Finance Manager / Controller - APAC

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Roles & Responsibilities

Description

We are looking to recruit a Financial Manager to drive financial success within a dynamic team. As a key member of our Accounting & Finance department, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our financial strategy and contributing to our continued growth and success.

This challenging and rewarding position involves overseeing financial operations in the APAC region, developing and implementing financial plans, and collaborating with senior leaders to achieve organizational objectives. To excel in this role, you should possess strong business acumen, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

The Firm

Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Our belief is that by delivering smarter and more creative legal services, we will not only enrich our clients' experiences with us but also support them in achieving their business goals.

Our long-standing relationships, international outlook, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for the speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.

We all share a common culture, with core values supporting the firm’s commitment to add value, achieve excellence, and promote professional development. We place a huge significance on listening to our people and incorporating their ideas wherever possible.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Finance EMEA, the primary purpose of the role is to provide the infrastructure necessary to ensure, a) that Reed Smith (RS) is compliant in its Accounting and Reporting responsibilities and, b) there is effective supply of analysis to support Management decision making, in the countries making up the APAC region, primarily Singapore, by leading the accounting hub and building strong relationships with country leadership.

Controllership (not exhaustive)

• Act as line manager for the Assistant Finance Manager, with responsibility for Accounting, Reporting and Payroll and AP, with dotted line partnering with the EMEA Controller. Lead and motivate the team, monitor performance and ensure that they are engaged, conduct annual appraisal and review staffing levels, feeding into salary reviews.
• Provide Controllership guidance, technical support and training where necessary to RS offices to lead the successful Accounting, statutory reporting, other legal filings, Accounts Payable and Payroll effort, and any accounting issues that arise. Liaise with Business Managers in offices as needed.
• Maintain an effective register of all compliance obligations and key dates, across region. Ensure this is shared with team and other stakeholders and that the relevant priority areas are identified.
• Lead the local Statutory audit and annual accounts process, alongside the EMEA Controller, working as a team to utilize resource to deliver on time, accurate and supported accounts, ahead of schedule.
• Drafting the statutory accounts in accordance with applicable standards. Agree these with the auditors and present to senior management for signature.
• Support with the firm’s SRA obligations where necessary; Ensure compliance with the local Solicitor accounts rules; attend internal audit committee meetings as required
• Ensure that adequate financial controls are maintained by reviewing effective controls, including periodic audits and reviews.
• Drive an effective month end process alongside the UK team. For example, ensure that GL control accounts are reconciled to sub ledgers monthly; bank reconciliations are prepared for all accounts and reviewed monthly; payroll and suspense accounts are reconciled monthly; procedures are properly documented, and accounts staff are aware of these.
• Maintain an effective Balance Sheet review control process, including periodic reviews with the Director.
• Provide effective advice and guidance over treasury, working alongside the Director of Treasury, based in the U.S.
• Review cashflow forecasts on a frequent basis; ensure that sufficient funding is available in bank accounts; liaise with the RS treasury team as required, building strong relationships. Arrange operating leases to fund CAPEX as required; lead relationships with banks; act as system administrator on e- banking products used
• Ensure the accounting and reporting of VAT/GST is fit for purpose by testing the process and implementing any corrective action, working alongside the Tax team.
• Lead on system/IT projects and Change projects alongside Director.
• Provide guidance and support regarding the compliance and accounting for Pensions and pension schemes, where appropriate.
  
  

Planning and Analysis (not exhaustive)

• Over time, establish effective Management Reporting, including analysis of variances and forecast, building the team to support this.
• Responsible for consolidating the budget and leading the team to ensure inputs and submission are timely.
• Provide support and training on budget setting to the
• Build effective management accounts (monthly) analysing profit and loss variances. Build and supply reporting to leadership, to enable effective decision making and control of Business metrics (Revenue, Cost and Profit.)
• Supply forecasting tools with key analysis to enable Gap closure and effective budgeting.
  
  

Key Skills And Experience

• Solid, demonstrable experience and knowledge of the Singapore regulatory requirements, deadlines and filings inc. SGP GAAP
• Experience gained in a Law firm an advantage
• A degree in accounting or a related field
• Professional accounting qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Significant experience in a finance leadership role.
• Highly analytical, strong technical accounting skills
• First rate organization and finishing skills
• Ability to lead a team and able to inface with accounts colleagues in the UK as well as EMEA and US.
• Highly computer literate; competent in using excel and complex accounting systems; capacity to learn other applications.
• Local language is an advantage but not essential
  
  

At Reed Smith, we welcome direct applications either in response to one of our advertised vacancies or on a speculative basis. Please click the "Apply Now" button to submit your details and we will be in touch.

No search firms/agencies please.

Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.