Head of Finance

About the opportunity

A global, multinational organisation is looking for a Head of Finance to be its most senior in-country finance leader in China. You will own the financial integrity, statutory standing and governance of the China legal entity. You will also act as a strategic partner to both China and global leadership, making sure the business operates with strong financial discipline, full local compliance and alignment with global policies.

What you’ll do

Strategic financial leadership

• Sit on the China leadership team as the senior finance authority for the legal entity.
• Act as the primary finance advisor to the Board and shareholder representatives, supporting governance, statutory approvals, capital transactions and regulatory filings.
• Advise on strategic investments, partnerships, expansion and customer proposals, and support annual and long-range planning.

Operational finance

• Lead budgeting, forecasting and performance management, including variance analysis and presenting results to China and global leaders.
• Own treasury strategy, FX risk, banking relationships, liquidity, working capital and the capital structure of the entity.
• Oversee accounting operations, including the general ledger, close and reconciliations.

Controls and compliance

• Make sure the entity stays in good standing, with timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and annual reporting.
• Oversee all PRC tax matters, including corporate income tax, VAT, withholding tax, tax audits and transfer pricing governance.
• Ensure compliance with PRC company law, accounting standards, foreign exchange rules, dividend repatriation and SAFE requirements.
• Build and maintain a robust internal control framework, coordinate internal and external audits, and manage relationships with auditors, tax advisors and regulators.
• Uphold anti-corruption and corporate policy requirements, and advise leadership on financial, tax, regulatory and compliance risks.

Team leadership and business partnership

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing finance team covering pricing, project controls, profitability analysis, planning and governance.
• Partner with operational and project leaders to improve profitability, pricing, revenue forecasting, contract economics and cash collection.
• Drive finance systems, process improvement and digital transformation.

What you’ll bring

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related field
• 15+ years of progressive finance and accounting leadership experience
• Significant finance leadership experience within multinational organisations in China
• Proven expertise in PRC statutory reporting, taxation, treasury, foreign exchange, transfer pricing and regulatory compliance
• Strong knowledge of PRC GAAP and IFRS and/or US GAAP
• Experience partnering with executive teams and global headquarters
• Fluent Mandarin and English
• Strongly preferred: experience as the senior finance leader of a foreign-invested or multinational entity in China
• Strongly preferred: a CPA, CICPA, ACCA, CMA or equivalent qualification
• Strongly preferred: a background in pharma, biotech, CRO, life sciences, healthcare services or another highly regulated industry
• Preferred: experience with legal entity formation, expansion or restructuring in China