Head of Accounting Services, ASEAN

Are you a strategic finance leader with a passion for building high-performing teams, driving business growth, and transforming accounting operations across multiple markets

Acclime is seeking an experienced Head of Accounting Services, ASEAN to lead the strategic direction, commercial performance, and operational excellence of our Accounting Services business across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Reporting to the Regional Managing Director, ASEAN, you will work closely with market leaders to build a scalable, client-focused, and commercially successful Accounting Services platform while driving regional collaboration and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Regional Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and execute the ASEAN Accounting Services strategy aligned with Acclime's regional business objectives.
• Lead and provide strategic direction to the Heads of Accounting across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
• Drive regional business growth by establishing priorities, business plans and performance targets.
• Strengthen collaboration across markets while ensuring consistent service delivery and responsiveness to local client and regulatory requirements.
• Identify growth opportunities, support business integration initiatives, and represent the Accounting Services function in regional leadership discussions.

Regional Business Performance and Financial Management

• Lead the financial and operational performance of the ASEAN Accounting Services business.
• Oversee regional budgeting, forecasting, business planning, and financial performance.
• Monitor key business metrics, including revenue, profitability, utilisation, work-in-progress, billing, and collections.
• Partner with market Heads of Accounting to drive performance improvements and achieve regional business objectives.
• Enhance profitability, resource utilisation, and commercial performance through effective pricing, governance, and operational excellence.

Regional Client and Engagement Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight for key client engagements and complex cross-border projects.
• Ensure consistent service delivery, client experience, and quality standards across ASEAN.
• Act as the regional escalation point for significant client, commercial, and service delivery matters.
• Partner with market Heads of Accounting to strengthen client relationships, retention, and long-term growth.
• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships through higher-value accounting, advisory, and finance transformation services.

Regional Operating Model and Operational Excellence

• Develop and drive a consistent regional operating model for Accounting Services across ASEAN.
• Standardise processes, methodologies, service delivery standards, and governance across markets.
• Optimise resource planning, productivity, and cross-border collaboration to enhance operational efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve service quality, scalability, and client experience.
• Drive operational excellence through effective engagement management, workflow optimisation, and performance monitoring.

Technical Quality and Professional Standards

• Lead the regional technical and quality agenda for Accounting Services across ASEAN.
• Ensure consistent application of IFRS, local accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance on complex accounting and financial reporting matters in collaboration with market leaders.
• Drive regional quality assurance and governance to maintain high professional and service standards.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Risk Management and Governance

• Establish and lead the governance and risk management framework for the ASEAN Accounting Services business.
• Oversee operational, financial, regulatory, and client risks across the region.
• Partner with Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams to manage engagement risks, client acceptance, and contractual matters.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, professional standards, and regulatory requirements across all markets.
• Drive a strong culture of governance, accountability, and effective risk management.

Technology Transformation

• Lead the regional technology and transformation agenda for Accounting Services.
• Develop a roadmap for the adoption of common accounting platforms, workflow tools, automation, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
• Work with market teams to standardise and improve accounting processes and technology-enabled service delivery.
• Identify activities that can be automated or redesigned to improve accuracy, efficiency and scalability.
• Promote the use of cloud accounting and finance technology solutions.
• Ensure that technology initiatives are supported by appropriate implementation, training, governance and change-management plans.
• Encourage innovation and the sharing of leading practices.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, coach and support the Heads of Accounting.
• Work with market leaders to develop strong succession plans and a sustainable pipeline of future accounting leaders.
• Support the attraction, development, engagement and retention of high-performing accounting professionals.
• Promote regional mobility, secondments, knowledge sharing and cross-border career opportunities.
• Establish consistent leadership and performance expectations across the regional service line.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture focused on client service, commercial awareness and technical quality.
• Support workforce planning to ensure that the regional practice has the capacity and capabilities required to achieve its growth objectives.

Regional Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with other regional and market service leaders.
• Partner with Finance, Human Resources, Technology, Sales/Business Development and Marketing teams on service-line initiatives.
• Provide regular updates to regional leadership on financial performance, client developments, talent, risks and strategic initiatives.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, ICAEW, CIMA, MICPA or equivalent) and MIA membership preferred, not essential.
• Minimum 15 years of accounting experience, including 5-7 years in a senior leadership or leadership role within an accounting firm, professional services, or outsourcing environment.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and applicable local accounting and financial reporting standards.
• Familiarity with the accounting and regulatory environments in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Proficient in accounting software such as Xero, Business Central, QuickBooks, MYOB, or similar ERP systems.
• Proven experience leading an accounting, financial reporting or outsourced finance function across multiple offices, teams or jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated experience managing service-line financial performance, including revenue, profitability, utilisation, recoverability, work-in-progress and resource planning.
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining strong client relationships, providing trusted advisory services, and ensuring high levels of client satisfaction and retention.
• Commercially driven with the ability to identify business development opportunities, support client acquisition, expand existing client portfolios, and contribute to revenue growth.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.

Apply now and be part of our regional growth journey.