Finance Director SEA, Global Retail Organisation (Based in Malaysia)

A leading global retail organisation with a wellestablished and growing footprint across Southeast Asia is appointing a Finance Director, Southeast Asia, to join its regional leadership team.

This role represents a critical leadership position within the business, with significant influence over regional strategy, performance and governance. Based in Malaysia, the SEA Finance Director will report directly to the Regional Managing Director with a dotted reporting line to Global Finance. The role will serve as the senior finance leader for Southeast Asia, acting as a trusted business partner to regional and country leadership teams while ensuring strong alignment with global financial standards and priorities. The position will have oversight across multiple SEA markets and will require close collaboration within a complex, matrixed multinational environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving the endtoend regional finance agenda, including financial planning and analysis, annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, longrange strategic planning and performance management. They will provide insight and challenge to the business on revenue growth, margin optimisation, cost efficiency, capital allocation, and return on investment, supporting both organic growth and expansion initiatives across the region.

In addition, the role will have accountability for regional financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance with group accounting policies and local statutory requirements. This includes oversight of internal controls, governance frameworks, risk management, audit processes, tax matters, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. The Finance Director will play a key role in strengthening processes, driving standardisation where appropriate and supporting ongoing finance transformation and system improvements.

A core aspect of the role will be leading, mentoring and developing a highperforming regional finance team, including country finance leads. The individual will be expected to build strong bench strength, foster a commercial mindset within the finance function and partner effectively with nonfinance stakeholders across operations, merchandising, supply chain and corporate functions. Acting as the key interface between regional operations and global finance, the role will translate strategic priorities into executable financial outcomes.

Candidates should possess a minimum of 1218 years of progressive finance experience with at least 57 years at a senior leadership level within regional or multicountry roles. A strong background within retail, consumer and FMCG is essential, ideally within large, international organisations. Proven experience managing finance across multiple Southeast Asian markets is highly preferred. Applicants must hold a degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline, with professional qualifications such as CPA, ACCA, or CA strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong commercial acumen, executive presence, and the ability to influence, challenge and partner with senior leadership. Experience operating in a matrixed, multinational structure, navigating complexity, and balancing global and local priorities will be critical. The role requires a handson leader who is both strategic and operationally grounded, with the maturity to operate at board and executive level.

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