Director , Finance India GCC

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.
 

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.
 

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description
 

The Director, Finance – India is a senior finance leadership role responsible for the full spectrum of financial management, statutory compliance, and governance for Gilead’s India entity. This role is the most senior finance leader on the ground in India, acting as the primary interface between the India business and the global finance organization, and as the custodian of financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and governance standards for all India operations. The role will report to VP – FP&A and matrix reporting to SVP GCC.

The role demands a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) and Company Secretary (CS), bringing deep expertise across business planning, financial reporting, statutory and regulatory compliance, taxation, and audit management. The Director will partner closely with the India leadership team, Regional CFO, and global finance centers of excellence to ensure Gilead India operates within a best-in-class financial control environment while enabling business growth and transformation. 

Job Responsibilities

Business Planning & Financial Performance Management

• Lead the annual business planning, budgeting, and forecasting cycles for India operations, in coordination with regional and global finance teams
• Develop and maintain long-range financial models for India, supporting strategic business decisions and investment proposals
• Provide insightful financial analysis, management reporting, and variance commentary to India leadership and regional stakeholders
• Partner with commercial, supply chain, and functional heads to drive financially disciplined decision-making and cost management
• Support business case development for India-specific strategic initiatives, capital investments, and operational changes
• Track and report India P&L performance against plan, providing proactive early-warning signals and corrective action recommendations

Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Ensure accurate, timely preparation and submission of India statutory financial statements in accordance with Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) and applicable GAAP
• Own the month-end and year-end financial close process for India, ensuring adherence to global close timelines and quality standards
• Maintain the integrity of the India general ledger, balance sheet reconciliations, and intercompany accounting
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury operations, and cash flow management for India operations
• Collaborate with Global Shared Services / Finance COEs to ensure smooth financial operations and resolution of accounting issues
• Ensure compliance with Gilead’s global accounting policies and internal financial controls framework

Statutory Compliance & Company Secretarial

• Serve as the Company Secretary for the India entity, ensuring full compliance with the Companies Act, 2013, MCA filings, and all secretarial obligations
• Manage all statutory registrations, licenses, and filings including ROC filings, annual returns, board resolutions, and secretarial records
• Ensure compliance with FEMA regulations, RBI guidelines, and other foreign exchange management obligations applicable to the India entity
• Advise the India leadership team and Board on corporate governance requirements, director obligations, and regulatory developments
• Maintain statutory registers, minute books, and all secretarial documentation in accordance with applicable law
• Liaise with regulatory authorities including MCA, RBI, SEBI (as applicable), and other statutory bodies on compliance matters

Taxation – Direct & Indirect

• Own end-to-end direct tax management for India including corporate income tax planning, advance tax computations, TDS compliance, and tax return filings
• Manage GST compliance including monthly/quarterly return filings, input tax credit reconciliation, and GST audit preparedness
• Handle transfer pricing compliance including documentation, benchmarking studies, and filing of Form 3CEB in coordination with external advisors
• Manage tax assessments, scrutiny proceedings, and litigation matters in coordination with tax counsels and external advisors
• Identify and implement lawful tax planning and optimization opportunities to manage the effective tax rate for India operations
• Stay current on Indian tax legislative changes and assess their impact on the business; communicate proactively to leadership

Audits – Statutory, Internal & Tax

• Serve as the primary finance interface for statutory auditors (Big 4 / Large Audit Firm), managing the India statutory audit end-to-end
• Coordinate internal audit engagements for India operations including scheduling, data preparation, management response, and remediation tracking
• Lead tax audit preparedness and manage tax audit proceedings under the Income Tax Act
• Ensure timely resolution of all audit observations and implement control improvements identified through audit processes
• Support global internal audit and SOX compliance reviews as applicable to the India entity

Governance, Controls & Risk Management

• Maintain and strengthen the internal financial controls environment for India, ensuring compliance with global SOX and internal control frameworks
• Identify financial and compliance risks specific to the India operating environment and implement appropriate mitigating controls
• Act as the key point of contact for global finance leadership on all India regulatory, compliance, and governance matters
• Manage relationships with external advisors including auditors, tax consultants, legal counsel, and regulatory bodies
• Support finance transformation initiatives impacting India operations, including ERP enhancements, process automation, and shared services integration

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting and 12+ years of progressive experience and at least 10 years in GCC/ Shared services/ GBS environment.OR
• Master's degree in Finance or Accounting and 10+ years of progressive experience and at least 10 years in GCC/ Shared services/ GBS environment.
• Chartered Accountant (CA) – qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is mandatory AND
• Company Secretary (CS) – qualified member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is mandatory AND
• Significant post-qualification experience in senior finance leadership roles, encompassing financial reporting, statutory compliance, taxation, and audit management within a multinational company operating in India

Preferred Qualifications

• Dual qualification as both Chartered Accountant (CA) and Company Secretary (CS) with strong command of both disciplines – essential
• Significant experience in a senior finance role within a multinational corporation, with specific ownership of India statutory, tax, and compliance obligations
• Deep expertise in Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS), Companies Act 2013, GST, Income Tax Act, Transfer Pricing regulations, and FEMA/RBI guidelines
• Proven track record of managing statutory and tax audits with Big 4 or large audit firms in India
• Prior experience in the life sciences, MedTech, pharmaceutical, or regulated healthcare industry is strongly preferred
• Experience working within a Global Shared Services or Finance COE model, with ability to manage onshore-offshore finance delivery partnerships
• Strong business partnering skills with the ability to influence non-finance stakeholders and translate financial insights into business decisions
• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and financial reporting/planning tools (e.g., Hyperion, Anaplan, Power BI)
• Additional qualification: CMA (ICMAI) or MBA (Finance) is advantageous but not mandatory
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to present complex financial and compliance matters to senior leadership and Board audiences
• High standards of professional ethics, integrity, and confidentiality in handling sensitive financial and regulatory information

People Leader Accountabilities:

• Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
• Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
• Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.