Executive Director, Technical Accounting COE

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Title:                Executive Director, Technical Accounting

Department:                 Global Finance

Reports To:                    VP Financial Reporting & Chief Accountant

Position Description:

The Executive Director, Technical Accounting COE, will play a pivotal role in leading the enterprise’s technical accounting function, ensuring global compliance with accounting standards, and driving excellence in financial reporting and governance. This leader will oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of technical accounting policies and procedures, serve as a key advisor to senior leadership, and lead strategic projects that advance the organization’s accounting capabilities and transformation agenda.  Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the Technical Accounting COE, setting the vision and strategy for technical accounting governance, policy, and compliance across all regions.
• Ensure consistent application of US GAAP and other relevant accounting standards globally, implementing best practices and standardized procedures.
• Oversee technical accounting research, issue identification, resolution, and documentation for complex transactions and emerging topics.
• Lead accounting treatment for acquisitions, divestitures, licensing, and partnership deals. Collaborate closely with Finance, Business Development, Legal, Tax and other relevant functions
• Maintain effective internal controls and technical accounting policies to ensure the integrity of financial transactions and reporting.
• Contribute to technical analysis of SEC filing disclosures (including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with all relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements; collaborate with cross-functional teams to address complex disclosure issues and support transparent financial reporting.
• Coordinate and manage relationships with external auditors and regulatory bodies regarding technical accounting matters.
• Support the VP & Chief Accountant in preparing materials for the Audit Committee and Board of Directors, including technical accounting updates and risk assessments.
• Lead, manage, and mentor technical accounting professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performance, and learning-focused culture.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in technical accounting processes, systems, and reporting to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Align with key stakeholders across Finance (Controllership, FP&A, Tax, etc.) and non-Finance functions to ensure technical accounting processes support business performance.
• Oversee the integration and optimization of accounting systems and technologies to enhance data accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility.
• Attract, retain, and develop a high-performing technical accounting team globally.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and streamlining to drive efficiency and manage risk.

Required Skill and Experience Set – Technical, Business, and Strategy:

• At least 15+ years of demonstrated and highly successful experience in auditing and accounting roles of progressively increasing responsibility
• Significant experience at a Big Four public accounting firm with a proven track record in technical accounting, complex transactions, and advisory services for large, multinational organizations.
• Strong and decisive transformational leadership skills and equipped to lead a global organization
• Highly collaborative with proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with various external stakeholders.
• Strategic leadership along with people and team leadership skills and ability to partner, communicate and influence at the most senior levels within the Finance function.
• Agile and strategic mindset with the ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
• Impeccable communication skills at various levels of the company through oral, written and slide formats – can make the complex seem clear and compelling – able to articulate the vision, strategy, approach as well as risks and opportunities.
• Bold and aspirational leader who sets the highest standards, brings out the best in others and mentors employees across the organization. Not reluctant set and maintain the highest standards while rewarding great achievements, encouraging risk-taking, while challenging a team to develop new capabilities to deliver against high standards today and in the future.

Education and Credentials:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

$254,580 - $308,485

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect and may include the following: Medical, pharmacy, dental and vision care. Wellbeing support such as the BMS Living Life Better program and employee assistance programs (EAP). Financial well-being resources and a 401(K). Financial protection benefits such as short- and long-term disability, life insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection and survivor support. Work-life programs include paid national holidays and optional holidays, Global Shutdown Days between Christmas and New Year’s holiday, up to 120 hours of paid vacation, up to two (2) paid days to volunteer, sick time off, and summer hours flexibility. Parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military leave. Family care services such as adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, fertility/infertility benefits, support for traveling mothers, and child, elder and pet care resources. Other perks like tuition reimbursement and a recognition program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

BMS cares about your well-being and the well-being of our staff, customers, patients, and communities. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that all employees be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and keep up to date with Covid-19 boosters.

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

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