Senior Manager

Cathay Pacific

Financial & Legal Services

Financial Services Department

Permanent

Mumbai, India

Application deadline: 16 Nov 2025

Cathay is a leading premium travel lifestyle brand based in Hong Kong, offering products and services across four lines of business – Premium Travel, Cargo, Low-Cost Travel and Lifestyle. The Cathay Group comprises premium full-service airline Cathay Pacific, Cargo business like Cathay Cargo, low-cost airline HK Express, express all-cargo carrier Air Hong Kong, and various other subsidiaries.

Cathay Pacific was founded in Hong Kong in 1946. The Group has been deeply committed to its home base, extending to the rest of Greater Bay Area, and making substantial investments to develop Hong Kong as one of the world's leading international aviation centres.

Join us and discover just how far you can go

This role supports Cathay's Tax and Company law related compliance (around 60-70% of the role), financial operations and decision partnering across SAMEA (South Asia, Middle East and Africa) which comprises majorly of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Middle East, and South Africa.

The role will have a strong emphasis on Tax Compliance and Advisory, while ensuring smooth transactional finance services and active involvement with the various Business teams across SAMEA for Business/Decision Partnering. A key mandate is to drive automation and LEAN processes using AI and digital tools to create an efficient, future-ready finance function.

Tax Compliance & Advisory

• Provide expert guidance on Direct and Indirect taxation (Income tax, VAT/GST, customs, service tax) across SAMEA jurisdictions. Ensure all payments of statutory dues are made on time.
• Coordinate timely tax filings, assessments, audits, and reconciliations in liaison with in-country teams and external advisors with various teams.
• Track and assist in closing ongoing tax assessments, audits, and regulatory queries including legacy matters for SAMEA.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with Companies Acts, Central Bank, and Exchange Control regulations (FEMA, FX remittances, repatriations) independently or with the help of consultants/advisors.
• Interpret aviation-specific regulations (airport levies, different taxes, service charges) and translate them into actionable strategies and support Business teams to implement the same.
• Support transfer pricing policies, intercompany agreements, and international tax planning.
• Review contracts for applicable tax clauses and advise changes to the same, negotiate with Partners for the same for the interest of Cathay.
• Stay abreast of regional tax, compliance and regulatory developments and local and HQ finance teams informed of the impact on Cathay business
• Lead audit readiness and government inspection responses to ensure clean closures.
• Prepare and update a regional compliance calendar/dashboard, escalating issues proactively.

Business / Decision Partnering

• Serve as a trusted finance advisor to commercial, operations, and airport teams, enabling data-driven decision-making.
• Integrate financial insights into cross-functional initiatives across People, Travel, Cargo, Engineering, IT, and Airports teams.
• Evaluate and support business cases for submission to Regional or Head Office, ensuring governance, cost control, and tax risk mitigation.
• Oversee contract approvals and expenditure authorizations in alignment with Group policies.
• Monitor adherence to internal controls, asset safeguarding, and risk management protocols.

Operational Finance & Process Excellence

• Drive automation initiatives including AI-based reconciliations, invoice digitization, and predictive collections.
• Oversee A/R (customers) and A/P (vendors) processes and teams, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, timely reconciliations and maintaining cordial working relationships with them.
• Review and manage BSP and CASS processes with precision and timeliness and monitor GSA operations and settlement cycles for compliance and performance.
• Collaborate with shared service centres (GBS) and outsourced partners to ensure SLA adherence and operational efficiency.
• Ensure timely execution of core finance operations, including month-end close (WD+2), financial reporting, budgeting & forecasting, cost control, treasury & cash management, agent collections, payroll, supplier payments, and overall financial administration.

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce / Finance (3-year degree)
• Chartered Accountant

Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience

• Chartered Accountant with 8–12 years of post-qualification experience preferably in the airline/travel/aviation industry and with experience of dealing with regional tax matters and proven expertise in multi-country taxation
• Strong understanding / knowledge of IATA BSP, CASS, and GSA models/processes.
• Exposure to AI/digital transformation projects in finance (automation, analytics, robotic process automation preferred).
• Experience with large ERP Planning financial systems like SAP preferred.
• Minimum of 6-8 years' experience in leading a high-performance team
• A good team player with strong interpersonal skills and can interact with all levels within the organisation and region
• Demonstrable experience in improving current work practices and implementing new ideas with superior written, oral communication & cross-cultural collaboration, problem-solving skills.
• Strong ability to multi-task and deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines

** Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in India.

Cathay is proud to offer eligible employees competitive compensation & benefits package, as varied by location, regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment and employment status as highlighted below.

• Travel Privileges on Cathay Pacific Airways Global Network
• Extensive well-being programs including health and employee assistance program benefits to help you stay well.
• Paid Leave
• If this position requires a uniform, a uniform allowance will be provided.

Cathay Pacific is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with our personal data policy and for recruitment purposes only. Candidates not notified within eight weeks may consider their application unsuccessful.

All related information will be kept in our file for up to 24 months. A copy of our Personal Information Collection Statement will be provided upon request by contacting our Data Protection Officer.

We thank all candidates for your interest in Cathay, and regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

All job opportunities are published exclusively on our official website. We advise applicants not to apply through or respond to any third-party websites or domains. Kindly exercise caution and avoid unsolicited offers from unofficial sources.