Legal Entity Controller - APAC Region

S&P Global; Penang; Hybrid; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial technology firm in Penang is seeking a Legal Entity Controller to oversee financial integrity for APAC entities. The candidate will manage the finance team, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, leading audits, and streamlining accounting processes. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in finance and accounting principles, with strong leadership and communication skills. This position offers a dynamic work environment where adaptability and problem-solving are key.

Benefits

Career Development Opportunities

Flexible working hours

Health Insurance

Qualifications

• 12-15 years of relevant experience in accounting or finance.
• Good understanding of accounting principles, especially US GAAP.
• Experience in managing global teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Ensure ledger integrity and manage accounting processes.
• Lead and develop the finance team in Penang.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on financial challenges.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Attention to Detail

Education

CA / Equivalent Professional Accounting Certifications

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Workday

Excel

Job description

About the Role

As a Legal Entity Controller for APAC Legal entities, you will play a crucial role within the OSTTRA Finance Team, focusing on the financial oversight of legal entities to ensure the integrity and accuracy of their financial statements and reporting. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly analytical, and proactive in identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance accuracy, strengthen internal controls, and increase efficiency. This individual should also thrive in a fast-paced, growing environment.

The Team

Osttra Finance Team is based out of the UK, India, Penang, Sweden and US. It is an entrepreneurial team, who is highly energetic, flexible, dynamic and works beyond boundaries to deliver the real values. We are standing up an independent global finance team.

Working Hours

Malaysia Hours (the candidate must be flexible to support India hours)

Responsibilities and Impact

The candidate is responsible for ensuring the ledger integrity encompassing several duties, including but not limited to:

• Team Leadership & Development: Help in expanding the Penang Finance team including recruitment, onboarding, training, and capability development.
• Technical Knowhow: Possessing a good understanding of accounting policies and their implementation in accordance with USGAAP/IFRS/local applicable standards. Also someone who will collaborate with Group Controllers.
• Periodic Close: Manage the monthly, quarterly and annual closing processes. Prepare financial reports and presentations for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Audit: Lead statutory audit locally and support group audit. Work with Internal and External Auditors as required.
• Taxation: Working with Group Tax ensures local tax compliance obligations (Corporate Tax, GST and Transfer Pricing) are met with a high degree of accuracy and timeliness.
• Compliances: Ensure timely compliance with all relevant regulatory filings as required by local statutory laws for each of entities in the APAC region.
• Internal Controls: Ensure the entity is in compliance with internal policies and procedures. Set-up a control governance across financial processes.
• Treasury: Coordinate with Global Treasury to manage local treasury Operations (Working Capital requirements, forecast and capex if any)
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate cross-functionally with teams such as Group Financial Control, Tax, FP&A, Legal Risk Compliance (LRC), Business functions and Technical Accounting to strategically address and resolve ad-hoc financial and operational challenges.
• Reconciliation & Substantiation: Performing sub-ledger to general ledger reconciliation and substantiation of journals and balance sheet accounts to ensure accuracy and resolve any discrepancies promptly.
• Process Improvement: Proactively identifying opportunities to enhance and streamline accounting processes, leveraging automation and best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Initiatives / Projects: Lead initiatives / projects as required to support any business driven / system changes.

What We’re Looking For

Basic Required Experience:

To be successful in this role, APAC LE controller lead must possess a mix of Technical, Professional and People Leadership competencies.

• Experience: 12-15 years of relevant experience in an accounting or finance role, with a strong focus on Statutory Audit, Tax, compliances and month-end. For the right candidate we will be willing to flex the requirement of number of years of experience.
• Financial & Accounting Acumen: Good understanding of accounting principles (US GAAP) and financial reporting with specialisation of staff costs accounting.
• Technical Accounting: Advanced knowledge of SFRS, local standards, converged with and largely based on IFRS, USGAAP
• Driving Change & System Implementation: Good working experience in process & system transition (Preferably SAP). As a process owner, can play a key role in implementations before go-live and can manage post go-live. Someone who embraces and champions change, thrive in dynamic environments, and drives innovation.
• Team Management: Team lead experience in global working environment, effective delegations within team, goal setting and performance discussions, can build a high performing team with a clear sense of ownership and accountability.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and concisely to key stakeholders (Group Controller, CFO).
• Analytical skills: Excellent quantitative and analytical skills to interpret complex financial data and trends.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to reviewing financial data, reconciliations, and journal entries to ensure 100% accuracy.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Problem-solving: Proactive and solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to identify issues and implement effective resolutions.

Technological proficiency: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, advanced formulas) and extensive experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday, Dayforce) for payroll and general ledger functionalities.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• CA / Equivalent Professional Accounting Certifications
• Specialization in Legal Entity controllers for at least the last 10 years.
• Strong experience with month-end close procedures and financial reporting.

About OSTTRA

Launched in 2021, OSTTRA unites four businesses that have been at the heart of post-trade evolution and innovation for over 20 years: MarkitServ, Traiana, TriOptima and Reset.

With an outstanding track record of developing and supporting critical market infrastructure, our combined network connects thousands of market participants to streamline end to end workflows – from trade capture at the point of execution, through portfolio optimization, to clearing and settlement.

Joining the OSTTRA team is a unique opportunity to help build a bold new business with an outstanding heritage in financial technology, playing a central role in supporting global financial markets. Learn more at www.osttra.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.