Regional Financial Controller

Regional Financial Controller-APAC, Assurant
The Financial Controller is responsible for the management of all APAC accounting and financial reporting matters under US GAAP and for maintaining strong internal controls in these areas across the region.

This position will be in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad at our India location.
What will be my duties and responsibilities in this job?

• Ensure APAC accounting and reporting matters are accounted for in accordance with US GAAP and adheres to Assurant's accounting policies (30%)
• Provide accounting teams with US GAAP guidance on APAC accounting and financial reporting matters, including issues, new/existing deals, M&A transactions, etc.
• Work with APAC accounting teams to gain an understanding of contracts and evaluate key accounting implications.
• Perform technical accounting research, draft and/or review accounting memos consistent with US GAAP and Assurant's accounting policies for significant APAC accounting issues and contracts.
• Partner with the International Accounting and technical accounting teams as needed to resolve APAC issues and finalize deal reviews.
• Ensure the accurate, timely and high-quality submission of internal and external reporting, including US GAAP, statutory and regulatory across the APAC region (30%)
• Partner with local and regional CFO's and Controllers to coordinate all aspects of APAC's financial statement close process, to ensure all reporting deadlines are met.
• Review APAC quarterly financial reporting deliverables, including variance analysis and support for Assurant's consolidated financial statements.
• Partner with Finance and country leaders to review and understand APAC's key business drivers on a quarterly basis.
• Manage APAC's internal and external audits (local and US GAAP), ensuring progress is being made, issues are raised, and remediation actions are completed in order to strengthen internal controls.
• Ensure APAC accounts are reconciled in accordance with Assurant's policy, including the performance of local-to-US GAAP reconciliations.
• Certify APAC's quarterly results are accurate and in accordance with US GAAP.

• Support efforts to improve the close process for APAC and share best practices across teams.

• Provide APAC support for global accounting initiatives and special projects (20%)

• Support the GFS project (migration to a Global ERP), provide APAC accounting perspective and participate in key workstreams for APAC to ensure the project is progressing as planned and key stakeholders are engaged.

• Support transformation efforts in APAC, including identifying higher risk manual processes and making recommendations for process improvements, developing plan/framework with business partners and working on resolutions with APAC teams.
• Support integration efforts as part of connecting accounting teams globally to develop consistent accounting applications, improve process flows and share best practices worldwide.
• Partner with International Accounting, local Finance leadership and other key stakeholders effectively (20%)
• Evaluate the APAC accounting teams and organizational structure, assess gaps and other developmental opportunities on team's both current and future needs.
• Continue to build a foundation of leadership and trust with APAC Accounting, Finance and Country leaders.
• Identify and raise APAC accounting and financial reporting issues to key stakeholders, including the International Accounting team in the US and APAC CFO, on a timely basis. Ensure key stakeholders remain appraised of developments on issues and deals relating to the APAC business.
• Total direct reports: minimum of 2 financial/lead accountants
• Total employees: 44 (Australia/New Zealand, India, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand)
• Support in management of overall external audit budget and external accounting advice spend

What are the requirements needed for this position?
Education

• College degree in Accounting, plus CPA, Chartered Accountant or equivalent designation required: CPA / ACA / ACCA / CIMA

Experience

• Overall 12+ Years of Working Experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a Controllership or Accounting/Finance leadership role.
• Effectively managing teams in different locations

Knowledge And Skills

• Strong US GAAP knowledge
• Knowledge of insurance accounting principles
• Strong IFRS knowledge
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office
• Comfortable working with senior stakeholders
• Ability to manage numerous deadlines and prioritize workload accordingly

What other the Preferred Experience, Skills, and Knowledge?

• Big 4 accountancy experience
• Experience with ERP systems and migrations (Oracle preferred)
• Experience in preparing consolidated financial statements
• Experience in coordinating audit processes
• Experience in regulatory reporting
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

10-20%: Periodic travel within APAC, some international travel.