ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Regional Finance Manager to lead the finance function across South-East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Philippines). This is a hands-on leadership role: beyond supervising the regional finance function, the candidate will personally handle consolidations, closings, reporting, and work directly in accounting systems while partnering closely with small local teams.

KEY CHALLENGES

In addition to running the recurring finance cycle, the role includes a strong transformation mandate:

• Restructure the regional finance team (~14 people): roles, reporting lines, skill mix, capability upgrade to meet group standards (reporting, control, cash).
• Design and help establish a regional Finance & Accounting Shared Service Centre serving all BUs.
• Lead migration from local systems (QuickBooks, UBS, etc.) to the group Oracle-based system (Harmony).
• Drive second-phase migration to the new Sage-based ERP.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Member of the South-East Asia Management Board.
• Hands-on delivery: prepare regional consolidation, group reporting, reconciliations; support BU closings when needed.
• Oversee (and step into) day-to-day finance operations across BUs.
• Prepare financial statements, reports, forecasts; ensure reliability of figures.
• Support management decision-making.
• Develop and coach regional finance teams.
• Implement financial plans to support growth and profitability.
• Ensure efficient regional cash management.
• Oversee cost control (projects and overheads).
• Manage relationships with banks, auditors, suppliers, clients.
• Maintain close liaison with Head Office.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

Organisation & reporting

• Define SEA financial calendar aligned with group deadlines.
• Run quarterly reforecast/budget cycles.
• Lead month-end, fast-close and year-end closings.
• Prepare full regional consolidation (actuals, forecast, budget).
• Present financial performance to SEA Board and Head Office.
• Monitor cross-BU regional costs.

Treasury & financing

• Manage bank guarantees and facilities (annual review).
• Maintain bank relationships and FX hedging.
• Define payment authorisation rules per BU.

Cash management

• Ensure collection discipline (claims, invoices, retentions).
• Monitor liquidity per BU and manage intercompany transfers (tax-compliant).
• Prepare and follow HQ funding requests.
• Optimise interest (credit interest, deposits).

Group reporting

• Deliver monthly, forecast and budget submissions.
• Prepare intercompany reports, IFRS 16 leases, HR reporting.
• Conduct compliance checks (Watson) for clients/suppliers.

Insurance & HR

• Ensure annual renewal of all insurance policies.
• Monitor expatriate contracts and local labour compliance.

Assets & operations

• Supervise accounting for the equipment fleet.
• Update internal rental pricing.
• Ensure correct intercompany invoicing and contract alignment.
• Monitor IT cost recharges.
• Review project budgets regularly.

• Degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics. 
• A professional qualification (CPA, CFA, ACCA or similar) is a plus
• Proven, hands-on experience as a Finance Manager, ideally in a multi-country, multi-currency environment
• (South-East Asia or comparable emerging markets a strong plus). 
• Genuinely hands-on and detail-oriented — comfortable personally preparing financial statements, consolidations and reports, and working directly in the accounting / ERP system rather than only reviewing others’ work. 
• Able to work autonomously with lean, locally-based teams and to move easily between strategic oversight and day-to-day execution. 
• Solid working knowledge of IFRS and group consolidation/reporting (including IFRS 16, intercompany flows and Watson compliance procedures). 
• Hands-on experience with ERP and accounting systems (ideally QuickBooks, UBS and Oracle-based group tools such as Harmony); a track record of leading ERP migrations and finance-transformation or shared-service projects is a strong advantage, as the group moves to a new Sage-based ERP. 
• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to manage, guide and lead teams toward sound financial processes. 
• Solid grounding in accounting principles and the relevant statutory legislation and regulations; proficient with  finance software; 
• Fluent in English