Business Controller

About Nova

Nova Group is a Singapore-based shipping company operating across dry bulk/breakbulk and tanker shipping. We transport cargo including woodchips, pulp and paper, and crude and refined palm oil. Nova manages and operates a fleet of chemical tankers and woodchip/pulp carriers and is active across voyage, trip and period chartering.

Role Summary

The Business Controller will be a key finance partner to the business, with responsibility across FP&A, voyage profitability, treasury and financing, financial governance and business control.

The role requires strong shipping industry experience, particularly within a ship owner, ship operator or chartering environment, with a good understanding of voyage accounting and the ability to translate operational and commercial performance into meaningful financial insights.

Key Responsibilities

FP&A & Management Reporting

• Lead the preparation and timely submission of monthly management reports, including flash reports, EBITDA reports, variance analysis and cash flow reporting.
• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process, with particular focus on voyage profitability and cash flow requirements.
• Prepare and consolidate materials for Board Meetings and Financial & Operational Review Meetings (FORM).
• Provide transparent cost and profitability analysis to support commercial and management decision-making.
• Monitor voyage performance and analyse key drivers of profitability and variances.

Treasury & Financing

• Manage daily cash positions across multiple currencies and bank accounts, ensuring adequate liquidity for vessel operations and corporate requirements.
• Coordinate internal cash transfers, FX transactions and treasury risk management activities.
• Prepare and submit FX exposure reports in a timely manner.
• Maintain banking relationships and support vessel and working capital financing.
• Monitor loan covenants, repayment schedules and interest payments.
• Coordinate with banks and leasing institutions on drawdowns, repayments and facility renewals.

Business Control & Governance

• Ensure adherence to the Chart of Authority and established internal control requirements.
• Monitor Accounts Receivable and drive timely collection of outstanding balances.
• Monitor voyage, operating and running costs against budgets and identify key variances.
• Ensure KYC procedures are properly conducted for charterers, ship owners and other counterparties.
• Liaise with legal and compliance teams to maintain regulatory compliance across relevant jurisdictions.
• Drive continuous process improvement by simplifying workflows, strengthening controls and eliminating unnecessary reporting and administrative work.

Systems & Administration

• Support effective use of voyage and financial systems to improve reporting accuracy and efficiency.
• Perform administrative responsibilities for the Nova Workspace system as required.

Requirements

• Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline; CA, CPA or ACCA qualification preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant finance experience, with strong exposure to FP&A, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and cost control.
• Direct experience with a ship owner, ship operator or charterer, with strong knowledge of voyage accounting and voyage profitability.
• Hands-on experience with Veson IMOS, ShipNet or equivalent voyage management systems.
• Experience in treasury and financing, including cash management, FX, banking, vessel/working capital financing and loan administration.
• Strong financial governance and business control experience, including AR management, compliance and process improvement.
• Strong business partnering skills with the ability to work closely with Commercial, Operations and senior management.
• Hands-on, proactive and adaptable, with strong ownership and the ability to operate effectively in a dynamic shipping environment.