Area Financial Controller

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Area Finance Team
• Key responsibilities include:
• Oversight of country financials, including P&L and Balance Sheet
• Support for group and regional policies and initiatives
• Cash repatriation, financial statement audits, and risk management
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Ad-hoc financial analysis and project support
• Tax and compliance matters
• Timely escalation of issues to the regional team
• Area Financial Controller
• 1. Financial Reporting & Control
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closings for all countries in their scope.
• Review and challenge country P&L, Balance Sheet, and cash flow positions, ensuring reliability and consistency with IFRS and Group policies.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, provisions, and intercompany settlements.
• Lead periodic financial performance reviews with countries
• 2. Business Analysis & Performance Management
• Prepare detailed variance analyses and management commentaries for Area leadership.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, ensuring alignment with business plans.
• Provide financial insights to support business decisions.
• 3. Cash Management & Repatriation
• Monitor cash flow and liquidity across countries, ensuring adherence to region cash management policies
• Manage and follow up on cash repatriation plans from local entities
• Review and follow up on overdue receivables, ensuring clear escalation and resolution to area management
• 4. Statutory Compliance, Audit & Tax
• Ensure local statutory accounts are prepared, audited, and filed within legal deadlines for countries in scope.
• Coordinate external audits and ensure audit findings are addressed promptly.
• Oversee internal audit preparation and remediation for the countries in scope.
• Supervise and support local tax compliance (corporate income tax, VAT, withholding taxes, transfer pricing documentation).
• Serve as the primary contact point for tax audits, risk assessments, and local authorities, keeping the area and regional teams informed.
• 5. Governance & Internal Control
• Ensure full adherence to Group accounting, compliance, and internal control policies.
• Conduct periodic reviews of local processes and controls, identifying gaps and implementing remediation.
• Promote a strong control and compliance culture in countries
• 6. Country Support & Stakeholder Management
• Act as first point of contact for country BA teams, providing guidance on accounting treatment, reporting standards, and finance policies.
• Provide coaching and capacity-building to country BAs to enhance financial discipline and reporting quality.
• Liaise with regional finance teams for consolidation, policy updates, and technical clarifications.
• Support Area Management with ad hoc analyses, and business cases if required

Requirements for the role

• Industry and Technical Knowledge
• 10+ years in finance or accounting within shipping or maritime
• Degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA, CA, ACCA or CMA preferred
• Strong analytical and statistical skill
• Business Systems and IT
• Commitment to data quality and benchmarking
• Advanced SAP and MS Office, especially Excel
• Process and systems improvement experience
• Accurate data processing under pressure
• Communication and Organization
• Self-directed, with initiative
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Strong planning and time management
• Effective cross-functional collaboration
• Explains complex data clearly to non-finance audiences
• Leadership and Behaviors
• Leadership potential: guides, coaches and influences
• Proactive, positive, “can do” attitude
• Ownership and commitment to delivery
• Team player
• Integrity and confidentiality