Assoc. Dir., Fin. Planning & Analysis

Job Description

Position Summary

The APSA Regional Manufacturing Finance Lead serves as the primary finance business partner to the regional manufacturing organization, providing strategic financial leadership across Animal Health Technology Solutions Manufacturing sites in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and China. This role leads a geographically dispersed team of site finance professionals and is accountable for driving financial performance, supporting strategic investments, optimizing manufacturing network efficiency, strengthening working capital and inventory management, and delivering sustainable productivity improvements aligned with long-term business objectives.

Beyond operational finance leadership, the role strengthens ecosystem stability and advances continuous improvement in master data management, process harmonization, and digital capabilities across the manufacturing network.

Working closely with Site, Regional, and Global Manufacturing Leadership Teams, Regional Commercial Leadership, Global Strategy, Supply Chain, Procurement, Technical Operations, and Global Manufacturing Finance, this role provides data-driven insights, proactively manages risks and opportunities, supports critical business decisions, and ensures strong financial stewardship, spending discipline, and alignment with company policies and financial controls across the APSA manufacturing network.

Location: Flexible within the APSA region, with the ability to support time zones across New Zealand and South Africa and collaborate effectively with US and European teams as required.

Number of Assigned Employees: 3

Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

Strategic Business Partnering

• Act as the primary finance partner to Regional Manufacturing Leadership Team.
• Provide financial insights to support strategic manufacturing decisions, network optimization, capacity planning, product sourcing, localization, and site expansion initiatives.
• Influence business decisions through data-driven analysis, scenario modeling, and clear financial recommendations.
• Drive standardization and digitalization of manufacturing finance processes across sites.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Lead annual budget, rolling forecast, and long-range planning processes for regional manufacturing operations.
• Analyze operational performance and key cost drivers to support transparent business reviews.
• Drive manufacturing cost control by monitoring factory expenses, challenging cost assumptions, and partnering with site teams to improve spending discipline and cost efficiency.
• Identify risks and opportunities and recommend practical mitigation actions.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and insightful regional management reporting and site-level financial reviews on monthly basis.

Manufacturing Performance Management

• Monitor manufacturing KPIs and financial metrics across the regional site network.
• Drive accountability through performance reviews, action tracking, and follow-up with site teams.
• Support site productivity and continuous improvement initiatives.

Costing & Inventory Management

• Oversee standard costing and inventory valuation processes in partnership with COSI and site finance.
• Partner with operations and supply chain teams to improve inventory health and working capital performance.
• Support product cost accuracy and productivity review.

Capital Investment & Business Cases

• Evaluate capital expenditure projects and manufacturing investments.
• Develop robust financial models and investment business cases.
• Assess return on investment, financial value creation, and strategic alignment of key initiatives.
• Support post-investment performance monitoring and benefit tracking.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing regional manufacturing finance team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Coach and mentor finance professionals to strengthen business partnering capabilities.
• Build strong relationships with site finance teams and regional stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, ACCA, or MBA preferred.

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive finance experience, preferably in a regional, manufacturing, or multi-site environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing regional teams or multi-site organizations
• Demonstrated experience partnering with stakeholders across other organizations
• Planning / forecasting and accounting experience required
• Preference for experience in manufacturing finance, FP&A, cost accounting, or plant controllership.
• Pharmaceutical, Animal Health or Technology Manufacturing industry experience preferred.

Technical Competencies

• Financial planning, forecasting, and management reporting.
• Capital investment evaluation and business case development.
• ERP systems experience, ideally SAP
• Productivity, cost optimization, and working capital analysis preferred.
• Manufacturing costing and inventory accounting preferred
• Advanced Excel, Power BI, and financial modeling skills preferred.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and sound business judgment.
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder management.
• Business partnering, influencing, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Talent development and team coaching.
• Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.
• Collaboration across functions, cultures, and geographies.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and commitment to high-quality execution.

Travel Required: Approximately 10%, based on business needs.

Required Skills:

Achieving Objectives, Commercial Banking Relationship Management, Economic Research, Economic Studies, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), People Leadership, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports, Professional Guidance, Profit and Loss (P&L) Analysis, Tax Compliance, Trend Analysis

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

10/21/2026

*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.