Senior Specialist, General Ledger Accounting

MSD; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD is seeking a Senior Specialist in Accounting to Reporting (AtR) to ensure accurate accounting across AP region markets and alignment with US GAAP and local statutory requirements. You will lead GL activities, drive process improvements, and coordinate with global finance teams to maintain strong internal controls.

The role requires 6+ years in finance, supervisory experience, and excellent communication in English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance (required).
• 6+ years in finance/accounting in a multinational environment (US GAAP experience a plus).
• 2+ years in a supervisory role.
• Business-level English (written and spoken).
• Experience with Local and US GAAP requirements.
• Ability to implement new processes and drive efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Supervise general ledger activities and period-end close for AP clusters.
• Manage General Ledger and AtR subprocesses.
• Ensure transactions reflect accurately in ledgers by country.
• Coordinate accurate, timely period reporting per corporate/country requirements.
• Lead process improvements to streamline service delivery.
• Collaborate with Virtual Finance Teams and onsite BSC towers.

Skills

US GAAP knowledge

SOX controls

Problem solving

Communication

Leadership / supervisory

Analytical skills

Audit collaboration

ERP systems

Digital finance technologies

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

SAP

BlackLine

FinKit

CMM

Power BI

Power Automate

Power Query

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

Job Description Senior Specialist – Accounting to Reporting (AtR)

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where our company has codified its 125-year legacy.

Our company’s success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

Our company Business Service Centers (BSCs), located across three regions (Americas, Europe, and Asia), are responsible for the timely and efficient delivery of standardized, global financial processes.

The BSC – AP in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia will be responsible for the execution and delivery of a broad range of financial services and processes across our company business divisions and markets for the AP region.

Role Summary The Senior Specialist, Accounting to Reporting (AtR) will be responsible for ensuring that the transactions of all the markets that BSCKL supports in the APJC region have been properly accounted for and accurately reflected in our company’s accounting records. The objective of this role is to work closely with Local Finance Teams to ensure that the accounting records: (i) accurately reflect the results of the business, (ii) are in line with US GAAP and (iii) comply with respective local statutory and tax requirements.

The Senior Specialist is also responsible for ensuring a robust control environment is maintained following all audit requirements. This role enables the AtR function based in Petaling Jaya to partner with its Finance and Business counterparts to ensure that business objectives are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise general ledger activities and analysis inclusive of period end financial close responsibilities for the AP for clusters countries within the APJ region.
• Manage across General Ledger and other AtR sub-process activities
• Ensure that all transactions are correctly reflected in the ledger on a country basis.
• Direct accurate and timely period reporting that complies with Corporate and country requirements.
• Administer monthly Account Reconciliation processes on a timely basis and adhering to all corporate standards and guidelines.
• Lead opportunities for streamlining and rendering service delivery more efficiently by driving process improvement projects.
• Coordinate with team members to effectively distribute workload and increase exposure to multiple finance and business disciplines within our company.
• Approve the period-end financial packages and the Balance Sheet Reconciliations.
• Participate on the Implementation of Continuous Improvement initiatives/robotics (RPA - Global & Regional).
• Drive process standardization while maintaining a robust control environment.
• Collaborating and working together with our company Virtual Finance Teams (COSI, IC COE, EMEA/Americas BSCs & Local Finance) and other onsite BSC towers (OtC/PTP).
• Working with internal and external auditors to complete statutory and internal control audits on time.
• Ensure compliance of accounting standards & reporting SOX requirements.
• Participate in Global Projects and Initiatives.
• Ensure the required accuracy on all defined KPIs and SLA’s are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in a finance or accounting department of a multinational company including demonstrated experience in dealing with US and ex-US accounting (Pharmaceutical industry a plus)
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory position (people manager: team leader, supervisor, coordinator, first level manager).
• Business-level English skills (speaking and writing) required
• Professional Experience at an organization managing both Local and US GAAP requirements
• Problem solving and analytical skills with a proactive management style to implement new processes
• Solid communication, interpersonal, and organization skills enabling effective communication with all levels of management required
• Demonstrated commitment to education and professional development
• Management and supervisory experience required, preferably in a shared service environment
• Ability to work independently, capable of handling multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Knowledge of business processes supported by transaction processing capabilities
• Strong customer service mind-set
• Controllership / Internal controls knowledge SOX based
• Good knowledge of the legal and fiscal reporting as well as finance and controlling processes (IFRS)
• Solid experience leading change initiatives
• ERP system experience and competency (SAP required)
• Intermediate to Advanced PC skills (MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required
• Competency/certification in tools such as: Balance Sheet Reconciliation (BlackLine a plus), Banking (FinKit and/or CMM a plus)
• Ability to operate independently and remain focused through change or uncertainty and with a team in a fast-paced and high-volume environment with emphasis on accuracy, timeliness and professionalism
• Good problem solving and analytical skills with a proactive management style to implement new processes
• Experience in utilizing or implementing digital finance technologies including Microsoft Copilot, Power BI, Power Automate, Power Query/ Data modelling, RPA and/ or AI will be a plus.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information

Required Skills: Accounting, Accounting, Accounting Management, Accounting System, Adaptability, Bookkeeping, Business Process Standardization, Business Writing, Corporate Cards, Credit Management, Customer Centricity, Customer Service, Enterprise Reporting, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Finance, Financial Compliance, Financial Operations, Internal Controls, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Interpersonal Relationships, Microsoft PowerPoint, Payment Handling, Preparation of Financial Reports, Process Improvements, Processing Expense Reports {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills: 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: Not Applicable Shift: 2nd - Evening Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 11/7/2026 *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.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.