Purpose of the role:
This role focuses on implementing and monitoring controls, maintaining compliance tooling, executing testing and certification activities, and supporting markets with documentation, training and remediation. It is handson, detailoriented, and requires strong coordination, communication and problemsolving skills, working closely with control owners and functional teams across APAC.
Job role and responsibilities:
Controls Leadership & Integration
- Act as a control's ambassador supporting the integration of new businesses, acquisitions, or significant change into client's internal control environment across APAC.
- Provide support, guidance, and training to ensure Group standards are well understood and embedded in day-to-day operations.
Internal Controls Framework (Assurance Cycle)
- Execute the end-to-end internal control assurance cycle for assigned APAC markets/entities, including control walkthroughs, evidence requests, sample selection support, and validation of evidence against ICS requirements.
- Support control owners to complete self-assessments and certifications by clarifying control objectives, frequency, roles (preparer/reviewer/approver) and evidence standards.
- Execute periodic control certification / operating effectiveness activities, ensuring results are documented and communicated with clear actions and owners.
- Maintain trackers of control gaps, deviations/dispensations, and remediation plans; follow up proactively to ensure timely closure and escalation of overdue items.
Controls Design, Implementation & Continuous Improvement
- Support markets to document and improve controls across key end-to-end processes (e.g., Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Record-to-Report, Inventory, Treasury, Leasing/IFRS16, Payroll, ITGCs and data privacy where applicable).
- Identify recurring control themes and root causes; recommend pragmatic solutions including standard templates, checklists, workflow changes, or systems-enabled controls to strengthen and simplify the control environment.
Controls Technology & Reporting
- Support the maintenance and effective use of the compliance / controls tooling (e.g., controls library, certifications, evidence repositories, dashboards) in coordination with Regional and Group teams.
- Own day-to-day maintenance of the controls library/compliance module for assigned scope, including timely updates to control documentation and certification programmes, and liaising with technical support as needed
- Prepare inputs for monthly/quarterly internal controls reporting packs for APAC stakeholders (compliance status, certifications progress, key gaps, themes, and remediation actions).
- Use data and dashboards to identify trends, prioritise hotspots, and support risk-based planning of assurance activities.
Stakeholder Engagement & Training
- Act as a controls business partner to Finance, HR, Operations, Procurement, and IT leaders across markets; provide constructive challenge and pragmatic guidance.
- Deliver controls awareness sessions and targeted training for control owners and process teams; promote a first line ownership culture.
- Collaborate with Internal Audit, Risk, and external assurance providers as required, ensuring efficient coordination and strong evidence quality.
Change Management & Project Support
- Support change programmes (e.g., ERP rollouts, process transitions, shared services changes) by assessing control impacts, advising mitigations and validating that key controls remain effective during change.
- Support process deep-dives where requested and assist with embedding control KPIs to monitor control health.
Hybrid Working, Confidentiality & Data Protection
- Operate effectively in a hybrid set-up; maintain secure handling of evidence and confidential information when working remotely.
- Ensure control documentation and evidence handling aligns with applicable data privacy expectations in the Philippines and clients policies (e.g., secure storage, access controls, least privilege).
- Support adherence to telecommuting/remote work requirements by ensuring processes include clear work expectations, fair treatment principles, and documented arrangements where applicable.
Skills and Experience required:
- Qualified Accountant [with at least [3] years PQE], preferably with Big4 or equivalent experience
- Working knowledge of internal control frameworks and assurance/testing methodologies; experience with IT general controls (ITGCs) and systems-enabled controls is desirable. Internal audit and/or CISA qualifications are beneficial.
- Experience maintaining controls libraries, evidence repositories and certification programmes in a GRC/compliance tool (or equivalent controls tooling) is desirable.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to work effectively in a matrix and across cultures; able to influence without formal authority.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability; able to understand complex processes, identify risks, and propose practical control improvements.
- Ability to effectively plan/manage/prioritize work to meet objectives of multiple or competing priorities/projects
- Clear written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting, facilitating walkthroughs and producing concise reporting.
- Impeccable track record of discretion, ethics and confidentiality
