Balance Sheet Substantiation Program Lead, Asia (12-month Contract)

The successful candidate will be a hands-on regional program leader who combines strong Finance and controllership knowledge with the ability to drive transformation. The individual should be comfortable challenging existing practices constructively, navigating across multiple stakeholders, driving accountability for remediation, and building sustainable capabilities across the region.

Given the cross-market scope and stakeholder influence required, the role requires sufficient experience and seniority to lead the initiative effectively across various markets.

• Lead the BSSI program across Asia and drive implementation of the regional balance sheet substantiation framework.
• Establish the program roadmap, priorities, governance and implementation approach across markets.
• Establish and coordinate the BSSI Steering Committee, including regular status reporting on program progress, key risks, issues, remediation and decisions requiring management attention.
• Coordinate Finance, business and functional stakeholders across corporate, regional and local teams to drive execution against agreed objectives and timelines.
• Monitor progress, risks, issues and dependencies, facilitating timely resolution and escalation where appropriate.

• Develop and embed consistent standards and expectations for balance sheet substantiation across Asia.
• Establish clear ownership and accountability for balance sheet accounts and related processes across Finance and relevant business functions.
• Promote consistent reconciliation, review, documentation and substantiation practices across markets.
• Identify control gaps and areas of heightened balance sheet risk and drive appropriate remediation with relevant stakeholders.
• Provide effective challenge and escalate significant or overdue issues where necessary.
• Promote greater transparency and management visibility over balance sheet risks, control gaps and remediation status.

• Partner with regional and local stakeholders across Finance, Operations, Distribution, Marketing and other relevant functions to drive adoption of the BSSI framework.
• Build alignment on roles and responsibilities and reinforce accountability for balances and processes owned or supported by different functions.
• Develop and deliver targeted training and practical guidance to strengthen understanding and application of balance sheet substantiation requirements.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and adoption of good practices across markets and functions

• Transition BSSI from an implementation initiative into a sustainable BAU capability with clear accountability across Finance and relevant business functions.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and enhance substantiation processes while strengthening the overall control environment.
• Support appropriate use of data, technology and automation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the substantiation process.
• Establish mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement.

Success in this role will contribute to:

• A consistent and sustainable balance sheet substantiation framework across Asia.
• Clear ownership and accountability for balance sheet accounts across Finance and relevant business functions.
• Stronger cross-functional governance and collaboration in identifying and resolving balance sheet issues.
• Effective Steering Committee oversight of program progress, risks and remediation.
• Improved transparency and timely escalation of balance sheet risks and control issues.
• Effective and timely remediation by accountable owners.
• Stronger substantiation capabilities across regional and local teams.
• Enhanced quality and reliability of financial reporting.
• Sustainable embedding of strengthened balance sheet controls and accountability into BAU

• Strong experience in controllership, financial reporting, accounting, audit, financial controls or transformation, preferably within a large and complex financial services organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading regional or enterprise-wide initiatives involving multiple markets and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of balance sheet management, account reconciliation, substantiation and financial control principles.
• Strong program management and execution capabilities, including establishing governance, management reporting and senior stakeholder forums.
• Demonstrated ability to drive accountability and remediation across organizational and functional boundaries.
• Ability to identify and assess financial and control risks and provide effective, constructive challenges.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across different functions, markets and levels of seniority.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to develop and deliver training and provide clear updates to senior management.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment and take ownership of outcomes in a complex regional environment.
• Relevant professional accounting qualification or equivalent experience would be an advantage.

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

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