Chain Drug Review spoke recently with Amber Hussain Siddique, director of finance at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories North America. Siddique leads the North America Controlling function, where he oversees expenditure evaluation, cross-functional collaboration on cost-saving initiatives, inventory operations, accounts
payable, treasury, budgeting, forecasting and business reviews.
His deep understanding of pharmaceutical supply chain operations — including inventory management, cost optimization and strategic savings programs — is instrumental in driving operational efficiency and delivering measurable business value in a highly regulated and complex environment.
CDR: Can you tell us a little about what being director of finance entails?
SIDDIQUE: Before I brief you on what I do for Dr. Reddy’s, I want to take two minutes to talk about the organization and follow it with the role I play there. Dr. Reddy’s is a pharmaceutical company whose mission is Good Health Can’t Wait. And as an organization, our purpose is accelerating access to affordable and innovative medicines. Having said this, in my position as director of finance for North America, my role entails enabling the organization to meet its purpose.
In my individual capacity as a lead finance controller, I am responsible for various activities which entail, first, ensuring the accuracy of financials for enabling better
decision making by shareholders, management, customers, external parties, etc. Secondly, inventory management, followed by new business responsibilities, overseeing treasury and banking operations and managing operating expenses, spending, and continually looking for efficiencies.
Recently, I had an insightful discussion with Stephen Peterson, vice president and head of North American finance, about how these areas connect to our broader financial strategy. That conversation reinforced the importance of aligning cost optimization with long-term growth, and it was great to exchange ideas on how finance can drive value beyond numbers.
I started my career with Dr. Reddy’s right after qualifying as a chartered accountant, which is equivalent to U.S. certified public accountant (CPA). It’s been about eight years now with the company.
Do you want me to get into a little more detail?
CDR: Sure, that’s something I think many of our readers would be interested in.
SIDDIQUE: As part of the controlling function here at Dr. Reddy’s, I oversee the entire operating expenses for North America. That includes everything from accounting and budgeting to forecasting and making sure we’re optimizing our spend in line with corporate targets. We look at various categories — staff costs, quality-related expenses, regulatory spend — and work to ensure every dollar is being used effectively.
Another major part of my role is managing the savings targets for North America. These targets run into millions of dollars annually, and they’re set by our corporate team to help improve profitability. I work closely with supply chain and marketing to brainstorm and implement ideas that drive savings. It’s a great example of cross-functional collaboration — finance, supply chain and marketing all coming together to deliver results.
I also lead the payables’ function, which involves managing around 7,000 to 8,000 invoices a year. It’s critical to ensure vendors are paid on time, and I’m supported by two team members from KPMG who help manage this outsourced process.
On the inventory side, I work with a team member based in India to make sure our inventory levels are optimized. The goal is to avoid tying up too much capital and to minimize losses due to expiry or short-dating. We’ve launched several initiatives to keep things lean and efficient.
As part of our growth strategy, Dr. Reddy’s is expanding into new areas like dietary supplements and biosimilars. Since these are newer businesses, they require closer attention. I lead the business reviews for both, tracking performance and ensuring we’re being very mindful about how we spend.
I also handle treasury operations — making sure our banking activities run smoothly, managing funds across entities, and ensuring any excess cash is invested wisely to maximize returns.
Lastly, I manage audits for our business units, which is quite a comprehensive task since we’re audited by statutory, internal and SOX auditors. And I lead automation initiatives to streamline processes and improve efficiency across the board.
CDR: What do you find most interesting about what you do?
SIDDIQUE: There are three areas of my work that I find especially exciting and meaningful.
The first is working on savings projects. This is where I really feel I’m adding value — not just to the organization, but to society at large. Every dollar we save helps us offer more-affordable medicines, which makes a real difference in people’s lives. It’s a win-win for both the company and the public. Personally, this has helped me step out of the traditional accountant role and evolve into a strategic business partner. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the impact of that shift.
The second area is inventory management, which I find equally fascinating. It’s not just about internal coordination — it often involves working with external partners like CMOs and CPOs. Internally, it’s a highly collaborative space where I get to engage with teams across production, supply chain, marketing, tax, logistics, customer service and even our global CFO. It’s a dynamic environment that constantly challenges me and broadens my perspective.
The third area is managing operating expenses. I work closely with around 25 senior leaders to handle budgeting, accounting and spend optimization. The scale is significant — we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s a big responsibility, but also a space where I see the tangible impact of my work beyond the usual finance routines I was trained for.
These three areas — savings, inventory and operating expenses — are where I truly feel I’m making a difference and contributing to something bigger than just the numbers.
CDR: OK, great. The next question is what do you find most challenging about what you do?
SIDDIQUE: The area which I find both challenging and rewarding is delivering on corporate savings targets and driving optimization. This is a recurring goal each year, and it requires a lot of creativity to identify new opportunities. What made sense last year might not be valid this year, so we need to justify those changes. It involves challenging senior leaders and collaborating closely with them to pinpoint areas for optimization that have minimal impact on the business. It’s a tough task, but one I genuinely enjoy.
CDR: It sounds like that could be very challenging. Another question I have is for someone who’s looking to eventually have a position like yours — what type of skills, what type of training would you recommend to them?
SIDDIQUE: To do my job well, I really need strong business partnering skills. I work closely with senior leaders, external partners and auditors, so it’s important to approach situations thoughtfully and with balance. It’s all about understanding what they need, aligning that with our business goals and finding solutions that work for everyone. Sometimes I need to be firm to drive results, and other times I must be empathetic and flexible to navigate challenges. It’s a mix of knowing when to push and when to listen. Sometimes I need to be firm to drive results, and other times I must be empathetic and flexible to navigate challenges. It’s a mix of knowing when to push and when to listen. Of course, having a solid technical foundation in accounting and reporting is just as important.
Another key aspect is understanding the business itself. A lot of finance professionals tend to stay within the boundaries of accounting, but when you step out and really get to know the business, it changes how you see things. You start to analyze numbers differently, and everything begins to make more sense. It gives you a whole new perspective and allows you to contribute in a much more meaningful way.
CDR: When you first came to Dr. Reddy’s — I believe you said it was eight years ago —did you come in at a different position and work your way up to where you are now?
SIDDIQUE: I started my career with Dr. Reddy’s and have been with the company ever since. During my studies in India, I cleared the Chartered Accountancy exam — which is known to be one of the toughest exams out there. Not many people pass it, so getting through was a big achievement for me. I was recruited through campus placement, and that’s how my journey with Dr. Reddy’s began.
Right from the start, I was fortunate to be placed in a business finance role, which was quite rare for freshers. I replaced someone who had around eight years of experience. Most new joiners begin in internal audit, which is more of a learning phase. So naturally, I was a bit nervous — I didn’t know much about corporate culture at that point, and the role was a big step up from what I expected. But I took it on and managed responsibilities like accounting, budgeting and business partnering for a biologics plant.
Over the years, I’ve grown through multiple promotions, and eventually moved to the U.S. to take on the role of director of finance. It’s been a rewarding journey filled with learning, challenges and growth.
CDR: Having worked for Dr. Reddy’s for eight years, what do you like most about working for the company?
SIDDIQUE: What I really enjoy about working at Dr. Reddy’s is the constant challenges and the freedom we’re given to tackle them. Over the past eight years, I’ve always had the space to take initiatives — as long as I kept my seniors informed, I was trusted to make decisions and own the outcomes. There’s no micromanagement here, and that kind of trust really empowers you.
This is especially true in the finance department. I’ve had great managers, and the overall environment is very open. You can reach out to senior leadership directly, share your ideas, ask questions — there’s no rigid hierarchy. That openness helps us move quickly and get things done efficiently.
If I had to sum it up, I’d say the freedom and the challenges are what I appreciate most. Plus, Dr. Reddy’s takes good care of its employees. They make sure you’re rewarded well and stay financially motivated, which adds to the overall sense of value and support.
CDR: It sounds like your career path with Dr. Reddy’s has been mutually rewarding for both you and the company. And we really appreciate your taking the time to talk to us and telling us about your career and how it evolved.
SIDDIQUE: Thanks for your time as well.
