About the Role
- Team Size: 910
- Region Coverage: Southeast Asia, including Malaysia
- Reporting To: Group Financial Controller
- Nature of the Business: Manufacturing group in the industrial sector established in 1960s with a strong regional presence across Asia. The company operates across multiple Asian markets and is a midtolarge regional manufacturing group with annual revenue generally estimated in the hundreds of millions of USD range (US$500M+ brackets depending on subsidiary reporting and business cycle).
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering
- Collaborate with regional plant heads and department leaders to analyze business performance, product profitability, and cost structures.
- Provide financial insights and modeling to support strategic decisions such as pricing, cost optimization, and new market initiatives.
- Identify opportunities for operational efficiency, revenue growth, and cost reduction.
Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Prepare monthly management and statutory reports, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow, and KPIs (AR/AP turnover, sales-to-labor ratio, inventory efficiency).
- Supervise the finance team's day-to-day activities, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Fixed Assets, Inventory, and Costing functions.
- Conduct ad-hoc analyses and simulations to support management decisions.
Product Costing & Margin Analysis
- Maintain accurate standard costing and margin analysis; highlight key areas for operational improvement.
- Ensure compliance with group costing policies and perform regular cost rollups and evaluations.
Taxation & Compliance
- Coordinate with tax advisors on submissions, tax planning, and utilization of incentives.
- Maintain transfer pricing documentation and ensure compliance with local and international financial regulations.
Cash Flow & Inventory Management
- Monitor cash flow, manage accounts receivable/payable, optimize liquidity, and forecast funding needs.
- Track inventory turnover, manage aged stock, and coordinate with planning, sales, and procurement teams.
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Develop and monitor departmental budgets and forecasts in collaboration with business units.
- Provide variance analysis and actionable recommendations to senior management.
Financial Process Improvement
- Identify and implement process enhancements to improve accuracy, efficiency, and reporting.
- Support ERP and financial software integration initiatives, leveraging analytics tools for better decision-making.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Communicate financial insights effectively to non-finance stakeholders.
- Build relationships with auditors, banks, vendors, and other external partners.
Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum 15 years in finance/accounting within the manufacturing sector, including 8+ years in a managerial role.
- Strong cost accounting knowledge and experience working closely with operations in a factory environment.
- Excellent command of English; advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
- Proven expertise in financial planning, analysis, and budgeting.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
Core Competencies
Technical Skills: Accounting (IFRS), Internal Controls, Manufacturing Costing, Management Reporting & Analysis, Governance, Taxation
Soft Skills: Detail-oriented, analytical, results-driven, proactive, adaptable, stakeholder-focused, innovative
Leadership Skills: Team mentoring, ethical leadership, change management, influencing, cultural agility
