Utimaco IS Pte Ltd (developing hardware-based, high-security appliances (Hardware Security Modules) and compliance solutions for telecommunication provider regulations (lawful interception and data retention)
Director Finance & Operations – Asia Pacific | Apr 2019 – Jan 2022
- Responsible for starting up the operations of Utimaco in Asia Pacific including opening of local company and associate legal and statutory requirements. Eg. Searching for an office space, negotiating with landlord for the rental. Set up bank accounts and negotiate the bank charges
- Consulted with representatives of regulatory agencies in Hong Kong & Japan to complete accurate filings and uphold strict compliance
- Managed all aspects of the finance and operations functions including accounts, order processing and logistics management.
- Managed the local implementation of backend systems including accounting (Navision) license management
- Cash flow management including initial funding and all accounts payable and receivable functions
- Period closing and management reporting, auditing and Budget activities.
- Monitored budget, revenue and variance trends and regularly apprising CFO of company’s financial standing
- Provided timely and accurate management data to senior management on a monthly basis including ad hoc and exception reporting
- Established and enforced controls on revenue and expenses to protect company assets
- Order processing management through key distributors throughout the region
- Audited balanced and reconciled payroll for APAC staffs
- Recruitment of strong candidates for team openings in APAC
- Conducted new employee orientation, training and development for initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions to ease team transitions
Achievements
- Coordinated the set-up of the warehouse in Johor Bahru and successfully applied for the customers import license with Malaysia Custom
- Part of the team that manage the transition to Salesforce and successfully implemented out in APAC.
- AR collection improved to 85% after I took over the function
- Set up Hong Kong, Japan’s office to improve the efficient of managing staff payroll and statutory benefits
- Leveraged on technology and improved and implemented an efficient HR system in APAC
- Transferred all APAC staffs from Utimaco AG to Utimaco APAC after APAC office was set up in Singapore
Kemp Technologies Pte Ltd (Load balancing products which balances user traffic between multiple application servers in a physical, virtual or cloud environment)
Finance & Operations Manager – Asia Pacific | Sep 2012 – Mar 2019
- Responsible for starting up the operations of KEMP in Asia Pacific including opening of local company and associate legal and statutory requirements
- Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions including accounts, order processing and logistics management
- Managing the local implementation of backend systems including accounting (Navision) license management and trained new and existing staff members in various financial procedures to prepare for job requirements
- Cash flow management including initial funding and all accounts payable and receivable functions
- Period closing and management reporting.
- Analyzed financial statements against forecasts to prepare high-level variance analysis
- Order processing management through key distributors throughout the region
- Coordinate yearly Budgeting and expense management exercise for APAC
- Orgainised work retreat and managed logistic for travel and accommodation arrangement for overseas staff quarterly
Achievements
- Managed the local Implementation and set up of the accounting system Navision from Stage
- Created structures that help the improvement of accounting and finance functions including accounts, order processing and logistics management
- Implementation of Workable for APAC regions
- Decreased monthly expenditures by 25% by consistently detecting potential cost savings through effectively reviewing documents and identifying problem areas
- Reviewed HR policy and improved the staff benefits thus increasing staff morale
Astaro AG (Network Security Solutions, Unified Thread Management (UTM) Vendor)
Finance & Operations Manager – Asia Pacific | Oct 2009 – Aug 2012
- Management of all finance, operations and company secretarial duties
- Managed and forecasted cash flow maintain sufficient cash balances
- Management or accounting matters including period closing, presentation of management accounts
- Participation and creation of board presentations and materials
- Managed a startup operation processes in rapid growth from almost zero revenue to $1M quarterly
- Assistant to CEO and Chairman in all financial matters – e.g., approving authority limit up to $100K
- Directed management meetings to enhance collaboration and maintain culture based on trust and group problem solving
- Set, enforced and optimized internal policies to maintain responsiveness to demands
Achievements
- Individual Contribution award for set up for the APAC’s office in 2010
- Efficient set up and coordination of the product warehouse in Singapore within the stipulate time frame
- Achieved in AR collection over 95%
- Identified opportunities to reduce certain variable costs by 15%
- Developed a robust SOP provided consistent workflow
- Introduced Expense system, replacing the manual tracking, which improve productive for all staffs
Chevron U.S.A. Inc
Financial Analyst | Jan 2007 – Oct 2009
Geac Computer Corporation
Accounting Specialist | 2004 – Dec 2006
Panasonic Industrial Asia Pte Ltd
Finance Executive | Sep 2003- Jun 2004
Hitachi Asia Ltd
Accounts Executive | Jun 1997 – Jun 2003
Goldtron Ltd
Accounts Assistant | Jul 1992 – Jun 1997
