Apply: WGSN - Finance Manager - Hong Kong

Ascential plc is a global business-to-business media company listed on the London Stock Exchange. We are a business-to-business media company connecting leading professionals in more than 150 countries from our UK, US and UAE operation locations through insightful market-leading Exhibitions, inspiring Festivals, and precise Informational Services. Within Ascential plc, the core business brands include WGSN, Ascential Events, Plexus and EMAP.
 
Ascential Events bring communities together to be inspired, to trade, to network and to learn. From the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to Money 20/20 to Spring/Autumn Fair, we work hard for our customers to produce valuable events that make a meaningful impact on people, brands and businesses across the world.
 
WGSN gives creative-led businesses the solution to make better decisions. Its strategic-level news and reporting cover all aspects of business and retail, from executive interviews to buyers briefings, retail store analysis and marketing best practice. Specific and accurate trend forecasts from five years ahead spark ideas and confidence to design the right product at the right time for our customers in fashion, technology, hospitality, branding and automotive sectors.
 
The Finance Manager is a contributor for producing accurate and timely financial and management accounting information in relation to the various departments sitting within WGSN and Ascential Events (including actuals, forecasts and budgets).
 
The role holder will have confidence to communicate financial information with both Finance and non-Finance teams to ratify and deepen their understanding of the financial performance in APAC. Being able to produce accurate work against tight deadlines is critical for this roles success in a supporting growing and changing business. 
 
The Finance Manager will support the head office budget holders in determining and executing future strategy and decision making.
 
Reporting to the Head of Finance, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:
 
Financial Accounting and Governance:

• Oversees all accounting / tax / cashflow / compliance for the portfolio of companies in Asia
• Maintain tight balance sheet control
• Ensure compliance with local statutory requirements and group requirements. Be able to maintain governance around financial operation processes, including but not limited to billings, receivables, purchase, payments, commissions, month-end close, payroll, fixed assets, tax. Be able to implement new internal control policies and improve existing procedures.
• Oversee external audits and taxation for Asia entities.
• Handles ad hoc projects. Support implementation of financial systems and internal controls program.

 
 
Management Accounting:

• Review accurate and timely monthly management accounting (including billings, revenue, accruals, prepayments, accurate monthly flash reporting, monthly commentary and full year outlook)
• Maintain tight cost control against budgets. Maintain clear cost trackers each month with clearly visible fixed costs and discretionary costs.
• Detailed understanding and tracking of headcount, listed by employee with knowledge of all open roles and the operational impact of these.
• Weekly and monthly review of cost trackers with budget holders as required ensuring that they full own and are accountable for their areas.
• Produce accurate forecasting and budgeting as required (detailed workings bottom up for each department, posting to accounting systems and budget presentations and strategy).

Strategic Accounting: 

• Be able to carry out planning, budgeting and forecasting for the business.
• Use management information to track progress against an aggressive 3 year plan and to identify new trends and opportunities.
• Be able to establish key KPIs for tracking business performance
• Be able to suggest cost savings proposals.
• Business partner with BU leaders.

 
Skills and experience and other requirements:
 

• The position will be based in Hong Kong.
• Qualified CPA with university degree in accounting.
• At least 10 years’ working experience, including experience in auditing and accounting in a commercial environment.
• Experience in regional finance and exposure to China operations.
• Experience in dealing with external audit, profits tax filing,
• Excellent at Microsoft Excel.
• IDEALLY with experience in service industry.
• IDEALLY with experience in cost accounting and experience working for a manufacturing company.
• IDEALLY with experience in financial system implementation
• IDEALLY with experience in Oracle, Hyperion
• Good oral and written communication skills in English, Chinese and Mandarin
• Good analytical skills with attention to details.
• Enjoy working in multinational environment
• Excellent time management, ability to multi-task
• Mature, reliable, hands on, proactive, good team player, good people management skills, collaborative and be able to meet deadline
• Passionate and willing to take on any ad hoc assignments.