Job Description

The Finance Lead is responsible for leading the finance function to develop and execute finance strategy to support business growth in Mexico.   Acting as a business partner, this role is expected to demonstrate strong finance and business leadership by working closely with other leadership team members and by leading a strong finance team that focuses on business partnering, value creation, compliance, and talent development. 

 

The role serves as a key member of the Local Market Leadership Team, playing a critical role in providing strategic business partnering and operational leadership to the entire organization.

Primary Activities

Main responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Actively partner with business leaders to develop business strategy, identify business opportunities, and prioritize investment and resources to deliver profitable growth and continued improvement of business/ financial performance
• As a member of the Leadership Team, provides financial perspectives to support the decision making of the Managing Director and Country Leadership Team.  Collaborates with leadership team to develop business strategy, identify opportunities, and prioritize investment and resources to deliver profitable growth.  Continuously challenge the status quo and provide innovative solutions for efficiencies to streamline processes and improve financial performance
• Leads a high performing finance team that provides business and financial support to our Human Health and Animal Health businesses in Mexico
• Drive stakeholder alignment across functions and divisions as an enterprise leader (BSC, CoE, local and regional teams, and various corporate divisions)
• Ensure compliance and strong internal control environment, including managing the company's financial and tax matters effectively and efficiently and in compliance with accounting principles, tax rules, and government regulations
• As a Statutory board member of CO/EC legal entities, is responsible for ensuring accuracy and compliance in reporting financial results (US GAAP and local statutory)
• Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationships with internal and external partners/stakeholders
• Develop a lean, effective, and high-performing organization; guide the leadership development process, ensuring succession for key positions in the finance organization
• Build a culture throughout the organization which emphasizes diversity and inclusion, collaboration and teamwork, personal accountability and continuous improvement
• As a member of the Latam Finance Leadership team, actively contribute to development and execution of finance strategic priorities.

Relevant Leadership skills for this position are:

Strategic Planning: Ability to develop and communicate a clear financial vision that aligns with the overall business strategy.

Decision Making: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to make informed decisions based on financial data and market trends.

Team Leadership: Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing finance teams to foster a culture of high performance.

Stakeholder Management: Skills in building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including the LT and auditors.

Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.

Change Management: Ability to lead organizational change initiatives, particularly those related to financial systems and processes.

Background Requirements and Qualifications

 

• Bachelor degree or above in Accounting or Finance, MBA is desirable
• 10+ years of professional experience, with track record in financial leadership and strong people management, P&L and budget management experience
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communication skills
• Fluency in both Spanish and English
• Ability to analyze seemingly independent information to understand interdependencies, trends, issues and opportunities; able to synthesize complex information and translate into mid to long-range goals and plans
• Ability to handle high levels of pressure, approach challenges with a positive attitude, lead transformation and commit to decisions
• High learning agility, effectively adjusts to new, changing and unpredictable situations, solicits and responds effectively to feedback and coaching
• Demonstrates strategic and financial stewardship to partner with Country Leadership Team to deliver company’s short- and long-term goals
• Demonstrates motivation, commitment, and accountability to support company’s success.
• Team player who works well across different geographies, business environments, and cultures
• Demonstrates strong influencing skills and an ability to work in a variety of settings, and with diverse set of people and/or functions
• Demonstrated strong communication skills and ability to interact in both direct and virtual format, across all levels of the organization.
• Skills in identifying financial risks and implementing strategies to mitigate them, including insurance, hedging, and other financial measures
• Ability to create models for valuation, forecasting, and decision-making purposes.

Required Skills:

Business Administration, Business Decision Support, Business Opportunities, Business Partnerships, Business Strategies, Cash Management, Change Management, Customer-Focused, Exercises Judgment, Financial Analysis, Financial Business Planning, Financial Modeling, Forecasting, Identifying Sales Opportunities, Leadership Training and Development, People Leadership, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports, Profitable Growth, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership, Teamwork, Variance Analysis

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:

07/16/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.