Senior Finance & Admin Manager

Hot Palette (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing global brand is seeking a Senior Finance & Admin Manager in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The ideal candidate will lead the finance setup and manage compliance with Malaysia’s tax regulations. This role includes building a finance team, managing financial transactions, and providing strategic leadership. Applicants should have 7-10 years of finance experience with significant managerial exposure and suitable qualifications like CPA or CA. Experience in F&B franchises is preferred. Competitive compensation awaits.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of finance experience, including 5 years in a managerial role.
• Experience in F&B, franchise, or multi-unit retail businesses is an advantage.
• Hands-on experience in a Finance Shared Service Centre environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end finance setup and strategy.
• Monitor cash flows and manage financial transactions.
• Build a finance team as a Shared Service Centre for multiple countries.

Skills

Finance leadership

Knowledge of Malaysian accounting

Tax compliance

Team management

Strong analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

Professional qualifications such as CPA, CA, ACCA

Tools

SAP Business One

Job description

Position: Senior Finance & Admin Manager

Report to: Finance Director, Hot Palette APAC

At Hot Palette, we proudly operate and grow the beloved Pepper Lunch brand worldwide. As one of Asia’s fastest-growing fast-casual brands with over 550 outlets globally, our sizzling hotplates, bold flavours, and DIY dining concept have won the hearts of millions.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Finance & Admin Manager to lead end-to-end finance setup and provide leadership for the company’s finance strategy and ensure strong execution of all financial operations for Hot Palette (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., including systems, policies, planning, reporting, compliance and controls. The individual will scale up the Finance Team to be the Shared Service Centre for Malaysia, Singapore and other countries in line with the corporate implementation roadmap.

In addition, the individual will act as the key local operational anchor for Human Resources and administration: office, vendors, HR admin, payroll coordination, and liaison with company secretary, banks, and authorities.

Job Scope

Lead entity setup

Provide timely financial and management reporting to stakeholders and annual financial statements for audit

Ensure financial transactions are recorded timely and in compliance with the accounting standards and local regulations

Monitor cash flows to meet ongoing operational and capital investment needs

Handle company and employee tax-related matters

Support the company’s restaurant and franchise business

Prepare Annual budgets, monthly cash flow forecasts, and cash‑flow plans to support feasibility analysis for expansion of outlets/operations in Malaysia

HR, payroll, and other office administration

Build up the Finance Team to be a Shared Service Centre for Malaysia and Singapore by December 2026. Other countries will be added in the future years.

Key Responsibilities

Management and Governance

Provide finance leadership as part of the project team to start the restaurant and franchise business

Recommend and put in place an accounting software compatible with the company’s point-of-sale system (internal) and yet able to support the company’s obligations to the regulatory bodies (external)

License and permit application with the local authorities

Risk management to ensure company complies with all legal and regulatory requirements within scope of the role

Month end close – Financial Reporting and Analysis

Ensure the accuracy and completeness of financial reporting

Provision of financial reporting package to all stakeholders

To provide highlights on financial results and KPI performance

Compliance – Internal and External

Ensure the transactions comply with internal controls and procedures

Ensure compliance with accounting standards and statutory requirements

Compliance with statutory and internal audit, tax obligations (corporate, withholding, Sales and Service Tax, transfer pricing documentation) and statutory annual return

Treasury

Monitor cash flows to meet working capital and investment needs

Budget and Forecasts

Support in preparation of annual budgets and monthly financial results forecasts

People Management Activities – Team Management

Build a finance team appropriate to the scale of the company’s operations: 5 direct stores and 20 franchised stores by 2030.

Leadership and mentorship of the finance team

External Collaboration Activities

Collaborate with auditors and company tax agents on annual statutory audit and company income tax return

Support Japan head office on internal reporting requests

Collaborate with Singapore finance team on the consolidation of finance tasks under the Shared Service Centre

HR & Administration

Support HR in payroll administration and filing and payment of employee monthly tax and mandatory statutory contributions to relevant government agencies

Administer employee records, leave tracking, claims, and local HR documentation; support recruitment coordination and onboarding administration as headcount grows

Set up and manage office administration: office lease, utilities, insurance, IT/facility vendors, and basic procurement

Key Requirements

Minimum 7-10 years of finance experience, including at least 5 years in Managerial role with exposure to regional finance within MNCs or listed companies.

Experience in F&B, franchise or multi-unit retail businesses is an advantage.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.

Professional qualifications such as CPA, CA, ACCA is required.

Strong knowledge of Malaysian accounting, tax and statutory requirements

Hands on and comfortable being both strategic and operational during startup phase

Able to work with auditors, banks, tax agents and legal advisors across multiple jurisdictions.

Prior working experience in a Finance Shared Service Centre environment

Working experience with using SAP Business One and other accounting software