Aesop has carefully cultivated a work environment in which our employees are constantly challenged to do their best. Our company is determinedly creative, intelligent and progressive, and nurtures these qualities by employing people who share our passionate interest in design, innovation, and incisive enquiry across all fields.

Our organisational culture is entirely unique, distinguished by an uncommon blend of courtesy, cordiality and intellectual energy. We seek those who can bring a wealth of life experience and inspired ideas to our table.

In return, we provide comprehensive induction and training programmes, and encourage an inclusive culture that nurtures enduring professional relationships. We also appreciate the benefits that flow from our employees’ external pursuits.

We raise our bar high at Aesop and never lower it; this is one of the keys to our success and one of the many reasons why people wish to work here. If you would like to join Aesop, we invite you to peruse our current career opportunities.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Finance Business Partner - SEA is primarily responsible for reviewing and analysing the financial reports and compliance requirements for Aesop’s Southeast Asia businesses. The role reports directly to the Country Manager for South East Asia (SEA) and will also assist with the budgeting and forecasting process as well as regular compliance and taxation requirements.

AESOP CAPABILITIES

This role is at the Operational level. The critical Aesop Capabilities for this role are (in order of priority):

Capability

Execution

Taking accountability for achieving goals and tenaciously completing work of consistent excellence.

• Targets opportunities with the greatest potential for producing results
• Establishes challenging goals for self and others to achieve business results
• Works tenaciously to overcome obstacles and to meet or exceed goals
• Remains self-disciplined, measures progress and evaluates results, reprioritises and manages stakeholder expectations honestly and constructively

Creativity and Change

Promoting change and creative improvement and adapting effectively to new approaches.

• Explains why change is occurring and the anticipated benefits and impact
• Reviews processes to determine gaps between current outputs and expected requirements
• Generates ideas for creative solutions, analyses the impact of each solution and selects appropriate course
• Implements improvements through testing solutions, gathering feedback and modifying solutions as appropriate to ensure effectiveness

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting and month end close

• Review and analyse of monthly management reporting to provide the Country Manager (CM) and the Regional Finance Manager (RFM) with proactive scrutiny of financial results, accuracy, and variance to budget/forecast.
• Review and monitor costs as per the request of the CM or the GM and make recommendations on how improve efficiency (new processes, new suppliers, new control tools etc.)
• To monitor intercompany balances with the parent company and within the SEA countries.
• Coordination of invoice collection, approval and payment with outsourced providers

Financial Planning and Analysis

• To assist the Country Manager in coordinating the annual budgeting process including the ownership of budget templates which will provide both clear analysis and ease of input into Aesop’s financial system.
• To conduct monthly and quarterly forecasting and obtain updated projections from each relevant functional manager.
• To monitor aging A/R and liaise with relevant department for follow-up
• Ensure compliance of all Finance operating policies and guidelines and review and ensure accurate booking and classification of all expenses
• Assist Country Manager and relevant department head on any financial projections related to strategic projects (e.g. new channel entry, new market entry, 3 year business projection)
• Other ad-hoc tasks that contribute towards influencing commercial decision-making process including new store proposals, new customer proposals (profitability) and new market entries.

Working Closely with Regional Finance Shared Service Team on Compliance Matters

• Responsibility for ensuring that statutory deadlines relating to the payment of SEA taxes and the lodgement of statutory accounts are met in a timely manner.
• Responsibility for local finance, risk and governance controls including as key contact for external company secretary
• To ensure, in conjunction with Aesop’s external tax accountants, that Singapore & Malaysia income tax and other local statutory payments are paid in a timely manner and that the external reporting compliance is maintained.
• To act as a main contact for preparing corporate secretarial documents
• To become the key contact for external auditors and the development of documentation which both anticipates and satisfies their needs.

Other Responsibilities

• To act as the main point of contact for our banking provider and manage queries relating to the bank and commercial card accounts.
• Ensure Southeast Asia entities are compliant with the Aesop group’s finance operating policies.
• Assist with other Finance projects as required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in one or more of the following degrees: Business, Accounting, Finance, Commerce or similar.
• Professional qualifications: Obtained or working towards CA, CPA or other similar professional qualification.
• Experience in a corporate accounting environment – retail sector preferred but not required.
• Hands-on, practical problem solving and process improvement skills and ability to complete tasks within set timeframes.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and escalate issues and process improvements
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (English).
• Experience with NetSuite ERP system an advantage.
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access, etc)