Assistant Finance Manager (Based in Singapore)

CBRE Asia Pacific; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading real estate services firm in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, is seeking an Assistant Finance Manager to oversee financial operations and provide insights that drive performance. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience. This role includes developing client relationships, managing financial reporting, and leading a dedicated team to achieve excellence in contract governance and finance processes.

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven experience in staffing, training, and performance management.
• Keen interest in operational issues and ability to manage sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial operations and provide insight to impact performance.
• Develop and maintain client relationships across contracts.
• Drive financial planning, governance, and reporting.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Excellent communication

Problem-solving skills

Leadership skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Qualified Accountant

Tools

Microsoft Office

TM1

PeopleSoft

Job description

About the role: CBRE Assistant Finance Manager — Johor Bahru, Malaysia. You will lead sustainable financial growth by taking ownership of the financial operations, controls and management information; provide insight and influence to impact performance and maintain competitive advantage alongside financial and contract support leadership and direction in the Business Unit. Act as liaison for Finance and Commercial issues for the Client and Contract teams. You will implement improvements, drive change, raise standards through the direct and indirect management of the team, and act as a business partner to the Account Director to advise and challenge on contract performance.

What You’ll Do

• Customer
  • Develop high quality and effective Client relationships especially across the contracts.
  • Build good working relationships with account management and key client members; be a business partner for both.
  • Tightly manage contract governance, demonstrating in‑depth knowledge of the terms and conditions to ensure all cost elements are appropriately accounted for.
  • Assist with client team requests in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Positively respond to internal and external customers (often in a matrix environment) through effective communication and accessibility/credibility.
• Financial Reporting
  • Monthly formal Contract and Business Unit reviews; ensure best practice, communication and understanding of key business messages through monthly site visits focusing on underperforming contracts.
  • Support transformation and client initiatives, working with other functions to align deliverables and results.
  • Prepare accurate Business Unit reports in line with monthly timetable, including full P&L with analysis and commentary, Balance Sheet extracts and reconciliations, review Project Profitability reporting, P&L forecasts and annual plans.
  • Provide best-in-class Management Information to Client and GWS management, including Actuals vs Budget.
  • Provide ad-hoc support and financial analysis as required.
• Contract and Finance Management
  • Maintain and improve cash-flow, margins and reporting; develop targets and benchmarking processes to challenge financial information.
  • Drive high quality financial/commercial performance by understanding contractual commitments and aligning with global contract management practices.
  • Identify and implement savings opportunities to maximize Client and GWS financial savings targets.
  • Review Contract and Business Unit P&L results and challenge where needed.
  • Carry out regular Contract and Project reviews.
  • Overhead management with a focus on efficiencies and savings.
  • Build and develop high-level relationships with business and account leaders, central finance teams, customers and external agencies (e.g., auditors).
  • Continuously improve quality, service and efficiency.
  • Communicate regularly with contract financial and contract support staff to align on objectives and achievements.
  • Identify, analyze and resolve potential business risks, as well as opportunities and solutions to enhance performance.
• Finance Processes, Procedures and Reporting
  • Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to consistently throughout the Contract.
  • Ensure substantiation of accruals and un-billed revenue in line with policy.
  • Manage data integrity in Client reporting and GWS systems.
  • Utilize GWS system‑generated reporting capabilities effectively.
  • Develop systems to maximize efficiency benefits for client & GWS.
  • Maintain accuracy and integrity of accounting records and financial systems; identify opportunities to enhance system efficiencies.
  • Have thorough knowledge of procedures and lead delivery to required standards; manage compliance through procedures and processes.
• Finance Planning
  • Assist in the preparation of annual bottom-up plans and monitor forecast through the year.
• Financial Governance
  • Ensure CBRE and statutory obligations are met for reporting and governance purposes.
  • Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are carried out and reviewed.
  • Drive and agree financial policy requirements with the Business Unit Finance Manager.
• People Management
  • Recruit, induct, manage, target, motivate and develop the Contract Support team.
  • Review resourcing gaps and advise on staffing.
  • Conduct structured appraisals and ensure personal development plans including succession planning.
  • Build, lead and motivate a diverse and effective team; empower team members to take responsibility.
  • Supervise and review performance of team members.
  • Convey messages clearly; involve people and influence decisions.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 5 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
• Qualified Accountant and member of recognized accounting organization (advantage).
• Proven commercial acumen and ability to contribute to decision-making.
• Previous service industry experience using systems such as TM1, PeopleSoft.
• Experience with GMP, Cost Plus and Fixed Price commercial models (good to have).
• Experience in staffing, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measurement, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention.
• Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive information and convey performance expectations; handle problems.
• Keen interest in operational matters and ability to integrate operational, contractual & financial matters.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills, both independently and in a team.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization with multiple stakeholders.
• Leadership skills to motivate the team and improve quality, efficiency and effectiveness.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Intermediate math skills to calculate complex figures; strong analytical ability.
• Solid understanding of modern Digital & Technology solutions (ERP, reporting tools, cloud-based solutions).

Service line: None