Associate Dir, Fin. Planning & Analysis

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director of IT Finance to partner with the VP and the R&D IT leadership. You will guide value-driven investments, manage a multi-million-dollar technology portfolio, and optimize financial processes across the IT function.

The role requires strategic partnership, strong analytical skills, and the ability to drive ROI-focused business cases in a global, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in finance, business operations, strategy, investment management, or a related field.
• Ability to lead large-scale transformations in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to apply FP&A frameworks to define ROI and value realization.
• Ability to assess budgets, cost optimization opportunities, and cost drivers to support business cases.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance planning & analysis: budgets, forecasts, long-range plans with IT expenditure governance.
• Provide financial transparency, risk management, and decision support to VP IT Finance and leadership.
• Drive IT investment value with ROI/NPV analyses and resource allocation decisions.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly close, variance analysis, and reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement of IT financial processes with data-driven insights.

Skills

Finance

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance/business/IT

MBA

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Job Description IT Finance is a full-service Financial Planning & Analysis function that guides our Technology organization in investing in value-creating capabilities to help our Company's save and improve lives. This role supports the VP of our Research & Development division IT and their leadership team. Our Research & Development division IT is a global organization that partners with our Research & Development division business division by leveraging technology and data to reimagine how breakthrough biomedical research is translated into meaningful new therapies and vaccines that save and improve lives worldwide. Our Research & Development division IT is focused on: Clinical Development and Digital Solutions Digital Science and AI Realization Research and Development Sciences Investment Management and Value Realization. We are seeking a strategic Associate Director of IT Finance to serve as a key team player to our technology leadership team. In this role, you will bridge the gap between financial discipline and technology strategy, driving high‑value investment decisions, governing our multi-million-dollar technology portfolio, and optimizing our financial processes.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Partnership: Serve as a trusted business partner to Value Team Leads and Investment Managers, supporting coordinated planning and execution of client priorities. Provide the VP of our Research & Development division IT with financial transparency, risk management, and decision support. Partner with business stakeholders to maintain an effective control environment.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Develop expense budgets, quarterly forecasts, and long‑range plans that support business and organizational goals. Navigate complex IT accounting treatments, overseeing the governance of CAPEX/OPEX rules, and depreciation schedules for major tech milestones. Drive IT investment value by co‑developing robust business cases with Divisional Finance (ROI/NPV) and facilitating trade‑offs to allocate resources to high‑impact programs. Govern corporate IT compliance deliverables, taking ownership of Quarterly tally processes and IT Center of Excellence (COE) requirements to ensure seamless corporate alignment. Direct the monthly and quarterly close process, ensuring high‑accuracy variance analysis, trend reporting, and proactive corrective actions. Drive continuous improvement across IT financial processes, deploying modern tools and ad‑hoc analysis to support organizational change initiatives. Deliver actionable, data‑driven recommendations to senior leadership that optimize IT spend, benchmark technology costs, and improve overall organizational value.

Required Skills

• 5+ years of experience in finance, business operations, strategy, investment management, or a related field.
• Ability to lead large‑scale transformations in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to apply FE&A frameworks to define ROI and align on value capture and realization.
• Ability to assess budgets, cost optimization opportunities, and cost drivers to support business cases and investment decisions.
• Ability to guide interdisciplinary teams on financial concepts and their impact on value management.
• Ability to communicate financial and performance information across technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to act as a strategic thought partner and trusted business advisor.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to work across matrixed, global teams to drive alignment.
• Strong communication and influencing skills to secure leadership and business buy‑in.
• Experience in financial evaluation or value management.
• Ability to flex between strategic thinking and tactical execution.
• Ability to bring fresh perspectives to improve ways of working.
• Skilled in data analysis platforms, including Power BI.

Education Requirements: Required: Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, information technology, or a related discipline. Preferred: MBA.

Required Skills: Adaptability, Adaptability, Business Acumen, Business Agility, Business Planning, Cash Management, Collaborative Leadership, Complex Analysis, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Cross-Cultural Awareness, Data Visualization, Detail‑Oriented, Enterprise Leadership, Financial Acumen, Financial Analysis, Financial Management, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning, Headcount Planning, Influencing Skills, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Alignment {+ 7 more}.

Preferred Skills: US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 10/9/2026

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.

The salary range for this role is $129,000.00 - $203,100.00 This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.