Senior Accountant (CPA), Audit Readiness & Operations

NCBiotech; North Carolina; On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) savings plan

Paid vacation and sick leave

Job summary

Merck & Co. is seeking a Senior Accountant, Audit Readiness & Operations in North Carolina. The role involves managing the financial close process, overseeing audit engagements, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will streamline accounting processes, collaborate cross-functionally, and implement financial controls.

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, extensive experience in accounting or auditing, and proficiency in Excel and ERP systems. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support employees' health and wellness.

Qualifications

• 8+ years relevant Accounting and/or Auditing experience.
• Knowledge of US GAAP; IFRS knowledge preferred.
• Experience in revenue recognition, month-end financial close processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial close process and audit engagements.
• Coordinate audit requests, prepare PBCs.
• Implement key internal controls to minimize financial risk.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Highly motivated, self-starter

Detail-oriented

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field

Master’s degree in Finance or related field

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Tools

ERP (SAP) or similar financial system knowledge

Job description

Position Overview

The Senior Accountant, Audit Readiness & Operations is responsible for managing the financial close process and audit engagements (external, internal, and SOX), driving operational accounting excellence, and strengthening the company's control environment. This role owns the company's audit readiness posture-coordinating audit requests, preparing PBCs, and serving as the primary point of contact for auditors-while also owning the monthly, quarterly, and year‑end accounting close processes. The ideal candidate has excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize projects and assignments with competing due dates, thrives in a fast‑paced environment, and brings a continuous‑improvement mindset to policies, procedures, and controls to minimize financial and compliance risk.

Company Overview

At FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, we are leading the charge in advancing tomorrow's medicines. If you want to be a part of life‑impacting projects alongside today’s most innovative biopharmaceutical companies, FUJIFILM Biotechnologies could be the right place for you.

From our Bioprocess Innovation Center to our cGMP‑compliant manufacturing site, we thrive on collaboration, creativity, and purpose. Whether your expertise lies in research, manufacturing, or production, you’ll find a home here where your efforts directly improve patients' lives. Together, let’s shape the future of healthcare.

Situated at the cross‑section of Morrisville and Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, our site is at the heart of a booming biotech hub surrounded by top universities, vibrant communities, and various outdoor opportunities.

Fujifilm is globally headquartered in Tokyo with over 70,000 employees across four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging. We are guided and united by our Group Purpose of "giving our world more smiles." Visit: https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/about/region/careers

What You’ll Do

• Lead audit engagements and serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, internal audit, and SOX/compliance partners; manage PBC lists, coordinate walkthroughs, and track and drive remediation to disclosure.
• Create and maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures; update and standardize processes to reflect evolving operations, GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and monitor "controls over controls" and key internal controls to minimize financial and compliance risk; coordinate testing, evidence gathering, and deficiency remediation.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close processes with the accounting team for accurate and timely close processes including variance analysis, reconciliations, flux reviews, and close calendar adherence.
• Coordinate with the accounting team to ensure accurate, timely journal entries, account reconciliations, and approvals for critical close activities.
• Execute and review monthly accounting entries for revenue recognition, accounts receivable, and general accounting; ensure alignment with company policies.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements (e.g., tax filings, reporting, registrations); partner with external advisors as needed and maintain requisite documentation.
• Drive audit readiness by maintaining organized documentation, process narratives/flowcharts, risk‑control matrices, and auditor‑ready evidence.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally (Finance, Operations, Legal, IT) to address control gaps, streamline workflows, and improve the reliability and timeliness of financial reporting.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities to shorten the close cycle, enhance data quality, and strengthen governance and controls.
• Handle ad‑hoc analyses, special projects, and deliverables as needed; prioritize assignments to meet competing deadlines.
• Prepare clear documentation and leadership‑ready summaries on audit/close status and risk.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and required to support accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with a diverse team.
• Champions a collaborative attitude for the team.
• Highly motivated, self‑starter with the ability to work independently in a fast‑paced changing environment, prioritizing tasks effectively.
• Superior communication skills for collaboration at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to respond independently to senior leadership inquiries.
• Detail‑oriented with excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Comfortable working with complex data sets, systems, and processes.
• Exhibits critical thinking skills, high energy, disciplined organizational skills and sound judgment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

Basic Requirements / Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field with 8+ years relevant Accounting and/or Auditing experience OR
• Master’s degree in Finance or related field with 6+ years relevant Accounting and/or Auditing experience.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP; IFRS knowledge preferred.
• Solid understanding of revenue recognition, lease accounting, fixed assets, month‑end financial close processes and financial reporting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• ERP (SAP) or similar financial system knowledge.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Preferred Requirements / Certifications

• Biotech or Pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Prior experience working with Pharma or Bio‑tech industry.
• Public accounting experience and industry experience working with Pharmaceutical, Bio‑tech or Manufacturing industry.
• Strong influencing, collaboration, oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable, moving and managing projects with different objectives, milestones, and deliverables.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to conduct activities using repetitive motions that include wrists, hands and/or fingers.
• Ability to conduct work that includes moving objects up to 10 pounds.

Benefits

Our programs are designed to focus on maintaining and enhancing all pillars of health with a robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage with the option of a Health Savings Account with company contributions. In addition, we offer an industry‑leading 401(k) savings plan, insurance coverage, employee assistance programs and various wellness incentives. We support life‑work balance with paid vacation time, sick time, and company holidays.

EEO Information

Fujifilm is committed to providing equal opportunities in hiring, promotion and advancement, compensation, benefits, and training regardless of nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political creed, ideology, national or social origin, disability, veteran status, etc.

ADA Information

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our HR Department ([e-mail]).