Position Overview:
The Financial Controller is a key executive responsible for guiding the company's financial strategy, overseeing financial operations, and supporting significant business growth. The Financial Controller will work closely with the Acting CEO/ COO and the board of directors to ensure the company's financial health and strategic objectives are met.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Lead financial planning and commercial evaluation of regional expansion initiatives, including viability assessment, risk analysis, and market entry strategies.
- Own end-to-end fundraising activities (including growth rounds),partnering with the Acting CEO/ COO on financial models, investor materials, due diligence, negotiations, and deal closure.
- Maintain transparent and ongoing communication with investors, ensuring timely updates, reporting, and relationship management throughout funding cycles.
- Participate in board-level discussions, provide financial and strategic insights, and contribute to long-term corporate strategy and decision-making.
- Ensure full compliance with statutory, tax, audit, and regulatory requirements while implementing risk management frameworks to protect assets and reputation.
- Oversee Financial Planning and Analysis activities including budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, KPI tracking, cash flow management, and performance reporting.
- Establish and maintain robust financial controls, policies, and processes to improve operational efficiency and ensure accurate financial management.
- Lead evaluation of partnerships, business development opportunities, and manage relationships with auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, and other external stakeholders while fostering strong organizational culture.
- Coordinate closely with headquarters in Japan on the implementation of group policies, financial frameworks, and strategic initiatives, including regular reporting and alignment discussions conducted in Japanese.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Minimum bachelor's degree in economics, finance, accountancy, or possess an accountancy professional qualification (CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or other equivalent) with at least 12 years of relevant experience.
- Experience in accounting or financial analysis to create and improve financial operational processes.
- Have a good understanding of Investment banking, Custody, Debt Capital Markets, and Flow/FX businesses and the processes around them.
- Have good communication skills- both written and verbal, with the ability to develop strong working relationships with senior business partners, resolving problems cross-functionally across departments and regions.
- Solid knowledge of local accounting standards, regulatory MAS and tax reporting.
- Excellent business and commercial judgement, analytical and decision-making skills.
- Has experience working in an international cultural team with global / regional reporting lines and any experience working with companies based in Japan will be an advantage.
- Fluency in Japanese (written and spoken) is required to effectively liaise with headquarters in Japan, support policy implementation, and manage regular reporting and stakeholder communications.
