Position Summary
The Finance Shared Services Manager is responsible for establishing and leading a Finance Shared Services function supporting the Group's Southeast Asia entities. This role will centralise and standardise finance processes to improve operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and ensure consistent, high-quality financial and statutory reporting.
Reporting to the Group Senior Finance Manager at HQ, the incumbent will play a key role in designing and implementing shared finance processes, policies, controls, and service standards while overseeing day-to-day accounting operations and regulatory compliance. As this is a newly created position, the role requires a hands-on leader who can build practical and scalable processes, drive continuous improvement, and foster strong collaboration with finance and business stakeholders across the region.
The ideal candidate brings solid experience in accounting operations, multi-entity finance management, and finance process transformation, with demonstrated success in setting up or enhancing centralised finance functions within a small to mid-sized organisation. The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with operational execution to establish an efficient, well-controlled, and service-oriented finance shared services function that supports the Group's continued growth.
Responsibilities
Shared Services Set-up & Transformation
- Design and implement standardized finance processes, policies, and internal controls across all supported entities.
- Lead transition activities, including process migration from local finance teams into the shared services environment.
- Develop and implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and reporting dashboards to measure service delivery performance.
- Drive finance transformation initiatives, automation, and continuous process improvements to enhance efficiency and service quality.
Financial Operations
- Manage end-to-end accounting operations, including
- General Ledger (GL)
- Accounts Payable (AP)
- Accounts Receivable (AR)
- Fixed Assets
- Intercompany transactions
- Bank reconciliations
- Costing
- Month-end and year-end closing
- Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in accordance with corporate policies and applicable accounting standards.
- Review balance sheet reconciliations and maintain strong financial controls.
- Ensure compliance with delegated authority, financial policies, and internal control requirements.
Statutory & Regulatory Compliance
- Oversee statutory accounting and financial reporting requirements across Southeast Asia entities.
- Ensure timely completion of statutory audits, tax reporting, GST/VAT/ SST filings, e-Invoice requirements and other regulatory obligations.
- Partner with external auditors, tax advisors, and local finance teams to ensure compliance with country-specific requirements.
- Monitor regulatory developments and implement necessary process or policy changes.
Process Improvement & Systems
- Identify opportunities to automate, simplify, and standardize finance processes.
- Collaborate with Finance Systems and IT teams to optimize ERP systems and reporting capabilities.
- Lead implementation of finance technologies and digital initiatives to improve operational efficiency.
- Promote best practices, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the shared services organization.
Stakeholder Management
- Act as the primary point of contact for finance shared services across Southeast Asia.
- Provide regular updates to senior management on operational performance, risks, and improvement initiatives.
- Manage stakeholder expectations while ensuring high-quality service delivery.
People Leadership
- Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing shared services team.
- Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Lead change management initiatives to support organizational transformation.
Experience
- Minimum 8 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, with at least 3 -5 years in a managerial or supervisory role.
- Hands-on experience in designing and implementing finance policies, workflows, controls, and operating procedures across multiple legal entities in Southeast Asia.
- Strong knowledge of financial accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, and statutory compliance.
- Familiarity with ERP systems and finance applications, with experience in driving system optimisation and process automation.
- Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement initiatives and implement best practices to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service quality.
- Experience working with external auditors, tax agents, and regulatory authorities.
- Strong project management and change management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a growing organisation.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to build, coach, and develop a small, high-performing finance team.
Qualifications
- Degree or professional qualification in Accountancy
- Professional accounting qualification preferred.
Competencies
Technical
- Finance Shared Services and Operating Model Design
- Regional Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Statutory and Regulatory Compliance (Southeast Asia)
- Financial Close
- Internal Controls, Governance, and Risk Management
- Process Standardization and Continuous Improvement
- ERP Systems
- Process Automation and Digitalisation
- Performance Management using Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Project Management and Process Migration
- Financial Reporting
Non-Technical
- Change Leadership and Change Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Customer Service Orientation
- Communication Skills
- Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
- Decision Making and Sound Judgement
- Planning, Prioritisation, and Organisational Skills
- Results Orientation and Accountability
- Adaptability and Resilience
- Coaching and Team Development
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
- Cultural Awareness and Ability to Work Across Southeast Asian Markets
