About the Opportunity
Our client is an established precision engineering and component manufacturing business with a manufacturing footprint across Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Finance Director will be a key member of the leadership team, driving financial performance while partnering closely with the business to support its next phase of growth and transformation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering
- Serve as the key finance business partner to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.
- Drive business performance by improving gross margins, profitability, and operational efficiency.
- Lead initiatives to optimize cost management, cash generation, and working capital performance, including cash conversion cycle improvements.
- Lead treasury management, including cash flow forecasting, liquidity planning, banking relationships, financing activities, and working capital optimization.
- Provide commercial and financial insights to support pricing strategies and key business decisions.
- Support mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including financial due diligence, valuation support, integration planning, and post-acquisition finance integration where applicable.
- Take a holistic view of the business, balancing commercial opportunities with operational and financial discipline.
Manufacturing Finance
- Lead finance activities within a manufacturing environment, with a strong focus on understanding key manufacturing cost drivers.
- Drive continuous improvements in cost control, productivity, and operational performance.
- Partner closely with operations to ensure efficient inventory management, avoiding unnecessary inventory build-up while meeting customer requirements.
Regional Finance Leadership & Transformation
- Lead a regional finance organization of approximately 20 finance professionals across multiple manufacturing sites in Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam.
- Drive greater standardization and centralization of finance operations, fostering a collaborative One Finance Team culture across all locations.
- Review and optimize the current finance organization structure, supporting change management and organizational transformation initiatives.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Drive finance process improvements and system enhancements across the region.
- Support the implementation of a new group financial consolidation platform and improve reporting capabilities.
- Champion best practices in financial reporting, governance, and internal controls.
Requirements
Experience
- Proven experience as a Finance Director, Head of Finance, or Financial Controller within an established manufacturing environment.
- Strong background in precision engineering, industrial manufacturing, or component manufacturing.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures, gross margin improvement, inventory management, and operational finance.
- Experience leading regional finance teams and driving finance transformation or centralization initiatives.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence operational and strategic decisions.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
- Hands-on leader who is comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
- High energy, resilient, and motivated to drive change in a transformation environment.
- Strong business partnering skills with the ability to earn trust and influence stakeholders across all levels.
- Mandarin proficiency is required to communicate effectively with stakeholders across the regional manufacturing operations.
- Regional travel will be required as business needs arise.
