About the Role Team Size: 9-10 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 mid-to-large 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