What we are looking for

We are looking for a qualified, hands-on finance leader who can combine strong technical accounting and control experience with a practical, improvement-focused mindset. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a lean NGO environment, strengthening systems and processes, coaching colleagues, and solving problems proactively.

Purpose of Role

The Head of Financial Control and Reporting is responsible for leading the organisation’s financial control, accounting operations, statutory reporting and compliance, treasury and balance sheet and assets governance.

Reporting to the Finance Director, this role ensures that the organisation’s financial records are accurate, complete, timely and compliant with applicable accounting standards, statutory requirements, donor obligations and internal policies. The role leads the Financial Control and Reporting function and works closely with the Head of FP&A to ensure reliable actual financial data.

This is a senior, hands-on finance leadership role. The postholder is expected to strengthen financial controls, improve processes and systems, support, drive operational excellence and upskill finance colleagues across the organisation, and contribute to a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high-quality financial stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial reporting, Accounting and Month-end close

• • Lead the preparation and submission of statutory financial statements in accordance with applicable local and international accounting standards, including IFRS where relevant.
  • Liaise with external auditors, tax advisors, regulators and other relevant bodies to ensure timely and accurate reporting.
  • Monitor changes in accounting regulations and assess their impact on the organisation.
  • Draft, implement and maintain accounting and financial control policies.
  • Ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal finance policies.
  • Oversee month-end and year-end closing activities, including audit finalisation and compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Oversee current and non-current assets and liabilities, including accruals, prepayments, provisions, fixed assets, inventory, intercompany balances, restricted funds and other key balance sheet items.
  • Implement and maintain best practices in general ledger management, reconciliations, inventory control and month-end close processes.
  • Ensure timely and accurate financial data entry and delivery of accurate financial statements.
  • Own the balance sheet control framework, ensuring all balance sheet accounts are regularly reconciled, reviewed, supported and cleared on a timely basis.
  • Provide accurate actual financial data to FP&A to support budgets, forecasts, variance analysis and management reporting.
  Handle enquiries from external parties, including tax authorities, auditors, regulators and other relevant organisations.
  

2. Accounting Operations, Accounts Payable and Treasury

• • Oversee accounting services, including accounts payable, payment processing, supplier management and financial data entry.
  • Ensure transactions are processed accurately, efficiently, with appropriate approvals and in compliance with internal controls.
  • Manage banking relationships and optimise cash flow and reserves.
  • Develop and implement treasury policies, including cash forecasting.
  • Ensure secure and compliant handling of financial transactions and banking operations.
  • Oversee bank reconciliations, payment controls, online banking access, approval mandates and segregation of duties.
  • Monitor liquidity, foreign currency exposure and cash requirements across the organisation.
  • Ensure compliance with donation covenants, donor restrictions, grant conditions and funding agreements.
  Strengthen procurement-to-pay controls in collaboration with procurement and operations colleagues.
  

3. Audit, Tax, Compliance and Internal Controls

• • Establish and maintain a robust internal control framework to mitigate financial risks, including vendor accreditation and inventory control.
  • Ensure compliance with corporate policies, tax regulations and financial laws.
  • Lead internal audits and support external audits with required documentation and responses.
  • Handle enquiries from external parties, including tax authorities, auditors, regulators and other relevant organisations.
  • Lead the annual external audit process, including preparation of audit schedules, coordination with auditors and resolution of audit findings.
  • Support donor reviews, annual review reports and other assurance activities by providing accurate financial information, documentation and timely responses.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable charity, NGO, statutory, tax, regulatory and donor reporting requirements in relevant jurisdictions.
  • Track and implement audit recommendations, control findings and agreed management actions.
  Ensure appropriate controls over accounts payable, treasury, procurement, inventory, fixed assets, donor funds, bank mandates and balance sheet accounts.
  

4. Systems, Tools and Process Improvement

• • Act as a champion for better use of finance systems, reporting tools and data to improve efficiency, accuracy and transparency.
  • Improve the effectiveness of the accounting system, reporting processes and financial data structures.
  • Use Google Sheets, Excel and other tools to improve reconciliations, reporting packs, analysis and controls.
  • Identify opportunities for automation, simplification and standardisation.
  • Develop practical templates, dashboards, checklists and process documentation to improve consistency and reduce manual errors.
  Support continuous improvement across month-end close, reconciliations, accounts payable, treasury and donor reporting processes.
  

5. Team Leadership, Capability Building and Business Partnering

• • Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and professional growth.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to support business initiatives and financial transparency.
  • Act as a finance point of contact and build strong working relationships with other departments, including FP&A and Legal & Compliance.
  • Provide functional guidance and support to finance colleagues in Vietnam and China, including finance managers and colleagues responsible for payables, treasury, procurement and inventory where relevant.
  • Build team capability through training, mentoring, clear expectations, constructive feedback and practical process guidance.
  • Work closely with the Head of FP&A to ensure alignment between financial accounting, reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
  • Build strong working relationships with programme, operations, fundraising, donor management, legal/compliance and country teams.
  Promote a hands-on, proactive and solutions-oriented approach within the team.
  

Requirements

• Technical Skills and knowledge
  • Strong knowledge of financial accounting, internal controls, audit requirements and statutory reporting.
  • Understanding of relevant accounting standards, with IFRS knowledge desirable.
  • Exposure to different GAAPs or statutory environments, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Vietnam, UK, US or Australia, would be an advantage.
  • Strong Excel and Google Sheets skills, including complex reconciliations, analysis and reporting.
  • Familiarity with Sun Accounting or similar ERP/accounting systems.
  • Experience with Tableau, Power BI, Power Query or other reporting/data tools would be an advantage.
  Strong understanding of multi-currency accounting and intercompany/cross-border finance processes.
  

• Skills and attributes
  • Proactive, hands-on and solutions-oriented.
  • Able to identify problems, investigate root causes and implement practical improvements.
  • Strong attention to detail while maintaining a broader view of organisational priorities.
  • High level of integrity, accountability and professional judgement.
  • Able to work effectively in a resource-constrained NGO environment.
  • Strong communicator who can explain financial issues clearly to finance and non-finance colleagues.
  • Collaborative team player with the confidence to challenge constructively.
  Able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
  

• Essential experience
  • Significant relevant experience in financial control, accounting, audit, treasury, statutory reporting or financial operations.
  • Experience in a senior finance role within a multi-entity, multi-currency or international organisation.
  • Proven experience managing month-end and year-end close processes.
  • Experience leading external audits and preparing statutory financial statements.
  • Experience managing or overseeing accounts payable, general ledger, bank reconciliations, balance sheet reconciliations and treasury controls.
  • Experience improving finance processes, controls, reporting quality and use of systems.
  • Experience leading, coaching or developing finance staff.
  Experience working with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
  

• Desirable experience
  • NGO, charity, donor-funded, grant-funded or international non-profit environment.
  • Working across Hong Kong, Mainland China and/or Vietnam.
  • Donor reporting, donor audits, restricted funds or grant compliance.
  • Inventory controls, procurement controls or operational finance in a programme delivery environment.
  Supporting finance transformation, ERP improvement or reporting automation.
  

• Languages
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  Mandarin would be an advantage.
  

• Essential qualifications
  • Qualified accountant: CPA, ACCA, ACA, HKICPA or equivalent.
  • Degree in accounting, finance, business or a related discipline.
  Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of financial controls.
  

How to Apply

Please send a PDF version of your cover letter and CV to: hrhkg@animalsasia.org or click the link: https://animalsasia.bamboohr.com/careers/141

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for interviews.

To find out more: www.animalsasia.org

Animals Asia values candidates with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We welcome applicants of every ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status, disability, or veteran status. We are committed to building an organization that creates an inclusive environment for all.

Using AI During Interviews:

Animals Asia is committed to ensuring a fair and authentic interview process. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including but not limited to real-time transcription, automated response generation or assistance in formulating interview answers, is strictly prohibited during any stage of the interview process.

We will take a candidate's agreement to participate in an interview with us as confirmation that they will not use AI tools in any form during the conversation. If it is discovered or reasonably suspected that AI has been used, the interview will be terminated immediately, and the candidate will no longer be considered for the role.

We appreciate your understanding and adherence to this policy, which is in place to maintain the integrity, professionalism and reliability of our recruitment procedures.