Senior Manager, Accounting & FP&A

Thermo Fisher Scientific•Grand Rapids, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

As a senior finance leader within IDD, the Senior Manager, Accounting & Finance provides strategic financial leadership and operational oversight across accounting, financial planning & analysis, and Travel & Expense (T&E). This role partners closely with commercial and functional leaders to drive disciplined financial management, informed decision-making, and continuous improvement aligned with Thermo Fisher’s Mission. The Senior Manager serves as the functional owner of North America accounting operations and financial planning processes, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and transparency while proactively identifying risks and opportunities in a growth-oriented environment. This role manages three direct reports (Senior Financial Analyst, Senior Accountant, and T&E supervisor) and one indirect report, with responsibility to scale the organization as business complexity evolves.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
8+ years progressive accounting and finance experience.
3+ years leadership experience managing professional-level staff.
Strong experience with corporate reporting systems (HFM/CMR, PLN, SAP).
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
Deep expertise in GAAP, technical accounting, internal controls, and financial governance.
Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, global organization.
Advanced analytical skills with ability to translate data into insights.
High bias for action and continuous improvement mindset.
Strong executive-level communication skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities within financial calendar constraints.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

Financial & Business Leadership Serve as a strategic finance partner to divisional leadership, providing insights that drive operational and commercial decision-making.
Lead the annual operating plan (AOP), STRAP, forecasts, and long-range planning processes.
Translate financial performance into actionable business recommendations.
Proactively identify risks, opportunities, and cost improvement initiatives.
Provide executive-ready reporting and financial narratives to support leadership discussions.
Accounting & Financial Control Ownership Own the integrity and accuracy of all general ledger accounting and financial reporting.
Lead the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, ensuring adherence to strict corporate deadlines.
Oversee reconciliation to corporate systems (HFM/CMR, PLN) and ensure alignment between local and corporate reporting.
Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, SOX controls, and Thermo Fisher policies.
Supervise all internal and external financial and tax audits.
Maintain strong internal control frameworks and continuously improve financial governance.
FP&A & Forecasting Leadership Oversee forecasting, variance analysis, and financial modeling activities.
Review operating metrics and financial KPIs to proactively communicate forecast accuracy and goal attainment.
Monitor and manage expense trends, providing clear visibility into spend and outlook.
Perform analytics on company spending and provide recommendations to optimize resource allocation.
Drive improvements in forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency.
Travel & Expense (T&E) and Accounts Payable Oversight Provide leadership and governance over the T&E function.
Ensure policy compliance, reporting accuracy, and process efficiency.
Monitor spend trends and identify cost control opportunities.
Partner cross-functionally to ensure alignment with global standards.
Team Leadership & Talent Development Directly manage: Senior Financial Analyst Senior Accountant T&E Lead Provide coaching, development planning, and performance management.
Ensure workload balance, prioritization, and cross-training within the team.
Build a scalable team structure to support evolving business needs.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
Operational Excellence & Systems Expertise Act as divisional subject matter expert for corporate financial systems (HFM/CMR, PLN, SAP, Navision).
Drive automation and system enhancements to improve efficiency and control.
Lead process documentation, backup planning, and cross-functional process improvements.
Strengthen financial data tracking and reporting capabilities.