Head of Finance and Operations, Singapore and Malaysia

At Sephora, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered, individually and collectively. It is connecting deeply with others, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, unlocking your potential and making a difference every day. Together, we belong to something beautiful.

Sephora SEA’s omni channel business spans over 8 countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) with 100+ stores and boasts some global flagships such as ION and Raffles City in Singapore, F88 in Kuala Lumpur and Pitt Street in Sydney. Sephora SEA is experiencing rapid growth in the region with new store openings and business channels (i.e., Click and collect and marketplace).

Head of Finance and Operations, SGMY

The Head of Finance and Operations, SGMY is a strategic business partner to the General Manager and Market Leadership Team, leading Finance and Operations across Singapore and Malaysia (SGMY). This role offers broad market leadership exposure across financial management, business planning, audit and compliance, logistics, cash flow and people leadership. Working closely with local, regional, global and external stakeholders, the role strengthens financial discipline, operational excellence, risk management and business performance across the SGMY business.

You will shine if you enjoy...

Financial Operations and Management

• Serve as a strategic partner to the General Manager and Market Leadership Team, providing financial insights and recommendations to support business performance, growth and operational efficiency.
• Oversee financial management across SGMY, ensuring strong financial discipline, robust financial reporting and optimal use of resources.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting, including P&L and balance sheet close activities, ensuring compliance with local and group requirements.
• Lead cash flow management and liquidity planning activities, ensuring effective working capital management and appropriate funding to support business operations and growth.
• Monitor business performance, financial risks and key performance indicators, driving actions to improve profitability, cash flow and operational effectiveness.
• Evaluate investment opportunities, business cases and strategic initiatives through robust financial analysis, payback review and return-on-investment assessment.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Lead forecasting, budgeting and long-range planning processes across SGMY, ensuring alignment with business priorities and regional guidance.
• Partner with business functions to develop budgets, forecasts and financial targets, providing challenge, support and recommendations to optimise business performance.
• Deliver robust financial analysis, performance reporting and actionable insights to support management decision-making.
• Develop cash flow forecasts, investment analyses and business cases to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Monitor spending, evaluate business performance against plans and identify opportunities for productivity improvements, cost optimisation and investment prioritisation.

Audit and Compliance

• Maintain a strong governance and control environment by ensuring compliance with local regulations, group policies and financial control requirements.
• Lead internal and external audit activities, coordinating with auditors, Shared Services and regional stakeholders to ensure timely completion of audit requirements and remediation actions.
• Partner with regional Internal Audit and Shared Services teams to strengthen internal controls, financial processes and risk management practices.
• Oversee tax, statutory and regulatory compliance activities, ensuring accurate and timely submissions and adherence to local requirements.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their implications on financial and operational processes, implementing actions to maintain compliance and mitigate risk.

Logistics and Operations Management

• Lead logistics performance across inventory management, product availability, fulfilment, service levels and cost efficiency in partnership with logistics providers, suppliers and regional supply chain teams.
• Partner Regional Supply Chain team to develop and execute the market operations strategy, establishing policies, processes and controls that support business priorities and align with regional operating standards.
• Monitor operational performance and compliance, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen controls and maintain regulatory, quality and service standards.

People Leadership

• Lead the Finance and Operations team, building capability, engagement and accountability to deliver as a high-performing team.
• Foster collaboration across cross-functional teams and build strong partnerships with market, regional, global and Shared Services stakeholders to enable effective execution.
• Align and influence peers in the Market Leadership Team to support the General Manager’s priorities, strengthen alignment and drive business outcomes across SGMY collaboratively. 

We would love to hear from you if you are/have…

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Supply Chain, Operations Management or a related discipline; professional qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA or equivalent would be advantageous.
• Significant finance leadership experience across financial management, FP&A, compliance and business partnering, preferably in a multinational retail, consumer or fast-paced commercial environment.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with proven ability to translate financial insights into business decisions, performance outcomes and investment priorities.
• Proven experience leading forecasting, budgeting, cash flow management, strategic financial planning and performance management processes.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, internal controls, audit, tax and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Experience leading logistics, supply chain or operational functions, including inventory management, fulfilment and service performance within a retail or consumer environment.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder-management and influencing skills, with the ability to partner effectively with senior leadership, regional stakeholders, Shared Services and external partners.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of building capability, developing talent and leading high-performing teams in a dynamic, matrixed environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial systems; experience with SAP, business intelligence tools and supply chain systems would be advantageous.
  
  
  
  

Here, you will find:

• Community, in which authenticity is embraced, and the strength of our differences fuels our collective spirit

• Culture of empowerment, learning & growth, that offers you the tools, space and opportunity to learn, innovate and lead

• Work that brings fulfilment, from delighting clients every day, to inspiring our industry at large, every action makes a difference

It is in the Sephora DNA to champion a world of inspiration and inclusion where everyone can celebrate their beauty. You can be yourself, because you are what sets us apart. Join us and belong to something beautiful.

Sephora is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, or other employment practices. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.