Business Manager, Finance

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At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

About the Role 

The Japan Business Manager (Finance) is responsible for supporting the Japan finance function, with a strong focus on accounting, financial operations, reporting, planning, and business support.

Reporting to the Japan Finance Director, the role works closely with the finance team and business stakeholders to ensure accurate financial reporting, effective financial controls, and timely financial support to the business.

The role also supports financial planning, commercial activities, and project financial management, providing financial analysis and insights to support business performance and decision-making.

 Key Qualifications 

• 8–10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, with a strong foundation in accounting and financial operations.

• Bilingual Japanese and English proficiency (business-level written and verbal).

• Hands-on experience with month-end closing, financial reporting, balance sheet reconciliation, audit, and financial controls.

• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

• Experience with project-based accounting, revenue recognition, billing, or client financial management is preferred.

• Strong expertise in financial systems (e.g. Workday) and advanced Excel skills.

• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Experience supporting process improvement and operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities  

1. Accounting, Financial Operations & Controls

• Manage and support month-end and year-end closing activities, including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

• Review balance sheet reconciliations and investigate accounting variances.

• Manage key financial operations including revenue recognition, project reconciliation, billing, accounts receivable, and cash flow.

• Ensure accurate and timely accounting treatment in accordance with company policies and applicable accounting standards.

• Support statutory reporting, tax compliance, and other local finance requirements.

• Coordinate internal and external audit requirements and maintain appropriate supporting documentation and audit trails.

• Monitor accounts receivable and support timely collections and credit risk management.

• Continuously strengthen financial processes and internal controls to improve accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.

2. Financial Planning, Forecasting & Performance Management

• Manage monthly and quarterly forecasting in collaboration with the Finance Director and business teams.

• Support the annual budgeting and planning process, including revenue, costs, staffing, and other key assumptions.

• Prepare financial performance reports highlighting actual vs. budget/forecast, key trends, risks, and opportunities.

• Analyze profitability, utilization, revenue, and cost trends and highlight areas requiring management attention.

• Support management with ad-hoc financial analysis and reporting.

3. Revenue, Contracts & Project Finance

• Review client contracts and commercial terms from a finance perspective and support appropriate revenue recognition treatment.

• Support pricing reviews and ensure compliance with company policies and approval processes.

• Ensure accurate project setup and financial documentation, including pricing approvals and relevant commercial information.

• Monitor project financial performance, including revenue, costs, profitability, billing, and collections.

• Monitor adherence to contractual terms and pricing standards and escalate issues where necessary.

• Work with client and account teams to resolve project financial and billing issues.

4. Business Partnership & Financial Support

• Partner with business, client, and account teams to provide financial information and support decision-making.

• Provide analysis of financial performance, key drivers, risks, and opportunities.

• Support business teams on financial matters related to revenue, costs, staffing, pricing, and project profitability.

• Promote financial discipline and compliance across the business.

• Communicate financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

5. Process Improvement & Team Collaboration

• Work closely with finance team members and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure smooth financial operations.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across accounting processes, reporting, controls, and ways of working.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy through financial systems and tools.

• Support the Finance Director on finance projects, process improvements, and other ad-hoc initiatives.

• Provide guidance and support to junior finance team members where required.

Success Measures

• Accuracy and timeliness of month-end and financial reporting

• Quality of balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls

• Revenue recognition and project accounting accuracy

• Forecast accuracy and quality of financial analysis

• Revenue and margin performance vs. budget

• Cash flow and accounts receivable health

• Audit outcomes and compliance

• Timely and effective financial support to business stakeholders

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. 

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.