy and attention to detail

Strong computer skills especially working with SAP, BPC, Excel, PowerPoint, AI digital tools (i.e. CoPilot/Gemini)

Experience in analyzing issues and trends and problem-solving accordingly

Excellent communications skills with the ability to interact professionally with all levels within the Research & Development Division and Finance organizations while maintaining a strong customer focus

Solid team player with strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks with tight and competing deadlines

Highly motivated and proactive approach to problem solving and ability to deal with ambiguous questions

Passion and intellectual curiosity of the R&D process

Required Skills:

Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Preparation of Financial Reports, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits .

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only:  We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only:  We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

08/31/2026 *A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE  the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:R413322