Great company, but falls short on equitable treatment of the workforce - Associate Director, Finance Genentech Employee Review

3.0
Dec 11, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company has competitive pay, great benefits, management say the right things, and I believe they want to do the right things.

Cons

Management plays favorites with preferred employees in pay and promotion that goes beyond difference is demonstrated skills and tangible contributions. In Finance organization, excessive importance placed on commodity skills of "business partnering." Result is that core technical Finance and Accounting skills are not cultivated, support groups with these skills are small, and all technical work is channeled to these small groups as few people can or want to do it. Sr. management is more focused on their own self promotion than on developing their organizations.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jun 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great salary and team! The interview process was smooth and effective.

Cons

To be determined, but so far many alignment meetings. Some folks have frustuations around the re-org and strategy changes.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

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