Job Description

Our Support Functions deliver services and make recommendations about ways to enhance our workplace and the culture of our organization. Our Support Functions include HR, Finance, Information Technology, Legal, Procurement, Administration, Facilities and Security.

This dual role is planned for an occupation of 80-100%. However, we also encourage candidates interested in a part-time role (50%) focused solely on the accounting responsibilities to apply.

The General Accountant in this dual role will dedicate equal time supporting the Tax Director and ensuring accurate accounting of transactions in the general ledgers of a specific legal entity. In addition, this position will involve providing support to two Senior Accountants in their activities.

The objective of this role is to work closely with the manager and Tax Director to ensure that the accounting records:

(i) accurately reflect the results of the associated business processes,

(ii) are in line with US GAAP and global financial policies and

(iii) comply with respective local statutory (Swiss Code of Obligations) and tax

requirements.

Work location is Lucerne, Switzerland.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees the monthly closing process, collaborating with the Business Services Center in Prague, budget holders, and financial analysts to ensure seamless coordination.

• Ensures the accurate and timely recording and justification of monthly accounting transactions for all entities.

• Conducts or assists in conducting periodic account analysis and reconciliations, ensuring compliance with internal policies, SOX and ICS standards, and accounting principles.

• Presents quarterly financial reviews to both management and the board of directors.

• Takes responsibility for the preparation and monitoring of annual statutory reporting, including the creation of statutory financial statements in accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations, relevant documentation, and providing support during statutory audits.

• Collaborates closely with experienced colleagues to calculate income tax for both external and internal reporting purposes.

• Serves as a finance business partner for key stakeholders at various levels of management across different divisions.

• Supporting our Tax Director in various activities and serving as the point of contact between Tax and Accounting

• Undertakes ad-hoc tasks and projects as required to support the finance and tax function

Qualifications and Experience:

• Solid educational background in Accounting/Finance, complemented by at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.

• Good knowledge and experience with accounting principles (US GAAP and Swiss Code of Obligations)

• Experience in a multinational environment.

• Strong analytical skills, ability to understand and analyze financial statements ("bilanzsicher")

• Strong affinity to ERP systems, preferably experienced with SAP (FI/CO) and proficient in Excel.

• Proactive, dynamic, able to adapt to a fast-changing environment and to cope with complex situations.

• Fluent in English, German a plus, good communication skills.

• Maintains a professional attitude, excelling in both independent work and collaborative team settings.

• Fosters a team-player mentality, while remaining dedicated and hardworking to achieve ambitious objectives.

• Results-oriented, with a pragmatic and energetic approach to tasks and challenges.

Our Finance team brings together our financial perspectives into our overall strategic and tactical decision making. We use state-of-the-art techniques for financial analysis, planning, accounting, reporting and performance evaluation. This allows the organization to continue advancing medical innovation and improve lives.

THE COMPANY

Our Company has had a presence in Switzerland since 1963. With a regional office and manufacturing/packaging facility, Lucerne is considered the center of operations. Approximately 1,000 people work collaboratively at the four Lucerne locations (Tribschenstrasse, Citybay, Schachen and Kriens). A fifth location has been established in Zurich, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of many of our company’s medicines and vaccines, which supports our mission to save and improve lives around the world.

We are proud to be certified as a “Top Employer Switzerland” and “Top Employer Europe” showing the company’s commitment to our employees and the community around us.

Our Tribschenstrasse office, located in the city of Luzern has a rich diversity of employees at this location including Global Supply Chain Management, Regional External Manufacturing and one of our European Finance Hubs. The site also serves as our regional and local headquarters of our company’s Animal Health Division in Switzerland.

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance 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 pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Accounting, Accounting, Calculating Tax, Corporate Experience, Credit Management, Data Management, Detail-Oriented, Financial Accounting Controls, Financial Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statement Review, Financial Statements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Internal Financial Reporting, Interpersonal Relationships, Invoice Processing, IS Audit, Order to Cash (OTC), Preparation of Financial Reports, Project Finances, Regulatory Compliance, SAP Consulting, Stakeholder Management {+ 4 more}

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

07/15/2025

*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.