Job Description

Our Finance team brings together our financial perspectives into our overall strategic and tactical decision making. We use state-of-the-art techniques for financial analysis, planning, accounting, reporting and performance evaluation. This allows the organization to continue advancing medical innovation and improve lives.

Role Overview:
Based in Singapore and reporting to the AP Finance Lead, the Director, AP FP&A is responsible for leading the Financial Planning & Analysis function across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

This role provides high-quality FP&A support to the APAC Human Health(HH) business. The Director drives the consolidation of all APAC financial plans and forecasts, serves as a strategic finance business partner to the Pharma and Vaccine teams, and manages a team of finance professionals.

What will you do in this role:

Financial Forecasting & Planning: Coordinate and consolidate quarterly financial forecasts (including P&L and capital expenditure forecasting), annual budgets, and five-year strategic plans for all APAC. Ensure timely and accurate submissions from country finance teams, aligning regional projections with corporate targets and guidelines.
Forecast Accuracy & Timely Submission - Drives Forecast Accuracy and Timely Submission
Business Partnering: Serve as the primary finance business partner to Regional Finance Lead, APAC and also APAC's Pharmaceutical and Vaccines business units. Work closely with regional and market-level commercial leaders in these franchises to provide financial guidance, support strategic decision-making, and drive performance improvements across the region's Human Health portfolio.
Performance Analysis & Reporting: Monitor and analyze the region's ongoing financial performance. Prepare and present financial reports and business review materials for the AP Finance Lead and APAC senior leadership team, clearly communicating key performance drivers, trends, variances, and insights. Offer recommendations to address risks and capitalize on opportunities to meet and exceed financial targets.
Strategic Projects & Investment Support: Provide financial evaluation and decision support for strategic initiatives such as business development opportunities, new product launches, major capital investments, and other special projects across the APAC region. Conduct robust financial modeling and scenario analysis to assess potential outcomes and advise leadership on financial implications and return on investment (ROI).
Team Leadership: Lead and develop a high-performing regional FP&A team. Set clear objectives and manage team workflow and priorities. Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance management to team members, fostering a collaborative culture and ensuring strong talent development and engagement.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ensure effective collaboration between the regional FP&A function and in-country finance teams, as well as with global finance groups. Act as a liaison to communicate corporate FP&A guidelines to the region and serve as a point of escalation for FP&A process issues, ensuring consistency and alignment in financial practices across all markets.
Process Improvement & Governance: Champion continuous improvement in FP&A processes and tools.

What should you have:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field. CPA is required for this role.
Minimum 15 years of progressive finance experience and APAC experience. A strong background in financial planning & analysis (FP&A) is highly desirable. Demonstrated success in managing complex budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes, in a regional and multinational business environment.
Proven ability to lead and develop teams (approximately 8 direct reports). Strong people management skills with experience in coaching and building high-performing, engaged teams. Excellent organizational abilities and capacity to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills with proficiency in financial modeling and use of FP&A tools/systems. Able to interpret and synthesize complex financial data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior leaders and cross-functional teams, and to convey financial concepts and recommendations in a clear, concise manner to various audiences (including non-financial stakeholders). Strong influencing skills and a proactive approach to partnering with business leaders.
Adaptability & Cross-Cultural Effectiveness: Experience working across multiple countries and time zones, with sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, adapting to changing business needs and priorities. Willing to go extra-mile and work long hours.
Highly motivated and results-driven, with a record of setting and exceeding goals. Detail-oriented and committed to delivering accurate, high-quality work. Maintains a strong customer-service orientation when supporting internal stakeholders and business partners.
Willingness to travel periodically within the Asia Pacific region as required.

Who we are
We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for
Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us-and start making your impact today

Required Skills:

Business Decision Support, Cash Management, Change Management, Customer-Focused, Exercises Judgment, Financial Analysis, Financial Business Planning, Financial Modeling, People Leadership, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports, Strategic Planning, Variance Analysis

APAC FP&A Director