JOB DESCRIPTION: REGIONAL FINANCIAL CONTROLLER (ASEAN + CHINA)
CFO SUCCESSION PIPELINE ROLE
COMPANY OVERVIEW
We are a leading regional manufacturer and distributor of heavy steel foundation, piling, and civil engineering infrastructure solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Operating integrated manufacturing facilities and executing major infrastructure project contracts across ASEAN and China, we deliver high-performance structural components to prestigious civil engineering, marine, and foundation projects.
To support our next phase of regional growth and long-term executive succession, we are seeking an outstanding, high-caliber Regional Financial Controller (ASEAN + China). This position is strategically structured as a direct successor pathway to the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) within a 24-month horizon.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Regional Financial Controller (ASEAN + China) will oversee the end-to-end financial operations, manufacturing controllership, project accounting governance, and strategic financial management across all operating entities in Southeast Asia and China.
Reporting directly to the Group CFO and partnering closely with Regional Managing Directors, the successful candidate will drive plant financial performance, streamline cross-border treasury and tax structures, oversee project Work-in-Progress (WIP) and contract margin controls, and prepare to transition into the Group CFO position.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Regional Financial Controllership & Statutory Governance
...- Regional Entity Oversight: Direct full financial controllership, consolidation, and reporting across operating entities in Malaysia, key ASEAN markets, and Greater China in compliance with MFRS / IFRS and local statutory regulations.
- Month-End & Annual Closing: Lead regional finance teams to deliver accurate, accelerated month-end closes, financial statement analysis, and quarterly executive board review packages.
- Internal Controls & Audit Management: Establish and harmonize robust internal control environments across regional manufacturing plants and commercial offices, serving as primary liaison for regional external auditors, tax advisers, and statutory authorities.
2. Plant Manufacturing Finance & Costing Leadership
- Plant Financial Performance: Partner with Regional Operations Directors to evaluate plant financial results, conducting monthly P&L variance analyses (actual vs. forecast) to optimize conversion costs and plant utilization rates.
- Standard Costing & Bill of Materials (BOM): Oversee manufacturing standard costing loops, raw material price variance (PPV) tracking, scrap/wastage reduction, and BOM accuracy across steel processing and fabrication sites.
- Working Capital & Inventory Control: Direct inventory valuation, cycle counts, goods-in-transit, and raw material procurement hedging strategies to optimize plant working capital deployment.
3. Project Accounting & Contract Margin Governance
- Contract & Project Revenue Accounting: Oversee project-based accounting and revenue recognition for large-scale piling and infrastructure supply contracts under MFRS 15 / IFRS 15 standards.
- WIP & Margin Protection: Direct project cash flow modeling, progress billings, work-in-progress (WIP) valuations, and cost-to-complete analyses, flagging operational risks early to safeguard project gross margins.
- Contractual Reviews: Collaborate with commercial and project teams to review high-value tender economics, credit terms, and Sale & Purchase / Supply Agreement (SPA) financial clauses.
4. Strategic Financial Management, Tax & Regional Treasury
- CFO Succession Transition: Actively participate in strategic board-level planning, capital allocation debates, and M&A/divestment reviews as part of the formal 2-year CFO succession pipeline.
- Cross-Border Treasury & FX Hedging: Direct multi-currency treasury operations, bank credit line negotiations, dividend repatriation, and foreign exchange (FX) risk management across ASEAN currencies and RMB.
- Tax Strategy & Transfer Pricing: Oversee regional tax optimization frameworks, transfer pricing documentation, Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and indirect tax compliance across cross-border manufacturing and supply chains.
5. Strategic FP&A, Systems & Team Leadership
- Regional Budgeting & Rolling Forecasts: Lead annual operating plans (AOP), 3-to-5-year strategic plans, and rolling forecasts, providing multi-scenario sensitivity models to executive leadership.
- ERP & Digital Transformation: Drive finance digital transformation initiatives, optimizing ERP workflows (e.g., SAP, Power BI) to accelerate reporting turnaround and data visibility.
- Talent Development: Coach, mentor, and elevate multi-disciplinary finance teams across regional operating units, building a high-performing talent bench.
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Professional Certifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Mandatory Professional Accounting Qualification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA, MICPA, or equivalent) with active MIA membership (or equivalent regional charter).
Professional Experience
- 10 to 15+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior regional managerial or controllership role overseeing multi-entity operations in ASEAN and China.
- Core Industry Background: Proven track record within heavy manufacturing, steel/piling distribution, building materials, civil engineering, foundation contracting, or heavy capital equipment sectors.
- Demonstrated exposure to both manufacturing plant finance/costing AND project-based accounting/contracting environments.
Key Technical Competencies
- Deep technical expertise in MFRS / IFRS reporting, regional transfer pricing, cross-border tax structures, and international trade/treasury facilities.
- Hands-on mastery of manufacturing costing, variance analysis, project WIP controls, and contract margin management.
- Proficiency in tier-1 ERP systems (e.g., SAP FICO) and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI).
Leadership & Cultural Fit
- Clear C-suite executive potential with strong commercial acumen, strategic agility, and problem-solving mindset.
- Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of influencing cross-border operations leadership and presenting to the Board of Directors.
- Multilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin/Bahasa Malaysia is highly advantageous to effectively engage business partners across China and ASEAN markets.
If you are keen on this role, do apply via this link or reach out to bryant at 0164140218. Successful candidate will be contacted further
