Site Finance Director

About the Role:

As the manufacturing site embarks on a significant transformation journey, this role is pivotal in shaping its future. Acting as a strategic partner and trusted deputy to the Site Director, the Site Finance Director will lead critical change initiatives, drive tough decisions, and enable operational resilience. This position demands a bold leader with the ability to influence across functions, manage complexity, and deliver sustainable cost optimization while navigating a dynamic and challenging environment.

The Site Finance Director is the strategic finance leader for the manufacturing site, responsible for driving financial performance, ensuring compliance, and enabling transformation initiatives. This role partners closely with site leadership and regional teams to deliver cost sustainability, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering

Act as a trusted advisor to the Site Director and leadership team, influencing decisions that impact cost, cash, service, and risk management.

Lead financial strategy for the site, aligning with regional and global priorities.

Drive transformation initiatives such as automation, system upgrades, and cultural change programs, amongst others.

Strong ability to challenge the status quo, influence senior leadership, and align cross-functional teams toward site objectives.

Enable and foster strong collaboration with the commercial team to drive value engineering, deliver cost savings projects, support accurate volume forecasting, and accelerate innovation initiatives.

2. Change Leadership & Transformation Experience

Proven track record of leading large-scale operational transformations in a manufacturing or site environment.

Ability to drive insourcing strategies, manage capacity shifts, and execute cost-reduction initiatives under tight timelines.

Skilled in navigating complex stakeholder dynamics and facilitating difficult conversations to achieve consensus on tough decisions.

Skilled in change management and communication strategies to ensure smooth adoption of new processes.

3. Financial Management & Governance

Full ownership of site-level P&L and Balance Sheet, including oversight of audits, tax compliance, statutory reporting, and robust internal controls.

Ensure all financial operations meet corporate, local, and international standards, with a strong focus on risk management and regulatory compliance.

Ensure robust internal controls and adherence to corporate policies.

Lead annual business planning, monthly performance reviews, and forecasting processes.

Lead Annual Standard Setting and Annual Transfer Pricing exercises

Manage financial governance and relationship with JV partners, ensuring alignment on strategic and operational objectives.

4. Operational Excellence & Financial Acumen

Expertise in site-level P&L management, OPEX optimization, and productivity improvement.

Demonstrated ability to lead scenario planning and proactively mitigate risks during periods of significant organizational change or supply chain disruptions.

Implement cost optimization programs and productivity initiatives to achieve site and regional targets.

Champion a culture of continuous improvement, proactively identifying opportunities to optimize processes and drive value.

Drive inventory governance, capex & opex reviews, and working capital improvements.

5. Team Leadership & Development

Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, maintain team morale, and deliver results in high-pressure environments.

Manage and mentor a team of finance professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.

Build capability within the team to support future growth and transformation.

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Qualifications and skills - Essential

Proven, mandatory experience in manufacturing finance, preferably FMCG or pharma, with minimum 15 years of relevant experience with Chartered Accountancy (ACCA, CIMA, CPA) preferred.

Fluency in Mandarin and English is a must.

Proven ability to lead E2E finance teams in a manufacturing or site-based environment.

Strong leadership, influencing & communication skills; ability to drive change in challenging environments & decisions in a clear, concise manner.

Deep understanding of cost accounting, inventory management, and manufacturing variances. Experience in BPCS, JDE and SAP is preferred.

Prior experience in managing financial aspects of joint venture partnerships, including governance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

Demonstrated capability to mentor and develop finance talent within the organization.

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Success Metrics

Delivery of site financial targets (cost, cash, compliance).

Successful execution of transformation & value creation projects.

Engagement and development of finance team talent.