Financial Controller

Position Overview

The Malaysia Financial Controller [MY FC] is responsible for the financial management, control and statutory compliance of the operating activities of the Malaysia divisions, namely Sales, and Manufacturing and the legal entities registered in Malaysia. In addition, this position will work closely with the Far East Finance Director, the wider Far East finance team and the senior management of the Malaysia Divisions. This is also a senior role within the CPL global finance team and will work closely with the CFO, Group FC, and other members of the global finance team. A key aspect of the MY FC role is to be actively involved in the financial control of the new Malaysia Manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial

• Support the Sales division in driving sales opportunities and establishing sales targets
• Provide Margin control and analysis to the sales division
• Work with the Sales Division to establish, and manage all 3rd party Agents and Distributors relationships
• Promote margin maximisation initiatives across the divisions
• Ensure effective commercial processes are in place covering, prices, credit limits, credit terms order management
• Run weekly debtors/collection meetings with the Sales division
• Ensure customer's collections are activity managed and the AR ledger is kept current
• Improve the data accuracy of product assignments to account managers and customers and future product categorisations that are introduced.
• Collaborate with the management of the MY divisions in achieving objectives
• Ensure all supplier & customer contracts are appropriately negotiated, administrated, accounted for and controlled
• Develop appropriate profitability, value chain analysis, cost & productivity models for the MY Divisions
• Challenge profitability and costs to drive a profit optimisation approach across the MY Divisions
• Ensure all new capex for the MY divisions are supported with a business case and cost benefit analysis and subsequently tracked against approved capex and benefits.

Control

• Responsible for the timely & accurate month end & year end accounting close process in keeping with group requirements and timetables for all legal entities
• Maintain and continuously improve the financial controls for the MY Divisions
• Responsible for the financial control of the company's assets, including inventory; ensuring appropriate checks and reconciliations are performed with corrective action implemented when required.
• Responsible for the external audit, liaising with auditors and providing complete and timely inputs to the Group Audit
• Ensure the MY divisions adhere to the global authority matrix
• Act as insurance point of contact for the divisions, and coordinate with Group Finance on renewals & claims.
• Ensure suitable segregation of duties is maintain within the MY finance team including journal posting
• Act as lead for all MY Finance related ERP developments, implementations, testing, training and user acceptance
• Define and document suitable process maps and controls for all Financial operations in line with Group Policies
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations, including intergroup accounts, to ensure a clean balance sheet position is reported on a monthly basis
• Ensure that salesman commission, agents commission and rebates are accrued on monthly basis with proper backup.
• Ensure works orders are properly costed and closed on daily basis.
• Coordinate with FE Finance & Group Finance for accounting standards.
• Provide the necessary input to the Group's transfer pricing requirements including cost and activity inputs for the management fee recharges to the group.
• Responsibility for social security, indirect tax, Duty reporting, filing and compliance for the MY legal entities
• Responsibility for compliance to Malaysian Government changes to indirect and corporate taxe, including MIDA incentive obligations
• Control property leases, service charges, rates, and service provider contracts for the MY legal entities
• Responsible for the annual tax return & compliance requirements for the MY legal entities
• Management of the the staff expense process, taking guidance as necessary from the FD FE on improvements and bank requirements.
• Manage the bank accounts in conjunction with FE Finance & Group Finance.
• Manage the Petty Cash process and requirements for the MY Divisions.

Reporting, Analysis, & Forecasting

• Adhere to the group finance timetables for reporting, analayis and forecasting
• Provide timely, accurate and relevant performance reports to the MY Divisions
• Undertake investigative analysis into performance variances
• Provide insightful commentaries to support management reporting
• Lead all MY divisional forecast processes in keeping with Group requirements
• Establish efficient record to report processes to deliver on time and in full financial reports
• Utilise the group's reporting and consolidation software as required
• Ensure all intercompany transactions and balances are maintained, reconciled and agreed in line with group policies
• Collaborate with FE Finance & Group Finance on developing reporting standards and catalogues
• Maintain an accurate and complete cashflow forecast for the MY divisions in line with group requirements
• Provide as required all inputs in Group Finance and ensure Power BI reports are actively used/updated
• Present Monthly management accounts to the management teams of the divisions

Management

• Day to day management & motivation of the MY Finance team
• Ensure relevant job descriptions and objectives are set for the team.
• Hold frequent and regular performance reviews with staff
• Ensure the MY finance team leave schedule is managed appropriately
• Define and implement development plans for each team member
• Ensure the team are briefed on wider company business
• Undertake cross function & cross division projects and responsibilities in keeping with group needs
• Be an active member of the wider CPL finance team.

Qualifications & Experience

• A Professional accounting qualification
• Manufacturing experience
• Substantial ERP experience, preferably D365
• Strong working knowledge of Malaysian tax & Statutory requirements: Corporate tax, Sales tax, Payroll tax, Service tax, Duty, import and export procedures, and other statutory requirements
• Experience of working in a group of companies
• Demonstrable management and leadership experience
• Proven exceptional abilities in process management and working with detail
• Effective written and verbal skills
• Excellent Presentation skills
• Ability to work autonomously and achieve deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.
• A solution orientated and team player attitude.