The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager is responsible for leading finance and accounting functions for project‑based and after‑sales operations within a Japanese multinational corporation. The role oversees end‑to‑end accounting (daily, monthly, yearly), multi‑currency financial management, foreign exchange hedging, and financial governance, while ensuring compliance with IFRS/J‑GAAP/local statutory requirements and Japanese HQ reporting standards.
This position partners closely with Project, Service, Sales, and Japanese Headquarters to support long‑term profitability, cash flow stability, and financial transparency across the project and lifecycle business.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management & Business Partnering
- Act as a strategic finance business partner to Project Management and After‑Sales teams.
- Support pricing, cost control, margin analysis, and financial feasibility for long‑term projects and service contracts.
- Monitor financial performance by project, contract, and service segment.
- Provide management with accurate financial analysis, forecasts, and variance explanations.
2. Project & After‑Sales Accounting
- Oversee accounting for project‑based revenue, including:
o Percentage of Completion (POC) / milestone based revenue recognition
o Contract assets and liabilities
o Cost capitalization and project profitability analysis
- Manage after‑sales revenue streams, including maintenance contracts, spare parts, warranties, and service agreements.
- Ensure proper matching of cost, revenue, provisions, retention, and warranty accruals.
3. Hedging & Foreign Exchange Risk Management
- Identify and manage FX exposures arising from:
o Overseas suppliers and customers
o Long term project contracts
o Intercompany transactions with HQ and regional entities
- Develop and execute FX hedging strategies (forwards, swaps, options) aligned with HQ treasury policies.
- Monitor hedge effectiveness and ensure correct accounting treatment in line with applicable standards.
- Liaise with banks and corporate treasury for execution and reporting.
4. Multi‑Currency Accounting & Treasury
- Oversee accounting operations across multiple currencies, ensuring proper:
o FX revaluation and translation
o Recognition of foreign exchange gains/losses
o Consolidation reporting for HQ
- Manage daily cash flow, bank balances, and intercompany funding arrangements.
- Support cash forecasting for long project cycles and service contracts.
5. Accounting Operations (Daily /Monthly / Annual Close)
- Lead daily accounting operations, including journal entries, billing, and reconciliations.
- Manage monthly and annual closing, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
- Review balance sheet integrity, P&L accuracy, and cash flow statements.
- Ensure completeness of accruals, provisions, deferred revenue, and reserves.
6. Financial Reporting &Compliance
- Prepare management reports for local management and Japanese HQ, including bilingual or Japan‑formatted reports if required.
- Ensure compliance with:
o IFRS / J GAAP / local statutory GAAP
o Corporate accounting policies and internal controls
- Coordinate statutory audits, tax filings, and internal audits.
- Support transfer pricing documentation and intercompany reconciliations.
7. Internal Controls, Governance & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain strong internal controls aligned with Japanese MNC governance standards.
- Drive Kaizen‑style continuous improvement in finance processes, systems, and reporting quality.
- Develop and document SOPs, accounting policies, and internal guidelines.
- Support ERP implementation, enhancement, or system harmonization with HQ.
8. Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead, coach, and develop the finance and accounting team.
- Foster cross‑functional collaboration with Project, Service, Procurement, and Operations.
- Communicate effectively with Japanese HQ, regional finance, auditors, and external partners.
Qualifications & Experience
Education & Certification
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance (Master's degree preferred).
- CPA, ACCA, CA, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
Experience
- 8-12+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience.
- Strong background in project accounting and after‑sales/service business.
- Hands‑on experience in FX hedging and treasury management.
- Proven exposure to multi‑currency and intercompany accounting.
- Experience working in a Japanese MNC or with Japanese HQ reporting is highly preferred.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Deep understanding of project lifecycle finance and long‑term contracts
- Strong FX, hedging, and treasury knowledge
- High accuracy, discipline, and compliance mindset
- Ability to work in structured, hierarchical Japanese corporate environments
- Strong communication skills Japanese language ability is an advantage
- Leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management capabilities
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Accuracy and timeliness of project and service financial reporting
- Effectiveness of FX risk mitigation and hedging outcomes
- Quality of month‑end and year‑end closes
- Audit results and compliance metrics
- Improvement in cash flow predictability and project margins
