Lead Expert, Finance Operations and Process Automation

Merck Group$107K — $161K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Information Systems, or related field
  • 5+ years of experience in financial operations, controlling, or FP&A
  • Proven ability to automate manual tasks using scripting, rules, or macros
  • Experience with financial reporting cycles from start to finish
  • Strong understanding of finance operations, reconciliation, and KPIs

Responsibilities

  • Own the Life Science finance operations backbone from end to end
  • Run the annual cost and reallocation cycle hands-on
  • Set standards and cadence for partner teams executing operational work
  • Catalog manual checks and convert them into automated processes
  • Collaborate with data and AI teams to enhance existing tech stack

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangement with onsite requirements thrice a week
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge financial technology and AI
  • Collaborative team environment focused on operational excellence
  • Potential for career growth within a high-impact finance team
Full Job Description
Work Location: Burlington, Massachusetts
Shift: No
Department: LS-CL-CD Financial Systems
Recruiter: Shelby Elizabeth Briggs

This information is for internals only. Please do not share outside of the organization.

Your Role:

An exceptional opportunity has arisen within our Life Science Finance Systems team. In this role, you will own the finance operations backbone that keeps reporting accurate and on time, and you will use the capacity that a well-run operation creates to automate routine work with AI. You will partner closely with internal teams and our delivery partners to keep the numbers right and to move routine checks off people and onto tools.

Your responsibilities will include:
  • Owning the Life Science finance operations backbone end to end: GCOH, daily sales reporting accuracy, annual business segmentation, and reconciliation across the daily operation through to the Pacing View reporting that reaches senior leadership.
  • Running the annual cost and reallocation cycle hands-on, including the reallocation logic and annual restatement, in coordination with Group Accounting and our delivery partners.
  • Setting the standard and cadence for the partner teams that execute the operational work, making the structural and accuracy decisions, and resolving exceptions.
  • Cataloging the manual checks across the operation and converting the deterministic ones into automations that run continuously, applying AI to the language and pattern work such as summarizing and anomaly detection.
  • Building on our existing stack (My Insights Agent, Project Recall, SG&A Commentary AI, and Claude Code with the Foundry MCP) with the data and AI team, and reporting the capacity returned while holding the accuracy bar.


In this position, you will own established operational cycles, decide how they run, and build the automation that frees the team for higher-value analysis. You will pilot automations on the highest-friction steps and scale the ones that prove out, working closely with our data and AI teams.

What good looks like:
  • Operational cycles close on time and reconcile. The daily sales report, month-end close, GCOH, and forecasts land on schedule, tie out, and are confirmed to controllers.
  • Reconciliation gaps are caught before they travel. Discrepancies across the daily operation, DivCo allocations, and Pacing View are surfaced and resolved before they reach the reporting chain.
  • GCOH stays clean. The structure is accurate, and No Hierarchy and Unmapped entries are kept within agreed thresholds.
  • The annual cycles land. Annual cost and reallocation, and annual restatement, complete accurately and to schedule with Group Accounting and the delivery partners.
  • Automation returns measured capacity. Manual checks are cataloged and converted to continuous rules each cycle, each one clearing a measured accuracy benchmark before it replaces the manual check, with cycle-time saved and capacity returned tracked and reported.
  • Issues are owned to closure. Problems move from raised to resolved, and escalations carry a diagnosis and a recommended option, not just a symptom.


Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Information Systems, or a related field
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial operations, controlling, or FP&A, owning recurring reporting cycles end to end
  • A track record of automating manual work (scripting, rules, macros, or pipeline tooling)


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Passionate about data-driven decision making, financial operations, and governance.
  • Working knowledge of agentic AI in a finance context, with judgment on where it fits
  • Experience with Snowflake and Foundry, and visualization tools like Tableau; SAP and finance-systems exposure (MCloud, CSR, or equivalent) a plus
  • Deep understanding of finance operations, reconciliation, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Strong reconciliation and data-validation discipline, and experience implementing governance and accuracy best practices
  • Skilled in Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies would be an advantage.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, suitable for an audience that reaches senior leadership


Location: Burlington, MA, USA; Onsite (3x week)

Travel:

Pay range for this position: $107,900.00 - $161,900.00

About Merck Group

Merck Group Careers

There has never been a more opportune time to join Merck Group, a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science, and performance materials. Merck Group offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a variety of skills and professional aspirations, making it an ideal environment for both seasoned experts and those at the start of their career journey.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck Group, every team member contributes to breakthrough innovations in healthcare, life sciences, and electronics. The company's commitment to diversity and innovation fuels its leadership in various sectors, driving growth and transformation globally. Merck Group’s career paths are diverse, offering positions that challenge individuals to use their skills in new ways every day, supported by robust training programs and development opportunities.

Explore Job Opportunities and Growth

Merck Group is not just about jobs; it's about building a career. With a vast array of positions, from research and development to marketing and sales, the company is keen on hiring and nurturing talent to lead industry transformation. Merck Group’s dedication to professional growth is evident in its comprehensive benefits package and performance management processes that aim to maximize individual potential.

Internship Programs

Starting with an internship at Merck Group can be a pivotal step in securing a prosperous career. Interns gain invaluable industry experience, working alongside seasoned professionals and engaging in projects that offer real-world applications of their studies. Internships often lead to full-time employment opportunities, providing a seamless transition from education to professional employment.

Inclusive Culture and Leadership

Merck Group is proud of its inclusive culture that embraces diversity and fosters an environment where all employees can thrive. The company’s leadership is committed to creating a workplace where diverse ideas lead to innovative outcomes. Merck Group also offers diversity training to ensure all team members are equipped to contribute to the company’s inclusive goals.

Networking and Professional Development

Employees at Merck Group are encouraged to engage in networking and professional development activities that enhance their career trajectories. The company hosts various networking events, workshops, and seminars that are designed to hone skills and foster connections within the industry. Leadership development programs are also a cornerstone, preparing employees for future roles of increased responsibility.

Stay Connected with Merck Group Careers

Interested candidates can explore open positions that match their skills and interests through the Merck Group careers page. The company values curious, creative, and solution-driven team players who are eager to make an impact.

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Merck Group is continuously looking for individuals who are ready to drive innovation and lead in the global marketplace. Whether through full-time positions, internships, or leadership roles, Merck Group offers a career path filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership.
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