Accounts Manager

About the role

We are seeking a highly competent and strategic Accounts Manager to oversee the full spectrum of financial accounting, reporting, and treasury functions. This role requires a hands-on leader who can ensure strict compliance with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS), manage cash flow, drive process improvements, and act as a trusted business partner to senior management on budgeting, tenders, and investment decisions.

Key responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Review monthly management accounts prepared by the team, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission in compliance with SFRS and relevant accounting standards.
• Analyze monthly Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow statements, and supporting schedules.
• Investigate significant variances, unusual transactions, and financial risks, providing actionable recommendations to management.
• Oversee month-end and year-end closing procedures, ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Manage and review intercompany transactions, balances, and reconciliations.
• Maintain robust accounting records, documentation, and audit trails; recommend and implement updates to accounting policies as needed.

1. Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Prepare and monitor short-term and long-term cash flow forecasts to ensure sufficient liquidity for operations.
• Monitor daily/weekly bank balances and upcoming payment commitments.
• Plan funding requirements and manage loan repayments, interest costs, and existing bank facilities.
• Proactively identify potential cash flow shortages and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with operational departments on payment priorities and cash requirements; monitor utilization of bank guarantees, overdrafts, and trade facilities.

1. Audit, Tax & Statutory Compliance

• Coordinate the annual external audit process, ensuring timely submission of audit schedules and supporting documents.
• Liaise with auditors on accounting treatment and review audited financial statements.
• Oversee corporate tax computations, filings, and payments to ensure statutory deadlines are met.
• Manage GST compliance, including reviewing GST calculations and supporting schedules.
• Stay abreast of changes in accounting, tax, and statutory regulations, assessing their impact on the Group; follow up on audit findings to implement corrective actions.

1. Budgeting & Financial Analysis

• Lead the annual budgeting and financial planning process, challenging departmental assumptions where necessary.
• Prepare monthly Budget vs. Actual analysis, identifying key variances in revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, and profitability.
• Provide senior management with financial insights to improve profitability and cost efficiency.
• Update rolling financial forecasts based on actual performance and changing business conditions.

1. Project Tender & Investment Evaluation

• Review financial models for new projects, tenders, and business opportunities.
• Assess project profitability, payback periods, IRR, NPV, and other relevant financial indicators.
• Review tender pricing, cost assumptions, and financial risks, providing recommendations before submission or approval.
• Monitor approved projects against original budgets and financial assumptions.

1. Payment Controls & Internal Governance

• Review and approve payment schedules and requests in accordance with the company's delegated authority.
• Ensure all payments are properly supported by approved invoices, purchase orders, GRNs, and relevant documentation.
• Enforce strict segregation of duties between payment preparation, verification, approval, and release to prevent errors and fraud.
• Strengthen internal controls, review bank reconciliations, and investigate significant reconciling items.

1. AR/AP & Working Capital Management

• Monitor accounts receivable, collections, and customer/tenant aging reports; escalate significant overdue accounts.
• Manage supplier balances, payment terms, and credit limits, aligning payment planning with cash flow.
• Review credit control procedures and drive improvements to collection efficiency.
• Oversee reconciliations for major customers and suppliers.

1. Process Improvement & System Optimization

• Establish, review, and improve departmental SOPs for accounting, billing, payment, and month-end closing.
• Identify inefficient processes and implement automation or system improvements to increase productivity and accuracy.
• Standardize accounting procedures across business units where appropriate.

1. Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise, mentor, and allocate responsibilities effectively within the Accounts team.
• Review work completed by Account Executives/Senior Executives to ensure accuracy and deadline adherence.
• Provide technical guidance, set clear KPIs, and conduct performance reviews to foster team growth.
• Ensure adequate backup arrangements and continuity of critical functions within the department.

1. Strategic Advisory & Corporate Governance

• Provide financial analysis and advice to support business decisions, M&A, refinancing, and expansion plans.
• Highlight financial risks, control weaknesses, and cost-saving opportunities to management.
• Support Board/Management reporting and presentations.
• Liaise with external stakeholders including auditors, tax agents, company secretaries, banks, and regulators as required.

What you'll bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance, or a related field. Professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA) is highly preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in accounting or finance, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Strong proficiency in SFRS, corporate tax, and GST compliance. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP accounting systems (e.g. SAGE, SAP, Xero, NetSuite).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines while acting as a strategic business partner to senior management.