Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Chief Accountant to lead the regional accounting and statutory compliance function for our multinational operations across Asia. Based in Singapore, this role manages end-to-end accounting, shared service governance, statutory reporting, tax compliance, and financial governance across multiple jurisdictions. The Senior Chief Accountant will also support regional consolidation activities, audit management, Board meeting preparations, and cross-border coordination with corporate and functional leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Lead and manage the full spectrum of financial accounting activities, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial statements.
• Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes, including reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and analytical reviews.
• Maintain compliance with relevant accounting standards (e.g., IFRS, local GAAP).
• Review and approve financial entries prepared by the team and shared service center.
• Ensure robust accounting governance and consistency across countries.

Team Leadership & Shared Services Management

• Manage and mentor a team of accountants, providing coaching, guidance, and performance oversight.
• Act as the primary liaison with shared service teams, ensuring service quality, SLA (Service Level Agreement) adherence, and effective issue resolution.
• Oversee transactional accounting processes (AP & AR) executed by shared services.
• Implement process improvements and strengthen internal controls to enhance the efficiency of finance operations.
• Drive continuous improvement, harmonization, and automation across regional finance processes

Audit & Compliance

• Lead the preparation for annual statutory audits and internal audits, ensuring timely and accurate submission of required schedules and explanations.
• Work closely with external auditors to resolve audit queries and ensure compliance with corporate governance standards.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of accounting policies, procedures, and controls.
• Maintain strong internal controls aligned with regulatory expectations and group policies.

Tax Compliance & Advisory

• Prepare or review corporate tax computations, deferred tax calculations, GST/VAT submissions, and other statutory tax filings.
• Coordinate with external tax agents on tax filings, queries, and advisory matters to ensure full compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess their impact on the company's operations.

Board Meeting & Governance Support

• Coordinate and prepare finance-related materials for Board and Committee meetings, including management reports, financial packages, and analytical commentary.
• Collaborate closely with the Corporate Secretary to ensure timely submission of board papers, accurate documentation, and adherence to corporate governance protocols.
• Support preparation of resolutions, statutory filings, and documentation required for board approval of financial matters.
• Ensure all financial information presented to the Board is accurate, complete, and aligned with governance standards.

Financial Controls & Process Improvement

• Strengthen and maintain robust internal control frameworks, including balance sheet integrity and risk mitigation measures.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate tasks, and drive operational excellence.
• Support system enhancements or finance transformation initiatives.

Business Support

• Provide financial insights, analysis, and decision support to management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., FP&A, Operations, Legal) to support business initiatives and strategic planning.

Required knowledge & experience:

Education/Professional Qualifications required for the position:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Professional qualification (CPA, CA, ACCA) strongly preferred.
• 10-12 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory role.
• Strong technical expertise in IFRS/local GAAP and Corporate taxation.
• Hands-on experience with month-end close, shared services coordination, audit management, and tax compliance.
• Experience preparing Board materials and working with Corporate Secretaries is a strong advantage.
• Excellent analytical ability, communication skills, and stakeholder management.
• Strong attention to detail, organized, and comfortable working under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) preferred.

Additional Important Requirements:

• Proactive, hands-on leader who enjoys diving into details while maintaining a strategic mindset.
• Strong communicator who can collaborate effectively with auditors, tax agents, shared service teams, and senior leaders.
• Able to work in an unstructured environment and in a setting that entails imperfect processes and systems, with aim of improving it in the long term
• Someone who brings structure, discipline, and continuous improvement to the finance function.