Finance Director, Malaysia & Singapore

KNAUF SDN. BHD.; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global manufacturer in Malaysia is seeking a Finance Director to drive financial strategy and ensure compliance across the region. This pivotal role calls for a leader with at least 10 years of finance management experience, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Key responsibilities include financial planning, stakeholder management, and optimizing financial processes. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and professional qualifications like ACCA or CPA. Join a company that values teamwork and innovation.

Benefits

Opportunities for growth

Inclusive work culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in a Finance Management role, preferably in manufacturing.
• Strong leadership of multi-disciplinary finance teams.
• Deep expertise in financial reporting and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Set and steer long-term financial strategy aligned with corporate priorities.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and monitor key financial KPIs.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and maintain internal controls.

Skills

Financial management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Cost control

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field

Professional qualifications (MIA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA)

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Knauf stands for opportunity. We know that opportunity looks different to each person, and we are proud that we see opportunity in everyone.

This exciting role within the Finance could be the perfect next opportunity for you to build a unique career, in a values‑led culture with a clear purpose of making tomorrow a home for all of us.

We are a family‑owned global manufacturer of construction materials and within our Group, our 42,000 team members in 90 countries across 300 sites provide a huge opportunity for anyone with ambition and energy. We value everyone's contribution equally and we ask that you bring your whole self to work, to enrich the business further, as together we achieve more in a safe and inclusive environment.

In Asia Pacific, since the 1990s Knauf has been established as a leading and trusted brand for drywall products and system solutions. Today, with 4,000 experienced, talented, and diversified people operating nearly 30 production facilities and offices across the region, coupled with an extensive expertise‑backed sales and support network, our teams deliver the best of Knauf to our customers, while supporting positive changes to the industry and communities where we operate – in Australia, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore.

Reporting into Managing Director - Malaysia & Singapore, we are searching for a team member to join us as Finance Director, Malaysia & Singapore.

Can you say yes?

As the Finance Director, Malaysia & Singapore, your role is to optimise and sustain all financial processes, systems, and controls to ensure peak performance, integrity, compliance, and decision‑quality insight. You will drive continuous improvement by solving complex financial challenges, reducing waste and costs, improving profitability, strengthening cash flow and working capital, and maximising key financial KPIs (e.g., EBITDA, ROCE) while aligning corporate priorities with operational performance to meet Knauf’s business and cultural standards.

What you will be doing

As a Finance Director, Malaysia & Singapore, your scope of role is to be accountable for the financial stewardship for Malaysia & Singapore, driving planning, performance, and governance.

Your key daily duties will be:

Financial Strategy & Business Leadership: Set and steer mid‑to‑long‑term financial strategy aligned with Knauf’s global and regional priorities. Advise the Managing Director and leadership on strategic planning, capital deployment, investments, and scenario modelling to fuel growth.

Planning, Budgeting & Performance: Lead the annual budget, rolling forecasts, and long‑range plans in collaboration with cross‑functional stakeholders. Monitor and analyse key financial KPIs and provide actionable insights to improve business performance.

Controlling, Compliance & Risk: Ensure compliance with MFRS, tax regulations and Knauf Group policies. Maintain robust internal controls and risk management with full audit readiness, and manage statutory, audit and tax matters with external auditors, advisors and authorities.

Financial Operations Excellence: Govern Shared Services (GL, AR/AP, Treasury, Tax, Statutory Reporting) with clear policies, controls, SLAs and quality/compliance standards. Digitise finance operations across SAP, leveraging automation and analytics to accelerate close, enhance transparency, and optimise working capital, liquidity and FX.

Commercial & Operational Finance Partnership: Provide financial leadership in pricing, costing, transfer pricing computation per Group rules, and profitability analysis, including customer and channel profitability. Partner with Sales, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to drive efficiency, cost competitiveness and margin improvement.

People & Organisation: Build, mentor and retain a high‑performing Finance team with strong controls and business acumen; close capability gaps, drive succession planning and implement learning road‑maps; foster a culture of accountability, integrity and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder & Group Coordination: Represent MYSG with Group Finance, Regional Controlling, Treasury and Compliance; deliver timely, accurate reporting packages and business reviews; serve as a strategic liaison with banks, tax authorities and other financial institutions.

What we would love for you to have

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field with a professional qualification such as MIA, ACCA, CPA or CIMA are preferred.

Experience: Minimum 10 years in a Finance Management role within Knauf or other multinational companies or large local conglomerates, ideally in manufacturing, industrial or building materials with a strong leadership of multi‑disciplinary finance teams, strong business partnering with Commercial, Operations and Supply Chain and effective stakeholder management with Board/Group/Regional leadership, banks and tax authorities.

Technical Skills & Knowledge: Expertise in end‑to‑end financial and management reporting and FP&A (budgeting, forecasting and performance management). Strong cost and plant controlling, including standard costing, variance analysis and inventory/COGS control with deep tax and transfer pricing experience across cross‑border inter‑company models, TP documentation, audit defence and coordination of corporate income tax, withholding tax, MY SST and SG GST. Proficiency in treasury and cash management (liquidity and working capital), ERP/reporting systems such as SAP, process automation, robust internal controls and compliance (SOX/ICFR) with external audit management and sound capital allocation and CAPEX appraisal.

What happens next?

Your application will be reviewed by our Hiring Team to determine if your experiences and skills are what we are looking for in the role. If you are, our Talent Acquisition representative will contact you promptly to arrange for next steps.