Head of Commercial Finance

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

Job summary

An accomplished international pharmaceuticals company is seeking a Head of Commercial Finance for a strategic role that supports sales and commercial teams. The ideal candidate should have over 8 years of relevant experience, a degree in finance or a related field, and professional qualifications like ACCA or CPA. Key responsibilities include leading financial planning, trade investment analysis, and driving strategic discussions. Proficiency in Excel, SAP, and BI tools is essential for optimizing financial performance in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in commercial finance or controlling roles, preferably in FMCG or retail.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to navigate fast-paced environments.
• Proven leadership abilities and confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning and trade investment analysis.
• Monitor and analyze sales performance and profitability.
• Support implementation of financial tools for commercial tracking.

Skills

Financial planning

Trade investment analysis

Margin optimization

Sales performance analysis

Financial reporting

Presentation to stakeholders

Education

Degree in finance, accounting, economics or related field

ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or CA qualification preferred

Tools

Excel

SAP

BI tools

Job description

The Company is in search of a Head of Commercial Finance to take on a pivotal role as a key business partner to sales and commercial teams. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading financial planning, trade investment analysis, and margin optimization, with a focus on providing financial leadership, performance insights, and strategic guidance to support sustainable growth. This role involves monitoring and analyzing sales performance, trade spend, and profitability by channel and customer, as well as ensuring accurate financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls related to commercial activities.

The Head of Commercial Finance will also be instrumental in driving monthly planning cycles, facilitating strategic discussions on topline performance and P&L impact, and supporting the implementation of financial tools and systems for enhanced commercial tracking and analysis. To excel in this position, candidates must have a degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field, with professional qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or CA being highly preferred. A minimum of 8 years' experience in commercial finance or controlling roles, particularly within the FMCG or retail sector, is required.

The role demands a leader with a strong command of Excel, SAP, and BI tools, who is collaborative, analytical, and confident in presenting to senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be agile in navigating fast‑paced environments and shifting business priorities, and will be adept at evaluating pricing strategies, promotional effectiveness, and ROI in partnership with sales and commercial teams.

Functions

• Finance

Travel

Less than 10%

Company

Accomplished international company in the pharmaceuticals industry