Regional Head of Finance, APAC

PINSENT MASONS MPILLAY LLP; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinsent Masons MPillay LLP in Singapore seeks a high-performing APAC finance leader to develop and manage a regional finance team, ensuring technical excellence, strong controls, timely reporting and insightful financial analysis.

The role partners with regional leadership to maximise profitability and support strategic growth, overseeing budgeting, regulatory compliance and drive improvements in working capital and billing processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to, supervision and development of the finance teams in APAC to build an effective cross-regional team.
• Working with the Global Tax team and external advisors to establish and maintain procedures for each jurisdiction to comply with local GST/ VAT, payroll and other tax rules.
• Ensure appropriate cost management through processes, controls and effective operating model.
• Improve billing and cash collection processes in collaboration with UK finance groups and latest technology.
• Develop in-depth financial analysis with narrative on financial areas of the business; produce monthly management accounts including variance analysis.
• Ensure compliance with local statutory, regulatory and internal controls and tax rules.
• Support improvements in working capital management.
• Provide financial insight for new office openings, system implementations and regional initiatives.
• Manage the Firm's budget and forecast processes in the region with Regional Business Manager.
• Develop relationships with advisors and manage the statutory audit process for the Region.
• Collaborate with Group/Regional teams on transfer pricing, mobility, tax and accounting issues and strengthen internal controls.

Job description

Purpose of the role

Develop and manage a high performing finance team in Asia Pacific ensuring technical excellence, first-rate service levels and timely delivery. Alongside the Regional Business Manager, act as business partner and trusted advisor to the regional leadership team for all accounting and finance issues with the objective of helping to maximise profitability, minimise financial risk and support the achievement of strategic growth targets. Provide financial leadership and delivery of operational finance in an efficient manner and in compliance with group standards while ensuring all local reporting standards and regulations are met. Manage the financial planning, monitoring and reporting of overheads and overall profitability for the Region.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide leadership to, supervision and development of the finance teams in APAC to build an effective cross-regional team. Build a culture of team responsiveness and 'how can I help you' approach.
• Working with the Global Tax team and external advisors as appropriate, establish and maintain procedures for each jurisdiction to comply with local GST/ VAT, payroll and other tax rules, including support with local returns and annual inspections. Ensure any adhoc tax queries raised by tax authorities in the Region are dealt with on a timely and accurate basis.
• Ensure appropriate cost management through processes, controls and effective operating model. Help to optimise revenue through reduced leakage due to operational issues.
• Seek to continuously improve processes and systems to improve efficiency and ensure the region is making use of the latest technology to deliver first class financial operations to the Firm. Initial focus on billing and cash collection processes working collaboratively with appropriate UK finance groups.
• Develop in depth financial analysis with insightful narrative on financial areas of the business and working closely with the Group Financial Reporting & Control team and Regional Business Manager, produce and interpret monthly management accounts for the Region including commentaries covering performance and variance analysis.
• Accountability for all local statutory, regulatory and internal compliance requirements (taxes, financial reporting, Solicitor account rules, financial controls and policies), accounting records and all financial processes.
• Working with the Business manager and others as appropriate, support improvements in working capital management.
• Support projects such as new office openings, new system implementations and other regional or firm initiatives with financial insight and analysis.
• Work closely with the Group Financial Reporting & Control Team to manage, alongside the Regional Business Manager, the Firm's budget and forecast processes in the region.
• Develop strong relationships with professional advisors in the region and manage the statutory audit process for the Region, ensuring financials are signed off on a timely basis.
• Work closely with the Group or regional teams leading on various issues including Transfer pricing, international mobility, partner tax and accounting issues, corporate structure, direct and indirect tax, etc.
• Develop an internal audit programme to test internal control adequacy for the offices in the region and implement or strengthen controls if weaknesses identified.