Finance Manager

Position Overview

A global biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative treatments for brain diseases is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to oversee a broad range of financial operations while supporting business planning and strategic decision-making.

Working within a lean, collaborative Finance team, this role combines hands-on accounting and financial reporting with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and business partnering. The successful candidate will take ownership of day-to-day Finance activities, provide actionable insights to local leadership, and serve as a key backup to the Head of Finance.

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys working autonomously, collaborating with regional and global stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement across the Finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Manage monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing in accordance with IFRS and Group accounting policies.
  
• Ensure accurate and timely financial statements, management reports, journal entries, accruals, and balance sheet reconciliations.
  
• Coordinate statutory reporting, tax compliance, and external audits with relevant advisors.
  

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Analysis

• Coordinate annual budgeting, quarterly forecasts, and long-term financial planning.
  
• Analyze financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying key variances, risks, and opportunities.
  
• Prepare management reports and financial analyses to support business decisions.
  
• Provide financial modeling and decision-support analysis to local leadership.
  

Finance Operations & Internal Controls

• Oversee core Finance operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense management, and treasury.
  
• Monitor cash positions and maintain cash flow forecasts.
  
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and Group Finance policies.
  
• Coordinate audit activities and follow up on findings and corrective actions.
  

Business Partnering

• Partner with business units and budget owners to support financial planning and performance management.
  
• Explain cost drivers and financial results in practical, business-oriented terms.
  
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and provide recommendations to stakeholders.
  
• Build effective relationships with local, regional, and global teams.
  

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate Finance processes.
  
• Support improvements to ERP systems, reporting tools, and data quality.
  
• Contribute to regional and global Finance transformation initiatives.
  

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Requirements

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
  
• 7–10 years of progressive Finance and/or Accounting experience, ideally in a multinational company.
  
• Strong practical knowledge of IFRS, financial closing, and statutory reporting.
  
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial performance management.
  
• Ability to independently manage end-to-end Finance responsibilities in a lean team.
  
• Ability to act as a reliable backup to the Head of Finance when required.
  
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
  
• Business-level Japanese and English, both written and spoken.
  
• Advanced Excel skills and hands-on experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, as well as reporting or FP&A tools.
  

Preferred

• Experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
  
• Experience working with regional or global headquarters and shared service centers.
  
• Finance business partnering experience with commercial or operational teams.
  
• Involvement in Finance transformation, process automation, or ERP implementation projects.
  
• Experience managing external tax advisors and major audit firms.