Job Description

The Financial Controller is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of financial operations, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, tax compliance, and team management. This role ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial information, drives process improvements, and provides strategic financial insights to support business decision-making .

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented finance professional with strong leadership capabilities, a deep understanding of statutory requirements, and the ability to partner with cross-functional teams to drive business performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Oversee the preparation and timely delivery of accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS) and other relevant statutory requirements.
• Ensure all financial reporting activities adhere to local regulations, including Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and Bursa Malaysia listing requirements (if applicable).
• Manage the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes, ensuring all deadlines are met without compromising accuracy.
• Coordinate and lead external and internal audits, serving as the primary liaison with auditors to facilitate smooth audit cycles.
• Ensure full compliance with tax laws, including income tax, SST, transfer pricing, and other statutory filings.

2. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Lead the annual budgeting process, working closely with department heads to develop realistic and achievable budgets aligned with business objectives.
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and rolling forecasts, providing variance analysis and actionable recommendations to management.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and forecast, identifying risks and opportunities and driving corrective actions where needed.
• Develop, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the business, providing insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Perform financial analysis to support business initiatives, including cost optimization, investment decisions, and profitability analysis by product, channel, or project.

3. Treasury & Cash Flow Management

• Oversee cash flow forecasting and liquidity management to ensure the company maintains adequate working capital for operational needs.
• Manage banking relationships, including negotiating facilities, overseeing merchant services, and optimizing interest income/expense.
• Monitor and manage foreign exchange (FX) exposure, developing and implementing hedging strategies where appropriate.
• Oversee loan covenants, drawdowns, and repayments, ensuring compliance with financing agreements.

4. Internal Controls & Governance

• Establish, implement, and maintain a robust system of internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Regularly review and enhance financial policies and procedures to mitigate risk and improve operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and corporate governance standards.
• Lead or support risk management initiatives, including insurance coverage assessments and business continuity planning.

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team, fostering a high-performance culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and support the professional development and career progression of team members.
• Ensure adequate succession planning and cross-training within the team to maintain operational resilience.

6. Stakeholder Management & Strategic Support

• Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Sales, Operations, Supply Chain) to provide financial insights and support business decisions.
• Act as a key liaison with external stakeholders, including auditors, tax agents, bankers, lawyers, and regulatory authorities.
• Provide strategic financial advice to the CFO and senior management, contributing to business planning, investment evaluations, and growth initiatives.
• Support M&A activities, due diligence, and integration efforts as required.

7. Process Improvement & Systems

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of financial processes and systems.
• Lead or support ERP system implementations, upgrades, or optimizations to improve data integrity and reporting capabilities.
• Champion automation and digitalization initiatives within the finance function (e.g., RPA, BI tools, cloud-based accounting).

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Professional Certification: ACCA, CPA, CIMA, or equivalent is required.
• Experience: Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, with at least 3–5 years in a controllership or senior finance leadership role.
• Industry Experience: Experience in [Insert relevant industry: e.g., manufacturing, FMCG, property, technology] is preferred but not mandatory.
• Technical Knowledge Strong knowledge of MFRS, tax regulations (SST, corporate tax, transfer pricing), and statutory compliance requirements.
• Systems Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, Power Query).
• Soft skills: Strategic thinker with strong analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills.