Trading Entity Controller

The APAC Trading Controller is responsible for the end-to-end financial controllership of assigned APAC trading Human Nutrition entities (primarily Australia, Singapore, Japan and future APAC trading entities). The role serves as the finance owner for the HN trading entities, ensuring financial integrity, balance sheet governance, US GAAP compliance, and effective internal controls.

Acting as the primary Controllership interface between BU Finance, GBS, Corporate Functions and external stakeholders, the position provides financial governance throughout the financial close and reporting process, statutory compliance, system implementation and business transformation initiatives. The role plays a critical leadership position in safeguarding financial integrity and internal control, managing financial risk, and driving standardised controllership practices across APAC trading entities.

The candidate will have responsibilities across the following functions:

Trading Entity Controllership (Primary Responsibility):

• Own the overall Controllership governance for assigned APAC trading entities.
• Ensure financial statements accurately reflect business activities and comply with US GAAP and corporate accounting policies.
• Serve as the primary finance owner for assigned trading entities from a Controllership perspective.
• Perform other responsibilities and special assignments as delegated by the APAC Controller.
• Coordinate cross-functional financial activities affecting assigned entities.

Financial Close Governance:

• Own monthly financial close governance for assigned entities.
• Review financial results for completeness, accuracy and consistency.
• Review significant journal entries, unusual transactions and accounting estimates.
• Ensure timely completion of monthly, quarterly and year-end close activities.
• Coordinate close issues between GBS, BU Finance and Corporate Accounting.

Balance Sheet Governance:

• Own Balance Sheet Review (BSR) process for assigned entities.
• Ensure timely reconciliation of balance sheet accounts.
• Review ageing items and drive timely resolution.
• Monitor inventory valuation, accruals, reserves and other key balance sheet accounts.
• Drive continuous improvement of balance sheet quality and compliance.

Financial Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with US GAAP, Corporate Accounting Policies and Internal Control requirements.
• Support SOX compliance and internal control effectiveness.
• Coordinate statutory audit support where applicable.
• Review accounting treatments for significant or unusual transactions.
• Identify financial control gaps and implement corrective actions.

Business and Functional Partnership:

• Partner with BU Finance, Treasury, Tax, Credit, Supply Chain and other internal teams.
• Provide accounting guidance for new business initiatives.
• Support legal entity restructuring and business integration projects.
• Coordinate financial impact assessments for business changes.

Risk Management and Continuous Improvement:

• Proactively identify financial, operational and compliance risks.
• Recommend process improvements to strengthen governance.
• Lead standardisation initiatives across trading entities.
• Support automation and digital transformation initiatives.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or above in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA / ACCA or equivalent Professional qualification Mandatory.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in Controlling / Accounting.
• Strong experience in manufacturing costing and/or trading entity controlling.
• Experience working in a GCC environment.
• Experience in ERP systems (e. g., SAP, Navision, JDE, Vax), including system implementation or upgrade, is a strong plus.
• Experience in a multinational environment preferred.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of US GAAP and local statutory requirements.
• Solid knowledge of balance sheet management and reconciliation processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).

Technical Skills:

• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Knowledge of Power BI / Power Query/data tools is a plus.

Core Competencies:

All positions require:

• Integrity and Values
• Quality Focus
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Safety Awareness

Additional competencies:

• Customer / Client Focus
• Initiative
• Planning and Organising
• Communication and Teamwork
• Reliability
• Adaptability