Job Title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Company: High-Growth Retail & Consumer Group
Location: Klang Valley, Malaysia
Employment Type: Full-time, Executive Leadership
Reporting Line: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Board of Directors (BOD)
Supervises: Group Financial Controller, Finance Managers, FP&A, Corporate Finance, Treasury, and Tax Teams
POSITION OVERVIEW & STRATEGIC MANDATE
We are seeking a visionary, commercially agile, and governance-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the executive leadership team of a fast-scaling, multi-outlet retail and consumer organization. As the company enters its next phase of aggressive domestic and regional expansion, the CFO will serve as the primary strategic co-pilot to the CEO, Founders, and Board of Directors.
Beyond safeguarding the group's financial integrity, this role carries two critical mandates: scaling multi-outlet retail commercial performance and spearheading the group’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) readiness and listing execution on Bursa Malaysia (ACE Market / Main Market). The ideal candidate combines hands-on retail unit economics expertise with proven capital markets pedigree, guiding the company through pre-IPO restructuring, regulatory filings, investor relations, and post-listing governance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. IPO Readiness, Capital Markets & Corporate Finance (~35%)
- End-to-End IPO Execution: Lead the group’s IPO roadmap and listing preparation on Bursa Malaysia (Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements).
- Due Diligence Working Group (DDWG) Leadership: Serve as the primary corporate anchor in the DDWG, coordinating closely with Principal Advisers, Sponsors, Reporting Accountants, Legal Counsels, Independent Market Researchers, and Valuers.
- Prospectus & Regulatory Filings: Oversee the financial sections of the IPO Prospectus, Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), pro-forma financial statements, profit/cash flow projections, and responses to regulatory queries from the Securities Commission (SC) and Bursa Malaysia.
- Pre-IPO Restructuring & Capital Raising: Direct pre-IPO corporate restructuring exercises, ESOS structuring, private placements, pre-IPO institutional fundraising, and capital structure optimization.
- Investor Relations (IR): Develop the equity story alongside the CEO, lead institutional investor roadshows, and establish post-listing investor communication frameworks.
2. Strategic Business Partnering & Retail Commercial Finance (~30%)
- Executive Co-Pilot: Partner with the CEO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Retail Operations heads to drive top-line revenue growth, store expansion velocity, and EBITDA margin expansion.
- Retail Unit Economics & Store Expansion: Establish rigorous financial feasibility frameworks for new store/outlet openings (CAPEX payback, store-level breakeven, same-store sales growth / SSSG, and rent-to-revenue ratios).
- Margin & Pricing Governance: Drive gross margin optimization across retail channels (brick-and-mortar outlets, e-commerce/DTC, omnichannel, and central kitchen/commissary operations if applicable), evaluating promotional mechanics, rebate structures, and supplier terms.
- FP&A & Long-Range Planning: Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and 3-to-5-year strategic business plans, translating operational retail metrics (footfall, basket size, inventory turns) into clear financial intelligence.
3. Group Financial Reporting, Controllership & Governance (~20%)
- Group Consolidation & MFRS Compliance: Oversee timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual group financial closes in strict adherence to Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS / IFRS)—with particular mastery over MFRS 16 (Leases) for multi-outlet retail portfolios and MFRS 15 (Revenue Recognition).
- Board & Audit Committee Stewardship: Prepare comprehensive Board papers, Audit Committee packs, and Risk Management reports; uphold the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG).
- Internal Controls & Risk Management: Build institutional-grade internal controls, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Limits of Authority (LOA) capable of withstanding public-listed scrutiny.
4. Treasury, Working Capital & Systems Transformation (~15%)
- Cash Flow & Liquidity Management: Manage group treasury, cash conversion cycles, daily retail POS cash reconciliations, banking facilities, and debt covenants.
- Inventory & Supply Chain Finance: Partner with Supply Chain and Merchandising teams to optimize inventory holding levels, reduce shrinkage/wastage, and negotiate favorable vendor credit terms.
- Digital Finance & ERP Scaling: Champion ERP enhancements, POS-to-GL automated integrations, and Business Intelligence (Power BI) dashboards to support high-volume daily retail transactions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Education & Professional Credentials:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related business field.
- Mandatory: Chartered Accountant registered with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and full membership in a recognized professional accounting body (ACCA, CPA Australia, ICAEW, MICPA, CIMA).
Work Experience:
- 15+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including at least 5+ years in a CFO or Group Financial Controller capacity.
- Bursa Malaysia IPO Track Record (Essential): Proven, hands-on experience taking a Malaysian company through an IPO listing on Bursa Malaysia (Main or ACE Market) or managing post-IPO listed company reporting, corporate exercises, and SC/Bursa regulatory compliance.
- Retail / Multi-Outlet Consumer Experience (Strongly Preferred): Direct leadership experience within high-volume, multi-outlet retail, F&B chain, FMCG, or consumer-facing businesses, demonstrating mastery over store-level P&Ls, lease accounting (MFRS 16), POS reconciliations, and inventory management.
- Formative training in a Big 4 accounting firm (audit or transaction advisory/corporate finance) is highly advantageous.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES & LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES
- Entrepreneurial & High-Velocity Mindset: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, founder-led or high-growth retail environment; able to build institutional structure without stifling commercial agility.
- Uncompromising Integrity & Governance: Strong ethical compass with the gravitas and backbone to uphold regulatory standards, audit integrity, and fiduciary duties in front of regulators and institutional investors.
- Commercial & Analytical Acumen: Looks beyond historical accounting to understand retail customer behavior, store expansion ROI, and supply chain drivers.
- Executive Presence & Communication: Exceptional stakeholder management and presentation skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia (Mandarin fluency is a strong advantage for engaging regional investors, landlords, and supply chain partners).
