Head of Finance & IT (APAC)

As Palsgaard expands its APAC presence, we are seeking an experienced Head of Finance & IT to lead the finance and IT functions across the region. This role will be integral to ensuring financial precision, optimizing cost control, and advancing digital integration, directly supporting Palsgaard’s sustainable and strategic growth goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Financial Leadership in APAC
• Regional Finance Oversight: Manage the full spectrum of finance functions across APAC, ensuring financial activities align with Palsgaard’s global policies and frameworks. This includes accounting, tax, treasury, insurance, legal, compliance, and ERP systems, as well as supporting regulatory requirements for all legal entities in the region.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Lead budgeting, forecasting, and scenario analysis to support both manufacturing and sales. Develop and monitor KPIs, ensuring robust financial reporting to aid the APAC sales team in making data-driven decisions.
• Sales & Business Controlling: Direct business controlling for sales operations across the APAC region. This includes preparing budgets, rolling forecasts, and validating cost of goods sold in collaboration with global finance teams. Provide financial analysis to assess product profitability, customer metrics, and regional performance.
• Financial Management in Manufacturing Operations
• Plant Finance & Cost Control: Act as the financial controller for Palsgaard’s manufacturing operations in Malaysia. Oversee cost control measures for production, manage all manufacturing cost centers, and conduct detailed variance analysis to optimize productivity and drive cost efficiencies.
• Standard Costing & Capex Tracking: Ensure adherence to Palsgaard’s global templates for standard costing, specific to the Malaysia plant. Track capital expenditures and provide financial oversight for any production expansion initiatives, including reporting on project expenditures and return on investment.
• Sustainability & ESG Reporting: Support the global ESG team by providing financial insights and manufacturing data, helping Palsgaard maintain CO2 neutrality in manufacturing. Lead efforts in environmental reporting and resource optimization to align with Palsgaard’s sustainability goals.
• IT and Digital Transformation
• Regional IT Head: Oversee IT functions to ensure local business needs are met, coordinating with the Global IT team to align APAC operations with Palsgaard’s digital standards. This includes serving as the main point of contact for global IT initiatives, facilitating system upgrades, and supporting ERP integration.
• ERP & Digital Solutions: Facilitate the rollout of Microsoft Dynamics 365 across APAC sales and production facilities, ensuring all financial flows are correctly integrated. Lead initiatives to improve digital reporting through Business Intelligence tools, driving financial transparency and efficiency.
• Compliance, Project Management, and Team Development
• Compliance Leadership: Act as the regional compliance officer, responsible for regulatory filings and ensuring full legal adherence for all APAC entities.
• Group Project Support: Collaborate with the Group CFO on high-priority projects, including greenfield projects, ERP implementations, new entity setups, and expansion initiatives.
• Team Development: Cultivate a high-performing finance and IT team by implementing robust training and mentorship programs, focusing on skill development in line with the company’s growth and strategic objectives.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related fields; CPA or equivalent preferred.
• Experience: 10-15 years in multinational environments with a comprehensive background in finance, including accounting, tax, treasury, costing, controlling, and manufacturing finance.
• IT Proficiency: Strong MS Office skills, knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365, and experience with Business Intelligence tools.
• Languages: Fluent in English; Mandarin proficiency is advantageous.
• Attributes: Excellent communicator with strategic leadership skills, adept at working with cross-functional teams, and aligned with Palsgaard’s core values of loyalty, commitment, and responsibility.
  
  

Location:

• Location: Johor, Malaysia
  
  

For a confidential discussion please reach out to Manish V Sadhwani from Access People Executive Search & Recruitment in Singapore via LinkedIn and at [email protected]