Finance Manager

Carleton ES; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Carleton ES Malaysia is seeking a Finance Manager to report to the Finance Director and partner with the Founder/CEO to lead day-to-day finance and accounting functions while enabling strategic growth. You will oversee financial reporting, cash flow management, budgeting, compliance, internal controls, and treasury, and build a high-performing finance function across a multi-site business.

This role requires strong analytical capability, stakeholder management, and hands-on leadership of a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce or a related discipline.
• Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CIMA, ICAEW or equivalent) is an added advantage.
• Minimum 6–10 years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, financial planning, or business partnering, including experience leading a finance team and managing month-end reporting, budgeting, audit, and cash flow processes.
• Experience in Retail, FMCG, Food & Beverage, Hospitality, or other multi-site consumer businesses is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and working capital management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full finance operations including AP, AR, GL, fixed assets, inventory accounting and treasury functions.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, financial statements, and performance reports.
• Maintain integrity of financial records and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Monitor inventory accounting, stock adjustments, shrinkage, and costing for accurate margins.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, statutory requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Lead annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes.
• Provide actionable insights to improve financial and operational performance.
• Manage working capital and cash flow forecasting.
• Partner with merchandising, store operations, and marketing to evaluate profitability and drive commercial decisions.
• Strengthen internal controls, policies, and governance frameworks across the organisation.
• Drive finance process improvements and automation to support scalability.
• Lead, coach, and develop the finance team and build cross-functional relationships.

Skills

Financial leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Excel proficiency

ERP experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance/Accounting/Commerce

Tools

ERP systems

POS systems

Inventory software

Job description

Reporting directly to the Finance Director and working closely with our Founder/CEO, the Finance Manager will lead company's day-to-day finance and accounting functions while serving as a key business partner to operational teams.

You will oversee financial reporting, cash flow management, budgeting, compliance, internal controls, and finance operations. Beyond ensuring accuracy and governance, you will provide meaningful insights that help drive growth, improve margins, optimise working capital, and support strategic decision-making across the business.

You will be responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, maintaining strong controls, supporting commercial decision-making, and building a high-performing finance function that enables the business to scale sustainably.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee the full spectrum of finance operations, including Accounts Payable (trade and non-trade), Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, fixed assets, inventory accounting, and treasury functions.

Ensure timely and accurate preparation of monthly management accounts, financial statements, and performance reports.

Maintain integrity of financial records and balance sheet reconciliations.

Monitor inventory accounting, stock adjustments, shrinkage, and costing to ensure accurate reporting of gross margins and profitability.

Ensure compliance with accounting standards, statutory requirements, and regulatory obligations.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Performance

Lead annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes.

Analyse financial performance against budgets, forecasts, and prior periods, identifying risks and opportunities.

Monitor and report on key business KPIs, including sales, gross margin, EBITDA, inventory days, and store P&L.

Provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve financial and operational performance.

Cash Flow & Working Capital Management

Monitor daily cash positions and forecast short- and medium-term cash flow requirements.

Manage working capital by optimising inventory levels, receivables, payables, and supplier payment terms.

Oversee store cash collection, banking processes, reconciliations, and cash controls.

Partner with merchandising teams to improve inventory productivity, stock turn, and supplier payment terms.

Support initiatives to improve cash conversion and strengthen liquidity across the business.

Commercial & Operational Finance

Partner closely with Merchandising, Store Operations, Marketing, and F&B teams to evaluate business performance and profitability.

Support pricing, promotions, category reviews, margin analysis, and investment decisions.

Provide financial analysis and business cases for new store openings, capital expenditure, and strategic initiatives.

Drive greater visibility into profitability by store, category, and channel.

Internal Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

Strengthen internal controls, policies, and governance frameworks across the organisation.

Ensure compliance with tax regulations, statutory requirements, and company policies.

Lead internal and external audits, ensuring timely resolution of audit findings and implementation of recommendations.

Monitor financial risks and proactively recommend mitigation measures.

Systems, Process Improvement & Automation

Identify opportunities to improve finance processes, reporting efficiency, and data accuracy.

Drive automation and system enhancements to improve productivity and scalability.

Support the continuous development and optimisation of finance systems and workflows.

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, coach, and develop the finance team, ensuring clear accountability and strong execution across AP, AR, GL, inventory accounting, and master data functions.

Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Build strong cross-functional relationships and serve as a trusted financial advisor to business leaders.

Support succession planning and capability development within the finance function.

What We're Looking For

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, or a related discipline.

Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CIMA, ICAEW, or equivalent) is an added advantage.

Minimum 6–10 years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, financial planning, or business partnering, including experience leading a finance team and managing month-end reporting, budgeting, audit, and cash flow processes.

Experience in Retail, FMCG, Food & Beverage, Hospitality, or other multi-site consumer businesses is highly preferred.

Strong understanding of financial reporting, management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and working capital management.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable business insights.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with ERP, POS, inventory management, and financial systems.

Commercially minded, hands-on, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Proactive, self-driven and resourceful with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Demonstrates high integrity, accountability, and attention to detail.

Experience supporting multi-store retail operations and business expansion projects is an advantage.