Director, CTOO IT Finance Lead

About FWD Group

FWD Group is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 30 million customers across 10 markets, including BRI Life in Indonesia. FWD’s customer-led and digitally enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance.

For more information, please visit www.fwd.com

JOB SUMMARY

• The CTOO IT Finance Lead will play a pivotal role in overseeing the financial management and strategic planning for the IT department.

• This position involves high-level financial analysis, reporting, and decision-making to support the Shared Services (SS), Cost Centers (CC), and Local Business Units (LBU).

• The CTOO IT Finance Lead will work closely with C-level executives, providing insights and recommendations to drive financial performance and efficiency.

• This role also includes leading cross-functional teams, mentoring junior staff, and representing the CTOO function in executive meetings.

SCOPE SUMMARY

• CTOO GO finance data

• 5 Shared Service Centers finance data HKSS, SGSS, TIM, VTC, CTC)

• 10 BUS local finance data

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to optimize cost allocation and management reporting processes across the CTOO function.

• Lead and re-design the processes that capture, track and monitor costs for all of the individual CTOO departments and standardizing them under a single streamlined process. 

• Lead the monitoring, analysis, and reporting of financials for actual, forecast, and plan according to the SS/CC/LBU’s needs

• Develop and maintain financial models to support strategic decision-making and long-term planning.

• Investigate significant variances/projections, lead the discussion with local CTOs, CFOs and Group Finance on the discrepancies and collaborate with relevant SS/CC to address them

• Support department heads with headcount planning and monitoring, provide guidance in ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
  Facilitate and mediate the negotiation on cost recharging between GO units and local BU

• Influence and collaborate across local BU, IT Shared Service and Group Finance to identify options and plans to optimize cost allocation, financial management and financial reporting process

• Lead and facilitate solutions alignment, prioritization and delivery on CTOO IT Finance domain

• Lead cross-functional teams to drive improvements and achieve alignment with corporate objectives.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.

• Represent the CTOO function in executive meetings, articulating the value and impact of GO charging practices on the overall business.

• Provide advisory and collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute the long-term vision for the CTOO function's financial management.

• Independently interact with C-level executives, providing critical financial insights and recommendations.

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and standards, implementing best practices in financial management.

• Identify and mitigate financial risks, developing strategies to safeguard the organization's financial health.
  Lead the effective management of contractor agencies and the contractor hiring process, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost efficiency.

• Guarantee the accuracy of contractor billings, maintaining financial integrity and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Professional certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT finance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within the IT sector.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proven ability to interact with C-level executives and influence decision-making.

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and driving strategic initiatives.

• Proficiency in financial software and tools.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE

• Advanced Financial Analysis and Reporting: Demonstrated expertise in conducting complex financial analyses and generating comprehensive reports that inform strategic decision-making.

• Strategic Priority Management: Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, ensuring timely and effective completion.

• Exceptional Leadership and Team Management
  Strong track record of leading and mentoring high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

• Strategic Thinking and Planning
  Highly developed strategic thinking and planning skills, with a focus on long-term financial sustainability and growth.

• Advanced Proficiency in Financial Tools
  Extensive experience with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, as well as familiarity with financial management software and ERP systems.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Strategic Relationship Building

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including C-level executives, Group Finance, Group HR, and LBU COO counterparts

• Influence and Negotiation

Demonstrate exceptional influencing and negotiating skills to drive alignment and achieve strategic objectives

• Independent Leadership

Operate with a high degree of autonomy, requiring minimal supervision while effectively managing stakeholder expectations

• Change Leadership

Lead and manage change initiatives, ensuring stakeholder buy-in and driving results in a dynamic and complex environment

EXPERIENCE

• Extensive Financial Project Management
  Over 6-8 years of experience in implementing and managing finance projects, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality management reporting

• Comprehensive Financial Operations Expertise
  At least 6-8 years of experience in financial accounting and finance operations, demonstrating a deep understanding of financial processes and systems

• Proven Forecasting and Planning Success
  A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in successfully delivering forecast and planning cycles, ensuring accuracy and alignment with organizational goals

• Effective Contractor Management
  Experienced in managing end-to-end contractor management and recruitment processes, optimizing resource allocation and cost efficiency

• Process Re-engineering Proficiency
  Skilled in mapping out and re-engineering processes to achieve an appropriate balance of efficiency, control, and standardization