Finance Manager - Accounting at Gilead Sciences

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is dedicated to enhancing health worldwide by addressing major diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer for over 35 years. Our focus lies in developing and ensuring access to transformative therapies across the globe through relentless innovation and collaboration.

Role Overview

As a pivotal member of our finance team, the Finance Manager will lead accounting functions ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely completion of financial close activities. This role entails strong leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage month-end, quarter-end, and year-end accounting close for designated entities.
• Ensure adherence to US GAAP, local statutory mandates, and company policies in financial record-keeping.
• Approve journal entries, accruals, prepayments, reclassifications, and accompanying documentation.
• Supervise balance sheet reconciliations and promptly resolve discrepancies.
• Analyze and communicate significant fluctuations in balance sheets and profit & loss statements.
• Coordinate balance sheet reviews with Controllers and Market Finance teams.
• Support statutory accounting, audits, and financial reporting for assigned entities.
• Maintain ledger integrity per the Worldwide Controller's Manual.
• Develop robust relationships with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Market Finance, Corporate Accounting, Internal Audit, and external auditors.
• Partner with FP&A to review accruals, forecasts, and actuals across closing cycles.
• Provide accounting guidance to business and finance partners.
• Engage with stakeholders across multiple regions and time zones to align on financial outcomes.
• Communicate financial results, risks, and accounting issues effectively to management.
• Uphold internal control standards in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.
• Ensure audit readiness by maintaining effective accounting controls and documentation.
• Lead remediation efforts when control gaps or improvement areas arise.
• Support internal and external audits by delivering timely documentation and analyses.
• Drive enhancements in accounting controls and compliance practices.
• Contribute to fostering a culture emphasizing accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within finance.
• Manage prioritization of closing, reporting, control, and project tasks within scope.
• Lead process optimization, standardization, and simplification efforts in Record-to-Report processes.
• Champion digital finance innovations including automation, analytics, and AI to enhance efficiency and insight.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
• Participate in cross-functional projects to improve finance operation scalability and effectiveness.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Professional Chartered Accountant credentials (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA).
• Extensive background in Accounting, Financial Reporting, or Record-to-Report activities within multinational organizations.
• Proven track record of managing accounting processes and influencing stakeholders in complex multinational environments.
• Deep understanding of US GAAP and internal control frameworks.
• Experience overseeing month-end close cycles and balance sheet governance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication abilities in verbal, written, and presentation contexts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office suite.
• Capability to prioritize competing demands and meet strict deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences sectors.
• Experience supporting accounting for multiple countries.
• Knowledge of local statutory reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle.
• Experience working with automation, analytics, and AI-driven finance solutions.

Additional Information

This role supports global operations with frequent interaction across EMEA, APAC, and North America, requiring flexibility to occasionally work outside standard hours to support US close cycles. International and domestic travel may be necessary to visit other company locations and partners.

Behavioural Competencies

• Resilience and capacity to perform under ambiguous conditions.
• Stakeholder management and engagement skills.
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn and adapt.
• Operational excellence focus.
• Systematic organizational and prioritization skills.
• Process-orientation to meet business goals.

Language and Cultural Skills

Strong communication skills in English are essential, with additional European languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian) considered beneficial. Must be adept at working in a multicultural, multifunctional environment.

Company Values and EEO Policy

Gilead fosters an inclusive culture grounded in integrity, teamwork, excellence, accountability, and diversity. The company operates with a commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination on legally protected grounds.