Plant Controller & Group Costing Lead

Role Overview The Plant Controller & Group Costing Lead will be responsible for finance and controlling oversight for the Penang plant, while also leading plant-by-plant costing setup and improvement projects across the Group. The role will support the Group CFO and Singapore HQ in strengthening plant-level financial visibility, cost control, manufacturing cost analysis, and costing discipline. The incumbent will work closely with the Penang plant leadership team, Singapore finance team, operations, supply chain, engineering, and relevant plant stakeholders across different sites. In addition to the Penang plant finance scope, the incumbent will lead the setup and continuous oversight of costing frameworks across the Group’s manufacturing plants, starting with Bintan as the first site. This includes reviewing costing methodology, manufacturing cost drivers, variance analysis, and cost reduction opportunities on a plant-by-plant basis. The role will be based in Penang, with regional travel required depending on project and business needs. Reporting Line The role will report to the Group CFO and work closely with Singapore HQ, the Penang plant leadership team, the Penang finance team, Singapore finance team, plant stakeholders, operations leaders, supply chain teams, and relevant business stakeholders across the Group. Key Responsibilities 1. Penang Plant Finance and Controlling · Oversee finance and controlling matters for the Penang plant, covering plant reporting, cost control, operating expenses, inventory, working capital, and plant-level financial performance. · Review and validate financial information prepared by the Penang finance team and Singapore finance team. · Provide oversight of AP, AR, and e-invoicing activities handled by the Penang finance team to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with internal requirements. · Review GL, month-end closing, and accounts closing outputs prepared by the Singapore finance team for the Penang plant. · Ensure timely and accurate submission of Penang plant financial results, schedules, analysis, and reporting packs to Group Finance and Singapore HQ. · Review plant-level cost movements, operating expenses, inventory balances, accruals, provisions, and cost allocations. · Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis for the Penang plant in coordination with Group Finance and the Group FP&A Manager. · Work closely with plant leadership to provide finance input on operational matters, cost control, resource planning, and business decision-making. · Maintain proper financial controls, accounting discipline, and compliance with group finance policies and relevant accounting standards. 2. Costing Framework Setup and Continuous Oversight · Lead the setup and continuous oversight of costing frameworks across the Group’s manufacturing plants. · Review existing costing practices, cost structures, and manufacturing cost drivers at assigned plants, starting with Bintan as the first implementation site. · Analyze material costs, labor hours, machine hours, overhead allocation, production flow, scrap, rework, yield, and inventory-related costs. · Work with plant stakeholders to improve costing accuracy, data consistency, and cost reporting discipline. · Support standard costing, variance analysis, inventory valuation, product costing, and margin analysis for relevant product lines and manufacturing activities. · Identify gaps in current costing practices and recommend practical improvements to costing methodology, reporting, and cost control processes. · Partner with operations, procurement, supply chain, and engineering teams to identify cost reduction opportunities. · Track project progress, key findings, corrective actions, and improvement outcomes across assigned plants. 3. SAP Costing Readiness and Process Improvement · Support costing-related workstreams for the upcoming SAP system upgrade, particularly where related to Penang plant finance and plant costing projects. · Work with finance, operations, and system stakeholders to align costing requirements, cost centres, product costing logic, inventory valuation, and reporting needs. · Support user requirements gathering, data validation, testing, and post-implementation follow-up where related to costing, inventory, and plant finance. · Assist in improving finance processes, costing templates, reporting discipline, and data quality across assigned plant scopes. 4. Stakeholder Management and Reporting · Act as a finance partner to plant, operations, supply chain, engineering, and finance teams on plant finance, costing, and manufacturing cost matters. · Translate operational issues into clear financial impact and actionable insights. · Prepare review comments, variance explanations, plant finance analysis, and costing project updates for the Group CFO and Singapore HQ. · Ensure costing, inventory, plant accounting, and finance practices are aligned with internal controls and relevant accounting standards, including IFRS. Requirements · Degree in Accountancy, Finance, Business, Engineering, or related discipline. · At least 8 to 10 years of relevant experience in plant finance, controlling, costing, manufacturing finance, or operational accounting within a manufacturing environment. · Strong knowledge of plant finance, standard costing, variance analysis, inventory valuation, manufacturing cost drivers, cost allocation, and margin analysis. · Good understanding of IFRS, particularly as it relates to inventory, costing, manufacturing finance, and plant accounting matters. · Prior experience in precision engineering, semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, EMS, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing will be preferred. · SAP exposure is preferred. Experience supporting SAP implementation, SAP upgrade, or costing-related workstreams will be advantageous. · Regional or multi-site manufacturing exposure will be an advantage. · Experience reviewing plant-level reporting, month-end close outputs, inventory accounting, cost allocation, AP, AR, e-invoicing, and operational finance matters will be useful. · Comfortable working with plant operations, supply chain, engineering, and finance teams across different locations. · Willing to travel regionally depending on project and business needs. Personal Attributes · Hands-on, analytical, and structured. · Strong attention to detail, with the ability to review and challenge financial and operational data. · Able to connect plant operations, costing assumptions, and financial outcomes. · Clear communicator with the ability to work with finance and non-finance stakeholders. · Practical, execution-focused, and comfortable working in a multi-site manufacturing environment.