Finance Director, Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei

Job Description

Our Finance Team:
Our Finance team brings together diverse financial perspectives to drive strategic and tactical decision-making. We employ state-of-the-art techniques in financial analysis, planning, accounting, reporting, and performance evaluation. This enables our organization to continuously advance medical innovation and improve lives.

Overview:
The Finance Director – Singapore & Malaysia will provide financial leadership and strategy across both countries. Reporting to the Regional Finance Lead, APAC, this role serves as a key business partner to the Singapore and Malaysia leadership teams, showcasing exceptional financial and business leadership. The Finance Director will lead a high-performing finance team (3 direct reports) focused on business partnering, value creation, compliance, and talent development. Working closely with our Business Services Center (BSC), the Finance Director will ensure efficient financial operations and alignment with regional processes.

This position is based in Malaysia, and no relocation support will be provided.

What will you do:

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Spearhead financial planning processes – including annual Budget Plan, long-range financial planning, and special projects (e.g., business development initiatives) – to drive profitable growth and achieve short- and long-term business goals in Singapore and Malaysia.

• Business Partnering: Actively collaborate with business leaders in both countries to develop and refine business strategies. Identify opportunities and advise on prioritizing investments and resources that will deliver profitable growth and continuous improvement in financial performance.

• Decision Support & Stewardship: Provide robust financial insights and perspectives to inform decision-making for the Managing Directors and Country Leadership Teams of Singapore and Malaysia. Partner with these leadership teams to meet the company’s short- and long-term objectives through strategic guidance and rigorous financial stewardship.

• Financial Compliance & Control: Ensure that all financial, accounting, and tax activities in Singapore and Malaysia are managed effectively, efficiently, and in full compliance with local regulations, corporate policies, US GAAP, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements. Maintain a strong internal control environment to safeguard assets and uphold the integrity of financial reporting.

• Internal & External Stakeholder Management: Establish a high level of credibility with internal stakeholders and foster strong working relationships with external partners (including auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory bodies). Ensure transparent communication and compliance, reinforcing the company’s reputation for financial integrity and reliability.

• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a lean, high-performing finance team (including three direct reports). Guide their development and career progression through coaching and feedback, and ensure succession plans are in place for key finance positions. Foster a team culture of collaboration, accountability, diversity and inclusion, and continuous improvement.

• Culture & Collaboration: Create an externally-focused and collaborative operating culture across the finance function in Singapore and Malaysia. Emphasize personal accountability, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. Champion cross-functional collaboration to support business objectives and embed a mindset of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

• Finance Transformation & Efficiency: Drive the finance transformation agenda and continuous improvement initiatives. Work closely with the BSC and other shared services teams to streamline processes, improve working capital management, and leverage best practices. Ensure that finance operations are efficient, scalable, and aligned with both regional and global standards.

• Systems & Future Growth: Ensure that financial systems, tools, and processes are robust and adapt to the organization’s current needs and future growth. Proactively identify and implement system enhancements or new technologies that improve financial reporting, analysis, and decision support capabilities.

• Exemplary Leadership & Influence: Demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities in all aspects of the role. Set a clear vision for the finance function and communicate it effectively to stakeholders and team members. Influence across the organization by building trust, exhibiting integrity, and showing decisiveness. Act as a role model for the company’s values and leadership standards, maintaining a positive outlook and high level of commitment even in high-pressure situations.

What should you have:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.  Strong knowledge of US GAAP and internal controls (including SOX compliance) is required. CPA (or equivalent) is required.

• >15 years of progressive finance experience, including at least one prior role as a Finance Director (or equivalent senior finance leadership position).

  • Experience managing finance in a multinational company and Singapore & Malaysia Experienced is highly preferred.

  • Exposure to the pharmaceutical, healthcare/medical devices, or FMCG industries and familiarity with the Singapore and Malaysia market environments would be an advantage.

• Demonstrated leadership qualities with the ability to set a strategic vision and inspire others. Proven track record of leading by example with integrity, empathy, and accountability. Capable of motivating teams, driving a high-performance culture, and developing future leaders within the finance function.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Able to convey complex financial information in clear terms to diverse audiences, including non-financial stakeholders. Effective in influencing senior management and collaborating across functions and cultures.

• Superior analytical and problem-solving abilities. Skilled at interpreting disparate data to identify trends, interdependencies, and insights. Capable of synthesizing complex information into actionable strategies and financial plans that support mid- and long-term business objectives.

• Ability to handle high-pressure or rapidly changing situations with a calm and positive attitude. Demonstrates sound judgment and decisiveness, committing to well-considered decisions even in the face of uncertainty or ambiguity.

• High learning agility with a willingness to adapt to new challenges, emerging situations, and evolving business needs. Open to feedback and continuous learning, proactively seeking opportunities for self-improvement and coaching.

• Strong influencing skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization. Comfortable working in a matrix environment and partnering with cross-functional teams in Singapore, Malaysia, and the broader APAC region to achieve shared goals.

• Deep sense of ownership and responsibility in managing the company’s financial resources. Demonstrated ability to act as a strategic guardian of the business, balancing growth opportunities with risk management and cost control.

• Broad and deep expertise across core finance disciplines – including Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), accounting, taxation, treasury, compliance, and statutory reporting. Proficiency with financial systems and software; experience driving or participating in finance digitalization or system implementation projects is a plus.

• Solid understanding of business operations and processes. Experience in or knowledge of the pharmaceutical, medical devices, or related healthcare sectors (and/or fast-moving consumer goods) is beneficial.

  • Keen business acumen to connect financial strategies with operational execution in the Singapore and Malaysia context.

Who we are:
We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada, and as MSD everywhere else. For over a century, we have been bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Today, our company remains at the forefront of research, delivering innovative health solutions and advancing the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.
 

What we look for:
Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who are motivated to bring hope to countless people facing some of the most challenging health issues of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious and purpose-driven, we invite you to join us – and start making your impact today.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Commercial Banking Relationship Management, Finance, Financial Acumen, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Innovation, Leadership, Management Process, Manufacturing Processes, Market Research, People Leadership, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports, Risk Management, Strategic Financial Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Tax Compliance

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives 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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

04/9/2026

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