Financial Controller - 2iC - Global Trading Firm

Our client is a leading trading firm with entities around the APAC region. They are seeking a Finance Manager / 2iC to support their APAC Financial Controller with leading the team, working on internal projects, and supporting the APAC Financial Control Function and team in Sydney.

Reporting to the APAC Financial Controller, this senior role will own financial control, statutory reporting and tax outcomes across all our clients Asia Pacific entities, spanning Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, India and China.

You will provide leadership to the broader APAC accounting team, act as a key point of contact for auditors, tax authorities and regulators across the region, and partner directly with trading desks and business leaders on budgeting, forecasting and financial performance.

This is an opportunity to take broad ownership across a genuinely multi-jurisdictional finance function while helping shape how the team, controls and processes evolve as the APAC business continues to scale.

Responsibilities:

• Own financial control, statutory reporting and tax outcomes across all APAC entities.
• Lead and develop the broader APAC accounting team, supporting capability development and effective delivery across the region.
• Oversee statutory financial reporting and tax compliance requirements across multiple APAC jurisdictions.
• Act as a key point of contact for external auditors, tax advisers, tax authorities and regulators.
• Partner with trading desks and regional business leaders on budgeting, forecasting and financial performance.
• Maintain effective financial controls and identify opportunities to strengthen processes, reporting and governance.
• Lead complex, cross-border finance initiatives across multiple entities and time zones.
• Drive automation and continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting tools and accounting processes.
• Work closely with regional and global finance stakeholders to ensure local requirements are delivered within the broader finance framework. 

Experience:

• Degree and postgraduate professional qualification, such as CPA or CA, in a relevant field such as Finance or Accounting.
• 10–15 years’ post-qualification experience, ideally gained across the APAC region, including demonstrated experience managing or leading a finance or accounting team.
• Proven ownership of statutory financial reporting, tax compliance and external audit relationships across multiple jurisdictions.
• Financial services experience is essential, for example within proprietary trading, banking, broker-dealer, asset management or a similar environment. Direct trading firm experience is advantageous.
• Knowledge of securities products, including equities, futures, options and other OTC instruments, and an understanding of how they are priced and flow through financial and management accounts.
• Working knowledge of IFRS and local reporting standards across the APAC region, including relevant exposure to AASB, SFRS, HKFRS, Japan GAAP, Taiwan IFRS, Ind AS, PRC GAAP and US GAAP.
• Demonstrated experience managing senior stakeholder relationships, both internally with trading desks, business leaders and global finance teams, and externally with auditors, tax advisers and regulators.
• Experience or a strong interest in using AI tools to improve finance processes and analysis.
• Exposure to automation or coding, such as Python, VBA or similar, is highly desirable.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, with experience driving improvements to finance systems and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-border projects and manage competing deadlines across multiple entities and time zones.

Salary will be flexible depending on prior experience, APAC market knowledge and seniority, but likely in the rage of around $170-200k base plus super and bonus