SEA Finance Manager

Our client is looking for an experienced SEA Finance Manager to lead regional finance operations across Southeast Asia. This role oversees accounting, reporting, compliance, and financial governance, with strong emphasis on leadership, technical expertise, and multinational exposure.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accounting, Reporting & Compliance (Core Focus)

• Oversee month-end, quarter-end and year-end close for multiple SEA entities

• Ensure accurate reporting under US GAAP / IFRS and local GAAP

• Manage compliance with regional tax requirements (CIT, GST/VAT, annual tax filings)

• Work with internal teams and external consultants on tax submissions (no tax planning required)

• Lead statutory audits and ensure strong internal controls across the region

2. Business Partnering & FP&A (High-Level Involvement)

• Provide financial insights to support SEA management on operational and strategic decisions

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis

• Support evaluation of capex projects and business initiatives

• Identify financial risks/opportunities and propose mitigation actions

3. Leadership & Team Management

• Manage and develop a regional finance team

• Oversee recruitment, coaching, and performance culture

• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, compliance, and systems

4. Regional Projects

• Support entity establishment (e.g., Vietnam) including systems, processes, and team setup

• Assist in small-scale integrations or office consolidations when required

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (mandatory certifications like CPA/ACCA/MIA are an advantage)

• 10+ years experience in senior finance or accounting roles

• Strong background in multinational environments (US MNC exposure preferred)

• Proven experience managing teams of 5+ within a regional or multi-entity setup

• Strong technical foundation in US GAAP / IFRS, SEA tax and compliance (SG & MY required Vietnam exposure a plus)

• Experience handling audit, compliance, tax filings, and cross-border finance operations

• Proficient with SAP (must-have) exposure to financial reporting tools such as Hyperion or OneStream is a plus

• Excellent leadership, stakeholder communication, and decision-making skills

• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, complex environment

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong accounting and compliance backbone

• Confident in handling diverse regulatory requirements across SEA

• Experienced in managing finance teams and influencing senior stakeholders

• Hands-on, independent, and solutions-driven

• Comfortable navigating both day-to-day operations and higher-level strategy