Financial Planning & Analysis Senior Specialist

Merck Merck · Pharma · Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

This role is for a Financial Planning & Analysis Senior Specialist at Merck in Puerto Rico. The primary responsibilities include coordinating annual budgeting and periodic forecasting, validating inputs, supporting scenario analysis, providing financial analysis and insights to business units, preparing financial reports, and collaborating with finance teams. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting, 5+ years of experience in FP&A (preferably in pharma/healthcare), strong financial modeling and analytical skills, and proficiency with financial systems like SAP and PowerBI. Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English is also required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Coordinate the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting process for our portfolios, partnering directly with Business Units.
  2. Validate and consolidate forecast inputs including sales volumes, pricing, expenses, and headcount.
  3. Ensure alignment of Puerto Rico financial plans with overall company targets and regional guidelines.
  4. Support scenario analysis and re-forecasting as business conditions evolve.
  5. Support consolidation and preparation of expense profile for Puerto Rico.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting.
  • Five (5) or more years of experience in Financial Planning & Analysis, preferably within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
  • Experience with forecast end to end process, from Demand Planning/Revenue Generation, Expense Management, Monitor Performance, Management Presentation, and Management Interaction in the day to day basis.
  • Proven track record as a finance business partner supporting commercial or therapeutic area teams.
  • Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency.
  • Experience with financial systems such as SAP, Business Planning and Consolidation, Local Planning Tool, PowerBI, or similar planning/reporting tools.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to convey complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
  • Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of key financial drivers in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficiency in Spanish and English, oral and written.
  • Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence and build relationships across functions.
  • Proactive problem solver with a continuous improvement mindset.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Resilient and adaptable to change.
  • Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.

Nice to have

  • MBA degree and/or CPA.
  • Oncology experience

What the JD emphasized

  • Five (5) or more years of experience in Financial Planning & Analysis, preferably within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
  • Experience with forecast end to end process, from Demand Planning/Revenue Generation, Expense Management, Monitor Performance, Management Presentation, and Management Interaction in the day to day basis.
  • Proven track record as a finance business partner supporting commercial or therapeutic area teams.
  • Advanced Excel proficiency.
  • Experience with financial systems such as SAP, Business Planning and Consolidation, Local Planning Tool, PowerBI, or similar planning/reporting tools.
  • Proficiency in Spanish and English, oral and written.