Interim Controller

Project Overview

We are a consulting service team within EY Japan Consulting that specializes in helping organizations solve business challenges through Work Design consulting. Our approach focuses on improving how work is performed across people, process, and systems. We support clients by analyzing operating models, documenting business processes, designing controls, and helping organizations implement sustainable and scalable ways of working.

We are seeking an experienced Finance Controller to support a temporary finance controlling engagement in Tokyo. The engagement will focus on supporting day-to-day controlling activities, including budget control, forecasting, actual versus forecast analysis, management reporting, month-end close support, accrual coordination, and communication with finance and business stakeholders.

This is a hands-on, project-based role where the successful Interim controller will maintain continuity of finance controlling operations during a temporary resource gap. The role requires someone who can work independently, understand business and financial data, coordinate with accounting and planning stakeholders, and help ensure that reporting and controlling activities continue smoothly.

How You Would Contribute (Scope of Work)

As part of the engagement, you would apply your finance controlling expertise through activities such as:

• Supporting day-to-day finance controlling activities.
• Managing budget control and monitoring financial performance.
• Performing actual versus forecast analysis.
• Supporting forecasting and annual planning activities.
• Preparing or coordinating management reporting.
• Supporting month-end close from a finance controlling perspective.
• Coordinating accrual-related information with relevant stakeholders.
• Working closely with accounting, planning, and business teams.
• Supporting purchase order and approval-related finance processes.
• Reviewing financial data and identifying key variances or issues.
• Helping improve process documentation and handover readiness.
• Identifying process gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Communicating financial information clearly to business and finance stakeholders.

Ideal Experience

We are particularly interested in professionals with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Finance controlling.
• Management accounting.
• Budget control.
• Forecasting and annual planning.
• Actual versus budget / forecast analysis.
• Month-end close support.
• Accrual coordination or journal entry preparation.
• Management reporting.
• Group reporting.
• Business partnering with commercial or brand teams.
• Working with accounting and finance planning teams.
• Supporting finance operations in a multinational company.
• Retail, consumer goods, beauty, luxury, or related industry experience.
• Japanese language fluency.
• Business-level English communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Strong understanding of finance controlling and management accounting.
• Ability to analyze financial results and explain key variances.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and planning cycles.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited documentation.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Practical understanding of accounting and month-end close processes.
• Ability to coordinate with accounting, business, and finance stakeholders.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with ERP, reporting, or approval systems is preferred.

Engagement Style

You would work collaboratively with EY consultants and client stakeholders, contributing practical, hands-on finance controlling expertise. The role is not limited to accounting tasks; it requires the ability to use financial data to support budget control, forecasting, reporting, and business performance analysis.

The exact focus areas may evolve as the project progresses depending on business priorities and project requirements.

Working Model

• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Some onsite presence in Tokyo will be required.
• Higher onsite presence may be required during the initial onboarding period.
• Collaboration with both local and international stakeholders.
• Initial contract period expected to be approximately three months, with possible extension depending on project needs.

Company Information

Company: EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd.

Address: Hibiya Mitsui Tower, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006 Japan

Work Location: Within the 23 wards of Tokyo

Contract Type: Quasi-Mandate Contract（業務委託）