Business Controller

Job Number: 3813

External Description:

Job Purpose
The Business Controller responsibilities include coordinating and assisting the business control team in the
preparation of the main governance cycle milestones (2YGP, Budget, financial forecasts, closing, etc.). Preparing and
publishing timely monthly reporting to explain performance and main deviations versus plan. Support the business
control team in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) tasks and understanding business performance and
co-driving execution of growth & cost driven strategies.

Key expectations
Ensuring quality financial reporting
● Execute and support corporate planning cycle (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual)
　○ Support month-end, quarter end and year-end financial close process
　○ Thoroughly monitor, analyze, and understand the performance of operating company(s).
　　Identify key trends, deviations from planning cycle scenarios, and areas of opportunity & risk
　○ Working closely with the finance team and management to share and analyze findings
　○ Prepare and publish timely monthly analyses/reports
　○ Ensure quality control over topline and personnel expense variations
　○ Detailed scenario analysis on key topics and issues
● Propose potential business processes to maintain and strengthen internal controls
　○ Identify weak links within the current process
　○ Provide effective short and long term solutions to future proof profitability

Defining strategy and tracking main initiatives
● Assist the management in the formulation of the company’s strategy and growth priorities
● Coordinate the preparation of the budget, 2YGP and financial forecasts and discuss variances
with business control manager/FD in periodic reviews
● Accurate tracking of key initiatives and determined KPIs (periodic bonus calculation)
● Drive in-depth understanding of back office operations to adapt customized approaches
to changes and behavior analysis

Co-driving business performance
● Co-drive strategy, planning & control improvement initiatives, and benchmarks
○ Challenge and determine methods to enhance performance of the accounts and division
○ Support the group in implementing more optimized processes
● Execute ad-hoc analyses and modeling, and provide interpretations on key performance issues
○ Improving and propose process and cost efficiencies across the business
○ Developing financial reviews for selected business lines and supporting functions
○ Communication, and presentations for internal/external stakeholders

Education and Work Experience
● Degree in Accounting / Business / Finance / Management or other quantitative field
● More than 5 years of experience in a quantitative role
● Candidates with less experience may be considered
● Experience in recruitment or professional services industry is a plus

Skills
Core requirements
● Fluent in both English and Japanese
● Intellectual strengths, ability to comprehend and simplify complex concepts
● Strong foundation in financial analysis
● Strong verbal and written communication skill whilst working with all levels of management
● Agility and promoter of change, requires minimal supervision
● Excellence in execution
● Collaboration with senior leaders from supporting functions and the wider business
● Strong numerical, analytical and problem solving skills including how to collect relevant data from systems and use them for the delivery of solutions

Soft skills
● Planning and organization (ability to achieve deadlines with a high quality of work)
● Process driven individual with ability to operate in mild ambiguity with limited guidance
● Team player and positive contributor to a broader team
● Results-oriented, innovative thinker with a focus on continuous improvement
● Flexible and able to adapt to situations
● Client oriented, partner with the greater business
● Reflecting and promoting the key corporate values

Technical skills
● Project management
● Notions in accounting/finance
● High proficiency with Google sheets, slides, MS Excel, and PPT
● Knowledge in programming language(s) as an added advantage (a plus - not a must)

Job Number: 3813

Community / Marketing Title: Business Controller