Country Financial Controller

Roles:The Country Financial Controller leads, develops, and manages the centralised finance operations that support all schools and business units under XCL Education Malaysia. This role ensures that financial processes are standardised, efficient, and compliant with Group policies and statutory requirements.The position plays a key role in driving service excellence, financial discipline, and operational efficiency across the Group by overseeing core finance functions such as accounting operations, accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), general ledger (GL), financial analysis, taxation, and reporting consolidation.The ideal candidate will be comfortable working within complex legal and organisational structures involving multiple holding and operating companies, and will bring a solution and action-driven mindset with a strong “can-do” attitude. A collaborative and team-oriented management style is essential, along with prior experience engaging with regional or Group headquarters to ensure alignment and consistency across entities.Key Responsibilities:Leadership and StrategyLead the Finance team in delivering high-quality, consistent, and timely financial services to all schools and central functions (including R.E.A.L Schools, Sri KDU schools, and the Central Office).Translate Group finance strategies into actionable finance initiatives that drive standardisation, accuracy, and service excellence across the education network.Establish and enforce clear finance SOPs and policies, turnaround times, and performance metrics (KPIs) to ensure accountability and responsiveness to school needs.Partner with the CFO and senior leadership to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely financial operations that support data-driven decision-making.Serve as the key liaison between central finance and campus-based finance teams to align expectations, resolve issues promptly, and maintain consistent communicationFinancial Operations ManagementOversee day-to-day financial operations across all schools and entities, including AP, AR, GL, taxation, financial analysis, and treasury functions.Ensure accurate and timely processing of financial transactions, month-end closings, and inter-company reconciliations in line with Group policies and statutory standards.Oversee and standardise student fee and revenue management processes across schools, ensuring billing accuracy, reconciliation with enrolment records, and policy compliance.Implement and maintain robust internal controls to safeguard assets, prevent irregularities, and ensure adherence to governance frameworks.Monitor cash flow and working capital requirements across schools, providing data and reports to support the CFO in fund allocation and forecasting.Ensure compliance with all financial and regulatory obligations under the Ministry of Education, Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and other statutory bodies.Coordinate annual external audits, liaise with auditors and tax agents, and ensure timely submission of statutory reports and tax filings.Lead financial analysis to provide insights on performance trends, variances, cost efficiency, and profitability, supporting management decision-making and strategic planning.Manage taxation matters, including current and deferred tax calculations, transfer pricing documentation, and compliance with local and international tax requirements.Partner with the Group Finance team to align accounting policies, reporting standards, and consolidation requirements, ensuring consistency across all entities.Financial Reporting, Planning, and GovernanceLead the preparation and consolidation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for all business units under XCL Education Malaysia.Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of management reporting, including variance analysis and commentary for leadership review.Provide accurate and reconciled data to support FP&A and school finance teams in budgeting and forecasting exercises.Standardise reporting formats, closing calendars, and review protocols to ensure governance and comparability across all entities.Support the CFO with financial presentations, analysis, and data required for strategic decision-making.Conduct periodic internal financial reviews and spot checks to ensure adherence to both central and school-level finance policies.Process Optimisation and Systems ManagementOversee the end-to-end finance operations processes across AP, AR, GL, payroll interface, and bank reconciliations, ensuring standardisation and accuracy across schools and entities.Maintain clear process documentation, approval workflows, and control checklists for all SSC activities.Drive continuous improvement and automation initiatives to reduce manual workload, enhance accuracy, and improve closing efficiency.Collaborate with IT and Group Finance on system stability, upgrades, and integration (e.g. AutoCount, HRMS, TalentOz) to ensure end-to-end process efficiency and data consistency.Develop and monitor key performance dashboards such as invoice turnaround time, collection ageing, and reconciliation completion.Ensure adherence to the Group’s internal control framework and support internal and external audit requirements.