Regional Finance Manager, Southeast Asia

Functional Authority All finance and accounting functions within Southeast Asia (SEA) specifically Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines. Purpose of the Role The Regional Finance Manager serves as the Financial Control Advocate for Southeast Asia, ensuring financial governance, transparency, performance management, cash optimization, and compliance across all countries within the region. The role acts as a strategic business partner to regional and country management, providing timely financial insights, driving profitability improvement, ensuring alignment with Group policies, and maintaining robust financial controls throughout the region. Key Accountabilities Regional Financial Governance & Control Ensure consistent application of Group accounting policies, financial controls, and reporting standards across all SEA entities. Act as the primary regional finance escalation point for all countries. Monitor financial risks, internal controls, and compliance requirements. Ensure adherence to local statutory, tax, and fiscal regulations in all countries. Drive standardization and harmonization of finance processes throughout the region. Financial Performance Management Lead monthly regional financial reviews with Country MDs and Finance Managers. Consolidate and analyze regional financial performance, profitability, productivity, and cash flow. Identify risks and opportunities impacting regional financial performance. Drive corrective action plans for underperforming countries, branches, or business units. Monitor key financial KPIs and ensure accountability for results. Regional Business Partnering Serve as trusted financial advisor to the Regional CFO and CEO and country leadership teams. Support strategic decision-making through financial analysis, business cases, and investment evaluations. Provide recommendations to improve profitability, working capital, and operational efficiency. Challenge business assumptions and ensure commercial decisions are financially sound. Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting Lead annual budget and strategic planning processes across Southeast Asia. Coordinate weekly and monthly forecasts with country finance and operations teams. Monitor budget adherence and forecast accuracy. Develop scenario analyses and financial models supporting business growth initiatives. Cash Flow & Working Capital Management Drive regional cash management strategies. Monitor liquidity, working capital, and funding requirements. Oversee collection performance and aging management across countries. Implement initiatives to improve DSO and DPO, cash conversion, and working capital efficiency. Ensure effective management of banking relationships within the region. Reporting & Regional Consolidation Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting. Prepare regional management reports and presentations for executive leadership. Analyse financial trends, variances, and operational performance indicators. Deliver actionable insights to regional stakeholders. Audit, Tax & Compliance Coordinate regional audit activities and support statutory audits. Oversee tax compliance and tax risk management across the region. Ensure implementation of audit recommendations and corrective actions. Act as key liaison with external auditors, tax advisors, and regulatory authorities where required. Systems & Process Improvement Drive automation, digitization, and process optimization initiatives. Promote data accuracy, reporting efficiency, and process standardization. Maintain accuracy of CargoWise, SAP FI/CO, BI, and reporting tools. Champion best practices and continuous improvement across the regional finance organization. Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop country finance teams across Southeast Asia. Build a high-performing finance organization focused on accountability, business partnership, and continuous improvement. Coach, mentor, and develop future finance leaders. Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across countries. Conduct performance reviews and succession planning for key finance positions. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Regional EBIT achievement Gross Profit conversion Budget and forecast accuracy Cash flow performance Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) Working Capital performance Reporting accuracy and timeliness Audit findings and compliance scores Cost control and productivity improvements Finance process standardization milestones Employee engagement and development within finance teams Required Qualifications & Experience Education Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related discipline. Professional qualification preferred (CPA, ACCA, CIMA, CA, or equivalent). Experience Minimum 7 years of progressive finance leadership experience. Experience managing multi-country finance operations within Southeast Asia. Logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain, or transportation industry experience strongly preferred. Proven track record in financial planning, business partnering, regional reporting, and financial control. Experience working within multinational organizations and matrix structures. Good command of English language, both written and oral. Technical Competencies Strong knowledge of accounting, IFRS and statutory reporting requirements. Working knowledge of local accounting, tax and statutory reporting obligations within Southeast Asia countries, specifically Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines. Financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Management reporting and business intelligence. Treasury and cash flow management. Internal controls and risk management. CargoWise, SAP FI/CO, SAP BI, and MS Office with advanced Excel capabilities. Financial modelling and investment evaluation. Leadership Competencies Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen. Highly detail oriented, strong analytical and problem solving skills. Influential business partner capable of challenging and supporting leadership teams. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. High integrity and ethical standards. Ability to lead across cultures and countries. Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities.