Job Description

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Job Purpose
Drive Financial Strategy & Scalable Growth: Formulate and execute financial strategies aligned with corporate objectives to ensure sustainable growth, profitability, and long-term value creation in a high-growth, tech-driven and subscription/platform business.
Provide Strategic, Data-Driven Insights: Deliver in-depth financial analysis and data-driven insights - including user, traffic, and product metrics - to support founders and senior management in making informed strategic decisions.
Optimize Capital, Runway & Investor Relations: Manage capital allocation, cash runway, and funding strategies (equity, debt and other instruments), and support investor relations to maintain strong financial health and enable future expansion, including IPO readiness at Group level where relevant.
Lead Modern Finance Operations & Compliance: Oversee the Accounts & Finance Department to achieve accurate, timely KPIs and reporting, while building a modern, technology-enabled finance function that adheres to all local and international accounting standards.
Job Scope
Financial Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the company's long-term vision, growth targets, and business objectives.
• Provide strategic financial advice and insights to the Chief Executive Officer and Founders to support key business decisions, including product, pricing, and go-to-market strategies.
• Lead long-term financial planning, forecasting, and analytical initiatives to drive sustainable growth, profitability, and shareholder value, with clear visibility on subscription/platform metrics and unit economics.
• Contribute to the formulation and execution of corporate strategies, ensuring alignment between financial objectives, tech/product roadmaps, and overall business plans.

Financial Management and Performance Oversight

• Oversee the Accounts and Finance Department to ensure accurate, transparent, and timely financial reporting in compliance with Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and other applicable regulations.
• Manage and optimise cash flow, working capital, and liquidity to support efficient financial operations, marketing spend, and product development in a fast-paced digital environment.
• Supervise budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control processes - including rolling forecasts and scenario analysis - to maintain fiscal discipline and operational Efficiency.
• Analyse financial performance at company, product, and market levels; provide data-driven insights and recommendations to support management and strategic decision-making.
• Develop and refine key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards (e.g. ARR/MRR, churn, LTV/CAC, cohort performance, contribution margin) to monitor business health and guide resource allocation.

Capital Structure, Funding, and Investor Relations

• Formulate and execute financing strategies, including equity, debt, project funding, and other appropriate instruments, to support business expansion and financial sustainability.
• Monitor cash runway, burn rate, and funding needs, and present options and scenarios to founders and senior leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with financial institutions, investors, auditors, regulators, and other key stakeholders, in coordination with Group finance where relevant.
• Support fundraising, due diligence and investor engagement activities, including preparation of financial models, information packs, and responses to investor queries.
• Oversee investor-related financial communications at the 123RF level, ensuring professionalism, transparency, and alignment with corporate values and Group narrative.
• Evaluate and endorse major financial commitments, contracts, and procurement activities to ensure sound governance, acceptable unit economics, and prudent financial management.

Compliance, Governance, and Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with all statutory, taxation, audit, and legal requirements governing financial operations.
• Establish and maintain robust internal controls, financial policies, and governance frameworks to safeguard company assets, intellectual property, and reputation.
• Maintain continuous adherence to both local and international accounting standards and regulatory obligations, while staying updated on emerging regulations affecting digital, subscription and cross-border businesses.

Process Improvement and Digital Transformation

• Evaluate and enhance financial systems, workflows, and reporting processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and integration with product, data and marketing systems.
• Champion the use of data and technology to reduce manual work, shorten reporting cycles, and improve real-time visibility of performance across the organisation.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team that upholds excellence, integrity, and accountability, with the agility required in a startup/scale-up setting.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with Product, Technology, Marketing, Operations, and HR teams to ensure financial strategies effectively support operational and business objectives.
• Ensure departmental goals, deliverables, and KPIs are met accurately and within established timelines, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and growth opportunities.

Corporate Advisory, Strategic Financial Planning, and IPO Readiness

• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Founders to align financial strategies with corporate priorities and expansion plans.
• Prepare comprehensive financial analyses, valuation models, and forecasts to support strategic planning, investment decisions, and potential partnerships or acquisitions.
• Support (rather than solely lead) corporate advisory initiatives - including capital restructuring, due diligence, and M&A evaluations - in collaboration with external advisors, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the corporatisation and transformation of financial functions to achieve IPO readiness at Group level, and ensure 123RF meets required standards for any future listing or corporate transaction.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies, auditors, and advisors to support smooth execution of pre-IPO and post-listing financial governance activities as required.

Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake any other duties, assignments, or strategic projects as directed by the Board of Directors or senior leadership to support the overall growth and success of the organisation.

Requirements:
Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline is required.
• A professional accounting qualification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Accountant (CA), or an equivalent recognised certification is preferred and will be a strong advantage.
• An MBA or other postgraduate business qualification is an added advantage but not mandatory, particularly for candidates with a proven track record in high-growth tech or investment environments.

Experience and Industry Background

• Typically at least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, including a minimum of three (3) to five (5) years in a leadership role; exceptional candidates with strong startup or investment experience may be considered with fewer years.
• Proven experience in high-growth, tech-driven or digital businesses (e.g. SaaS, marketplaces, digital media, AdTech/MarTech, e-commerce, or similar) is strongly preferred.
• Exposure to startup or investment environments - such as venture capital, private equity, corporate development, or investment banking - will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated track record of partnering effectively with founders/senior management, boards, and external stakeholders to drive growth and financial performance.

Leadership and Management Competencies

• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing finance teams across multiple functions and locations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the capability to explain complex financial issues clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Hands-on, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with changing priorities and incomplete information.
• Ability to function as a strategic business partner to Product, Technology, Marketing, and Operations, not just as a back-office support function.
• Working knowledge of payment platforms such as PayPal, Adyen, Skrill, and similar systems, particularly in the areas of risk management, sales conversion optimization, deposit efficiency, and card scheme relationship management.
• Cross-border treasury and tax experience, especially in fast-growing or multi-market environments.

Technical and Analytical Skills

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights.
• Deep experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), including budgeting, rolling forecasts, scenario and sensitivity analysis, and management reporting.
• Strong understanding of SaaS, subscription and platform metrics (e.g. ARR/MRR, churn, retention, LTV/CAC, payback period, cohort analysis, contribution margin) and ability to apply them to decision-making.
• Ability to build and interpret unit economics by product, customer segment and market, and to use these insights to guide pricing, marketing investment, and product roadmap decisions.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets and familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, Looker or similar) to support data-driven decision-making.
• Solid understanding of accounting and reporting standards (MFRS/IFRS) and their application in tech and digital business models.

Personal Attributes

• High level of integrity, professionalism, and dependability.
• Strong sense of accountability, urgency, and results orientation.
• Entrepreneurial and growth-oriented mindset, with the ability to operate in a startup or scale-up environment and to balance financial discipline with calculated risk-taking.
• Creative thinker with the ability to identify innovative financial solutions, process improvements, and value-creation opportunities.

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Hours- Early bird or slow starter? It's your call! Start your day anytime between 7am to 10am - because we believe life doesn't run on a one-size-fits-all schedule.
• Extra Annual Leave- Time off is golden - and we believe in rewarding loyalty! Get extra days of annual leave every year. The longer you stay, the more you play!
• Optical & Dental Subsidies- We've got your smile (and your sight) covered! Enjoy subsidies for dental and optical care, because well-being matters.
• Life & Medical Insurance- Health comes first - always. Rest easy knowing you're protected with life and medical coverage.
• Coffee (and more)- Calling all caffeine lovers! Get your daily fix from our pantry, plus a variety of other beverages to fuel your day.
• Sports & Socials- We play as hard as we work! Join our weekly games - from badminton and futsal to a round of pickerball. Take a break with PS4 sessions in the office, and don't miss our fun-filled festival gatherings throughout the year.

Skills Required