Head of Finance Shared Services (APAC & MEA)
Position Overview
The Head of Finance Shared Services (APAC & MEA) leads the delivery of finance operations across two diverse and fast‑growing regions. This role oversees shared service functions including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, and Reporting. The position ensures consistent service quality, drives process standardization, strengthens internal controls, and champions continuous improvement across all markets within APAC and MEA.
The ideal candidate brings strong regional experience, understands the operational nuances of emerging and mature markets, and can build high‑performing teams across multiple countries.
Key Responsibilities
1. Regional Leadership & Strategy
- Develop and execute the shared services strategy for APAC and MEA, aligned with regional finance and business priorities.
- Lead, mentor, and develop multi‑country finance operations teams
- Build a culture of service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the primary finance operations partner for sub -regional CFOs, country finance leaders, and business stakeholders.
2. Operational Excellence
- Oversee end‑to‑end finance operations across APAC and MEA, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of AP, AR, GL, fixed assets, and reporting activities.
- Ensure efficient month‑end, and year‑end close processes across multiple time zones and regulatory environments.
- Drive standardization and harmonization of processes, systems, and policies across both regions.
- Introduce and Monitor KPIs, SLAs, and operational dashboards to ensure high‑quality service delivery.
3. Governance, Compliance & Controls
- Strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with IFRS/GAAP, local statutory requirements, tax regulations, and corporate policies across all APAC and MEA markets.
- Partner with internal and external auditors to support audit activities.
- Implement risk‑mitigation frameworks tailored to the complexities of emerging markets.
4. Transformation & Continuous Improvement
- Lead automation, digitization, and process‑optimization initiatives across the regions (e.g., RPA, AI assisted workflow tools, ERP enhancements and deployments).
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce cost‑to‑serve, and improve service quality.
- Scale operations to expand shared services footprint
- Benchmark performance against regional and global best practices.
5. Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Management
- Collaborate closely with regional finance, HR, IT, procurement, and business teams to ensure alignment on priorities and service expectations.
- Manage escalations and proactively address service delivery issues.
- Build strong relationships with country teams to understand local needs and support business growth.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field; professional certification (CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA) preferred.
- 10–15+ years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5 years in shared services leadership.
- Strong understanding of end‑to‑end finance processes and ERP systems (SAP B1, Microsoft Dynamics365, Microsoft AX 2009).
- Proven experience managing finance operations across APAC and/or MEA in a multinational setting.
- Demonstrated success in transformation, automation, and process re‑engineering and process transfer
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
- Ability to operate in a fast‑paced, multicultural, matrixed environment.
Key Competencies
- Strategic and regional mindset
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
- Change management and transformation leadership
- Team development and talent management
- Customer‑centric approach
- High integrity and sound judgment
