Senior Financial Analyst

Merck; Luzern; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Switzerland seeks a Senior Financial Analyst for the Manufacturing team within the Swiss Finance Hub to manage legal entity profitability forecasting and cash planning in a complex international setup.

You will consolidate forecasts, analyze variances, support foreign-currency exposure planning, and present findings to senior management and the board, collaborating with cross‑functional partners across divisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance (or equivalent) is required.
• 5–7 years of experience as an accountant, financial analyst or planner in a multinational environment is expected.
• Strong analytical mind and ability to translate data into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and consolidate periodic legal entity profitability forecasts.
• Prepare product-specific gross and net profit forecasts.
• Analyse actuals vs. forecast and explain variances to stakeholders.
• Prepare quarterly foreign-currency exposure forecasts to support cash planning.
• Perform periodic forward-looking cash-flow analyses to support the treasury team.
• Present forecasts and analysis to the finance manager and board.
• Coordinate financial impacts from product supply chains and intercompany activities.
• Support audits and review of contracts and legally relevant documents.

Skills

Accounting

Cash Flow Analysis

Cash Flow Planning

Forecasting

Profit and Loss Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Data Visualization

Executive Presentations

External Audit

Financial Analysis

Working Independently

contract review

Business Partnerships

Business Process Implementation

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance (or equivalent)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Power BI

Job description

Our Support Functions deliver services and make recommendations about ways to enhance our workplace and the culture of our organization. Our Support Functions include HR, Finance, Information Technology, Legal, Procurement, Administration, Facilities and Security.

We are looking for a Senior Financial Analyst to join our Manufacturing team as part of the Swiss Finance Hub team, who works with a complex international set‑up of over 25 of our affiliated legal entities managed and controlled in Switzerland. The legal entities span across all divisions and include areas ranging from IP (Intellectual Property) ownership, research & development, supply chain management, contract manufacturing, commercial sales operations, business alliance partnerships and capital allocation.

The Senior Financial Analyst will be responsible for independently preparing legal entity profit forecasts and supporting the cash planning activities. In addition, the person is ensuring accurate and timely submission of financial and business information to relevant internal stakeholders for strategic decision-making.

Main Responsibilities:

• Prepare and consolidate periodic legal entity profitability forecasts
• Prepare periodic product-specific gross and net profit forecasts
• Analyse actuals vs. legal entity forecast; take appropriate actions to understand variances and ensure awareness across stakeholders
• Prepare quarterly foreign-currency-exposure forecasts to support the corporate treasury team with the company's short-term and long-term cash planning
• Perform periodic forward-looking cash-flow analysis to support the corporate treasury team with their company-wide cash management
• Present forecasts and analysis to the finance manager, the board of directors and other internal stakeholders
• Be the first point of contact for various internal stakeholders regarding cash management on an entity level
• Understand and coordinate financial impacts from the product supply chains
• Manage the prepaid expense balance, including risk monitoring
• Periodically prepare and submit reports to the Swiss National Bank (SNB)
• Perform a periodic review of newly signed contracts and other legally relevant documents
• Leverage resources from the Business Services Center regarding intercompany and cash activities
• Work closely with the entity lead accountant on day-to-day operating matters
• Support the Finance Manager in the development and preparation of KPIs and controlling tools
• Work effectively with key-stakeholders across divisions and different levels of management
• Lead or participate in projects within the finance organization aiming to foster collaboration, process improvement and harmonization
• Support internal and external audits

Qualifications and Experience:

• Strong analytical mind to translate data into meaningful information for the management
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills in English to effectively work with all levels of management required
• Professional attitude and works well in a team, willingness to take on responsibility and ownership
• Advanced skills in AI tools
• Problem solving skills with a proactive working style to implement new processes.
• Ability to work independently, capable of handling multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience as an accountant, financial analyst or planner within a multinational environment
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance (or equivalent)
• Proficient in working with MS Office tools such as Excel and Power Point. Experience with Power BI is a plus
• Experienced in optimizing business processes leveraging technology
• Ability to remain focused and lead through change or uncertainty
• Excellent ethics and behaviours (demonstrates a high degree of integrity)

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.

Required Skills:

• Accounting
• Business Partnerships
• Business Process Implementation
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Cash Flow Planning
• Contract Review
• Data Visualization
• Detail-Oriented
• Executive Presentations
• External Audit
• Financial Analysis
• Financial Forecasting
• Profit and Loss (P&L) Analysis
• Stakeholder Management
• Working Independently

Preferred Skills:

• Executive Presenting