Financial Planning Manager

Summary:
To support the expected future growth in our wholesale and retail distribution businesses in Japan, The Company is recruiting a Financial Planning Manager. This person will be responsible for providing business and financial information to the Subsidiary, Regional & Corporate management teams and also for the financial budgeting and forecasting processes.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Owns the annual 5 Year Plan, budget and quarterly financial forecast update processes for the Wholesale, Retail and eCom businesses. Responsible for coordinating inputs from the different parts of the business and working closely with the Managing Director, VP Retail, GM-Finance and the Subsidiary Management Team to prepare, document and submit the budgets and forecasts. Liaises with Regional and Corporate teams to answer questions and provide additional information as required.
Takes part in the review of the monthly financial statements for Japan.
Assists the Managing Director, VP Retail, GM-Finance and Accounting Manager to identify reasons for variances and the implications for future business development & financial results.
Maintains and develops management reporting within the subsidiary for sales & profitability by customer, brand, store etc. Works closely with the Inventory Planning & Supply Chain teams on inventory management reporting, and the VP Retail on retail reporting. Works with the relevant departments to coordinate other regular reporting required by the Regional and Corporate teams.
Assists the Managing Director, VP Retail, GM-Finance and the Subsidiary Management Team, together with the Regional and Corporate teams with ad-hoc information requests and analysis, for example the financial evaluation of new stores.

Main Interactions
Japan Finance team.
Japan Managing Director, VP Retail and Subsidiary Management Team.
APAC Regional & Corporate Retail and eCorn teams.
APAC Regional Finance Team, based in Hong Kong.
Corporate Financial Planning, Accounting & Treasury functions based in Dallas, Texas.

IT Systems used
MS Navision (Wholesale ERP system and corporate entity platform)
MS Navision LS-Retail (Retail system. To be replaced by SAP in 2009.)
COGNOS
MS-Excel, Access etc.

Minimum Qualifications:
Financial qualification, preferably US, Australian CPA or similar.
10 years + experience in financial roles, 3 years + with financial planning responsibilities supporting a Business Management team, preferably with a US or similar MNC in the consumer products field.
Excellent data•handling skills (Excel, Access, ERP reporting tools etc.).
Good understanding of business principles and a strong “business sense”.
Experience with COGNOS, SAP and/or Navision preferred.
Drive, persistence, patience & diplomacy are essential personality traits.
Must be an excellent communicator. Capable of developing, presenting and convincing others of their own ideas.
Fluent Japanese and excellent English language skills required.

Additional traits requested:
Competency
Accounting Background
What s/he is doing
Fit (working with us) - challenge & independent
Financial Planning - how business works
Non-Japanese company work experiences & reasonable English skill
Real knowledge and experience of Consumer Goods industry