Head of Finance - Asia Pacific

Vacancy Type: Full time, contract 

Location: ASI's Islamabad office.

Service Areas: The position will support the APAC region 

JOB CONTEXT & PURPOSE

Adam Smith International (Australia) Pty Ltd was established in 2012 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adam Smith International (UK). It is the company’s Asia Pacific regional office, responsible for leading business development and program delivery in the region. The company has operations and personnel located in several countries across Asia Pacific, providing technical advisory and program management services.

The company’s primary client in the region is the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Other clients include the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), European Union (EU), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), as well as multilateral development banks.

The Head of Finance, Asia Pacific will lead the overall financial management of ASI Australia. With the company introducing a new project financial management system in 2023, the role will manage the implementation of the system in the Asia Pacific regional office and country offices, including providing training and support to project and finance staff.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Director Asia Pacific

• Head of FP&A
• Group Finance Director (UK)
• Staff of the Asia Pacific regional office
• Finance Staff in Asia Pacific country offices
• Head Office finance team (UK)
• Shared Services (PAK)

External:

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

• Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• Tax agent and external auditor
• Banking partners
• Clients
• Auditors

KEY TASKS

Financial Management

• Oversee the financial analysis of the ASI Australia business to aid in strategic decision-making. This includes the preparation of annual revenue and expenditure budgets, monthly forecasts, project inception-to-completion monitoring, and monthly financial monitoring and reporting.
• Manage the preparation of monthly income statements and balance sheets for the Australia office and all Asia Pacific projects, including reconciliation and ownership of Australia-based entities balance sheet accounts.
• Oversee the management and reconciliation of APAC bank accounts and cash positions, conduct weekly cash flow forecasting, verify received funds, process payment runs, and supervise bank accounts in regional project offices.
• Represent ASI Australia at the global Finance Committee monthly meetings and maintain close coordination with the Group Finance Director and global finance team.
• Ensure compliance with ATO reporting and documentation standards and paying of company taxes, including through the quarterly Business Activity Statements (BAS) or monthly Instalment Activity Statement (IAS), and liaising with the ATO and tax agent.
• Manage the intercompany reconciliation and recharging process for Australia in line with company transfer pricing policy and Australian financial regulatory requirements.
• Manage the monthly staff payroll, including preparing and lodging monthly payroll tax and superannuation funds allocations, and ensure all employee benefits and entitlements are up to date and paid in a timely manner.
• Facilitate the external audit of ASI Australia's annual accounts, acting as the primary liaison with external auditors, coordinating programme audits, and providing support for internal audits.
• Ensure ASI Australia is up to date with changing Australian (and international, as relevant) financial regulations and industry best practices in financial management.
• Supervise Management Accountant and APAC Accounts Payable clerk who will have a dotted line responsibilities to Shared Services Manager. Provide financial management training and support to finance staff in Asia Pacific country offices.

Systems and Processes

• Seek out process improvement opportunities and new capabilities within existing and new tools.
• Provide coaching and training to relevant project and finance staff, as a designated ‘Superuser’ of the finance system, and ensure offices have the necessary resources, and training.
• Act as a ‘help desk’ to relevant project and finance staff across Asia Pacific to support basic understanding and usability of the system, including as a liaison with HQ support teams.

• A qualified ACCA, ACA, or CIMA Accountant with significant post-qualified experience.
• Significant demonstrated experience as management accountant or similar role, with progressive responsibility over time.
• Proven leadership and management experience, and the capacity to identify and respond to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Experience within a professional services firm or knowledge of the development sector is desirable.
• Strong organisational, negotiation and leadership skills, and ability to work under pressure in fast-paced environment and manage competing demands.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to produce high quality written and verbal reports. Data story telling expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain ethical standards and confidentiality, particularly as it relates to staff, clients, partners, and their financial activities.
• High level of computer literacy, including in Microsoft applications, databases and finance systems, with finance system implementation experience desirable.