Regional Head of Finance, APAC

Purpose of the role:

Develop and manage a high performing finance team in Asia Pacific ensuring technical excellence, first-rate service levels and timely delivery. Alongside the Regional Business Manager, act as business partner and trusted advisor to the regional leadership team for all accounting and finance issues with the objective of helping to maximise profitability, minimise financial risk and support the achievement of strategic growth targets. Provide financial leadership and delivery of operational finance in an efficient manner and in compliance with group standards while ensuring all local reporting standards and regulations are met. Manage the financial planning, monitoring and reporting of overheads and overall profitability for the Region.

Main duties and responsibilities:
Provide leadership to, supervision and development of the finance teams in APAC to build an effective
cross-regional team. Build a culture of team responsiveness and ‘how can I help you’ approach.
Working with the Global Tax team and external advisors as appropriate, establish and maintain procedures
for each jurisdiction to comply with local GST/ VAT, payroll and other tax rules, including support with local
returns and annual inspections. Ensure any adhoc tax queries raised by tax authorities in the Region are
dealt with on a timely and accurate basis.

Ensure appropriate cost management through processes, controls and effective operating model. Help to
optimise revenue through reduced leakage due to operational issues.

Seek to continuously improve processes and systems to improve efficiency and ensure the region is making
use of the latest technology to deliver first class financial operations to the Firm. Initial focus on billing and
cash collection processes working collaboratively with appropriate UK finance groups.

Develop in depth financial analysis with insightful narrative on financial areas of the business and working
closely with the Group Financial Reporting & Control team and Regional Business Manager, produce and
interpret monthly management accounts for the Region including commentaries covering performance and
variance analysis.

Accountability for all local statutory, regulatory and internal compliance requirements (taxes, financial
reporting, Solicitor account rules, financial controls and policies), accounting records and all financial
processes.

Working with the Business manager and others as appropriate, support improvements in working capital
management.

Support projects such as new office openings, new system implementations and other regional or firm
initiatives with financial insight and analysis.

Work closely with the Group Financial Reporting & Control Team to manage, alongside the Regional
Business Manager, the Firm’s budget and forecast processes in the region.

Develop strong relationships with professional advisors in the region and manage the statutory audit
process for the Region, ensuring financials are signed off on a timely basis.

Work closely with the Group or regional teams leading on various issues including Transfer pricing,
international mobility, partner tax and accounting issues, corporate structure, direct and indirect tax, etc.
Develop an internal audit programme to test internal control adequacy for the offices in the region and
implement or strengthen controls if weaknesses identified.