Senior Finance Executive

Applied Agricultural Resources; Selangor; On-site; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research centre in agriculture is seeking a Senior Finance Executive / Assistant Manager – Finance Transformation. This role involves overseeing finance operations, supporting process improvements, and contributing to digitalisation initiatives. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy or Finance and have 3–5 years of experience. Proficiency in financial reporting and analysis tools is essential, along with strong problem-solving skills. The position offers competitive remuneration and development opportunities.

Benefits

Yearly bonuses

Car/housing loan subsidies

Child support

Full medical coverage

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in finance or accounting operations.
• Experience in process optimisation and financial systems.
• Strong analytical mindset and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Support finance process transformation initiatives.
• Assist in digitalisation and automation projects.
• Provide hands-on support for daily finance operations.
• Prepare schedules, reconciliations, and reports for monthly closing.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and internal policies.

Skills

Financial reporting

Process automation

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

AP/AR management

Analytics tools (Power BI)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy or Finance

Tools

AutoCount

SAP

Job description

Overview

APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES Sdn. Bhd. was established in 1986 and is an associate company of Boustead Plantations Berhad and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. As a leading research centre in tropical plantation crops, our core activities involve research in crop improvement and production, providing advisory services for plantation crops, and producing and selling oil palm tissue culture ramets and seeds.

We operate through two entities:

Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd., which generates revenue through the sale of DxP seeds, oil palm ramets, and agricultural and laboratory services.

Advanced Agroecological Research, focused on pure R&D funded by our principals, benefits from a double tax deduction status.

About the Unit

The Finance Department at AAR is integral to ensuring the company’s financial health and sustainability. Beyond managing statutory reporting and financial operations, the team collaborates closely with the finance teams of our Principals to align on strategic financial planning and reporting. Key responsibilities include budgeting, cash flow management, taxation, and investment planning, ensuring that funds are effectively allocated for daily operations, R&D projects, and capital investments. The Finance Unit also oversees compliance with government regulations, optimises financial processes, and leverages Double-Tax Deduction status to maximise the company’s benefits. The Finance Unit plays a pivotal role in supporting AAR’s innovative research and operational excellence.

Your Role

As a Senior Finance Executive / Assistant Manager – Finance Transformation, you will play a key role in both operational finance and transformation-driven improvement. You will support the Finance Manager in modernising financial processes, enhancing automation, and tightening governance, while also supervising daily accounting operations where required. This role requires hands-on operational support (AP/AR, billing, reconciliations, month-end closing) while also participating actively in digitalisation initiatives. Candidates familiar with preparing financial performance dashboards (KPI dashboards, analytics reporting) will have a strong advantage in supporting transformation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in finance or accounting operations, ideally within organisations undergoing transformation or process optimisation.
• Strong experience in AP/AR, billing, GL postings, month-end closing, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Proven involvement in process improvement, automation, workflow optimisation, or digitalisation initiatives.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, data analysis) and Microsoft Word.
• Added advantage: skills in Power BI, Tableau, or similar analytics tools.
• Experience with AutoCount, SAP, or other ERP platforms.
• Strong command of English and Bahasa Malaysia.
• Strong analytical mindset, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Support finance process transformation initiatives, including reviewing, updating, and optimising SOPs to improve efficiency and control.
• Assist in digitalisation and automation projects by helping evaluate workflow gaps, preparing documentation, and supporting system implementation or enhancements.
• Provide hands-on support for daily finance operations, including AP/AR processing, invoicing, GL postings, and bank reconciliations to ensure accuracy and timely completion.
• Support the monthly closing process by preparing schedules, reconciliations, and reports required for management review.
• Assist in preparing documentation and providing information for internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with regulations and internal policies.
• Monitor adherence to financial controls and contribute to strengthening governance across finance processes.
• Prepare financial performance dashboards, KPI trackers, and analytical reporting to support performance monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth adoption of new processes and continuous improvement initiatives across the Finance Unit.

Additional Skill and Notes

• Experience supporting ERP enhancements, finance system upgrades, or workflow automation initiatives.
• Understanding of internal control practices and ability to assist in strengthening financial controls.
• Exposure to project costing, expense tracking, or financial monitoring for R&D‑related activities is an advantage.
• Ability to prepare financial dashboards, KPI monitoring tools, and analytics visualisation to support performance reporting.
• Strong organisation skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, prioritise tasks, and work independently in a dynamic environment.
• Good problem‑solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset, especially in identifying process gaps and proposing practical solutions.
• Comfortable collaborating with cross‑functional teams during process changes, system rollouts, or data improvement initiatives.

Remuneration

We offer an attractive remuneration package of a gross monthly salary, fixed allowances, yearly bonuses, and excellent opportunities for long-term career development. Other perks include car/housing loan subsidies, as well as child support. Full medical coverage is extended to the employee and their immediate family members. The remuneration scale advertised will vary based on experience and qualifications, with the salary range indicated as suitable for fresh graduates and those with less than three years of experience. Higher salaries are offered to candidates with more extensive experience.