FP&A Lead Analyst

Merck Group; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 5,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Group in Bengaluru is seeking an FP&A Lead Analyst – Headcount Planning & Controlling to drive workforce cost planning, budgeting, and forecasting. You’ll partner with HR, Finance and business stakeholders to deliver insights and drive performance.

With 8-12 years in FP&A and strong Excel modelling, SAP/SAC/TM1 experience, you will lead headcount planning cycles, monitor variances, and automate recurring analyses, presenting clear recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• 8-12 years of FP&A, controlling, budgeting and business partnering.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.
• Experience with ERP, planning, reporting or BI tools (SAP, SAC, TM1).
• Experience in a multinational or shared-services environment.
• Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder-management and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage deadlines in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual headcount planning, budgeting, and forecasting process.
• Monitor actual headcount and personnel costs against budget, forecast, and prior-year results.
• Prepare monthly management reports and explain key variances and cost drivers.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and business stakeholders to validate workforce plans and assumptions.
• Support workforce scenario modelling, cost-saving initiatives, and business cases.
• Ensure data accuracy, reporting consistency, and compliance with financial controls.
• Improve reporting processes and automate recurring analyses where possible.
• Present clear financial insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and support to junior analysts and contribute to FP&A improvement initiatives.
• Proven experience managing senior business and finance stakeholders with confidence and credibility.

Skills

FP&A leadership

Advanced Excel

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Tools

SAP

SAC

TM1

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That`s why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimageable with us.

Your Role

• The FP&A Lead Analyst – Headcount Planning & Controlling is responsible for planning, monitoring, and analysing workforce costs and headcount. The role provides accurate financial insights to support workforce decisions, budget control, forecasting, and business performance management.
• Lead the annual headcount planning, budgeting, and forecasting process.
• Monitor actual headcount and personnel costs against budget, forecast, and prior-year results.
• Prepare monthly management reports and explain key variances and cost drivers.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and business stakeholders to validate workforce plans and assumptions.
• Support workforce scenario modelling, cost-saving initiatives, and business cases.
• Ensure data accuracy, reporting consistency, and compliance with financial controls.
• Improve reporting processes and automate recurring analyses where possible.
• Present clear financial insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and support to junior analysts and contribute to FP&A improvement initiatives.
• Beyond technical competence, success in this role depends on how the work gets done:
• Proven experience managing senior business and finance stakeholders, including at leadership level, with confidence and credibility.
• Ability to unbox complex, ambiguous problems and structure them into clear, actionable solutions.
• Strong collaboration skills, working effectively across Finance, HR, and business functions to reach shared outcomes.
• Comfortable navigating dilemmas and competing priorities, and able to balance trade-offs with sound judgement.
• Skilled at driving transparent, open discussions, surfacing issues early and addressing them directly rather than avoiding them.
• Builds trust through consistency, honesty, and clear communication, even in difficult or sensitive conversations.

Who You Are

• 8-12 Years of experience:
• Strong knowledge of FP&A, controlling, budgeting, Accounting, Business Partnering, E2E view of things.
• Advanced Excel and financial-modelling skills.
• Experience with ERP, planning, reporting, or business intelligence tools.
• Experience in a multinational organisation, shared-services environment, or large and complex business. Knowledge of SAP, SAC, TM1.
• Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder-management, and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and the ability to manage deadlines in a complex environment.

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and believe that it drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!