Finance Manager / Assistant Manager

About Our Client

Our client is a leading, rapid-growth player in the lifestyle retail and food manufacturing industry, known for its innovative brand presence and modern consumer concepts. They operate an integrated business model that spans from production to retail, offering a dynamic and fast-paced environment for professionals who thrive on operational excellence and strategic growth.

Job Summary

The Finance Manager / Assistant Manager will play a pivotal role in driving financial efficiency and operational excellence within a manufacturing-focused ecosystem. Reporting to the Director of Business Strategy, the successful candidate will oversee full-spectrum financial operations, ensuring stringent compliance and providing the strategic insights necessary to optimize production costs and business performance.

Job Responsibilities

• Financial Operations: Lead daily financial functions including accounts payable, receivable, and general ledger maintenance, ensuring high data integrity and timely month-end closing.

• Costing & Inventory: Oversee standard costing frameworks, perform deep-dive Bill of Materials (BOM) reviews, and manage variance analysis to safeguard profit margins.

• Strategic Planning: Lead the annual budgeting process and periodic forecasting, aligning financial targets with production output and operational capacity.

• Tax & Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance with SST, corporate tax requirements, and statutory reporting; manage relationships with auditors, tax agents, and regulatory bodies (LHDN, SSM, MITI).

• Process Optimization: Champion internal control frameworks and identify opportunities for ERP system enhancements to drive automation and reporting accuracy.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Supervise and coach the finance team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous professional development.

• Operational Analysis: Conduct deep-dive analysis into production variances and operational waste to drive meaningful cost-reduction initiatives.

• Cash Flow Management: Monitor monthly cash flow projections and working capital to ensure optimal liquidity for manufacturing cycles and business expansion.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Serve as a financial business partner to the production and procurement teams to provide data-driven insights on raw material sourcing and inventory valuation.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CIMA, or MIA are highly preferred.

• Experience: At least 7 years of professional finance experience, with a mandatory minimum of 3 years specifically within a manufacturing environment.
  

• Core Expertise: Proven expertise in manufacturing costing and inventory management is essential for this role.

• Technical Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS), SST, and local tax legislation.

• Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (financial modeling) and hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar).

• Soft Skills: A detail-oriented leader with strong analytical, negotiation, and decision-making capabilities.

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across various departments.