Finance Director – Japan
Position Overview
A leading international luxury lifestyle brand is seeking a Finance Director for its Japan business. As a core member of the local leadership team, this role is responsible for safeguarding financial governance while enabling sustainable, brand-consistent growth in one of the company’s most strategic global markets.
The Finance Director serves as a strategic partner to the Japan General Manager and works closely with regional and global finance teams based in Europe to ensure alignment with group standards, governance frameworks, and long-term brand value.
Reporting Structure
Direct Reporting: General Manager, Japan
Functional Reporting: Regional CFO (APAC)
Key Internal Stakeholders: Regional Finance, Sales, Digital, Marketing, Supply Chain, HR, IT
External Stakeholders: Auditors, tax advisors, local authorities, financial institutions, and property partners
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Business Partnership
Define and execute the financial strategy for the Japan business in line with the group’s long-term vision and brand ambitions.
Provide financial leadership and decision support across retail, e-commerce, marketing, and commercial initiatives.
Lead annual budgeting, multi-year planning, and rolling forecasts with a focus on profitability, capital discipline, and brand equity.
Advise on major investment decisions, including store network expansion, flagship projects, and digital transformation initiatives.
2. Governance, Compliance, and Internal Controls
Ensure full compliance with local accounting standards, international reporting requirements, group policies, and internal control frameworks.
Strengthen risk management, compliance, and governance processes to protect business assets and reputation.
Oversee all statutory, tax, and legal financial obligations with accuracy and transparency.
Act as a steward of ethical and compliant financial operations across the organization.
3. Performance Management and Financial Analysis
Lead FP&A activities and drive clear understanding of performance drivers, including:
Store traffic, conversion rates, average transaction value, and repeat purchase behavior
Product mix, margins, pricing strategy, and cost structure
Retail productivity, e-commerce profitability, and channel balance
Deliver actionable insights to improve margins, operational efficiency, and financial discipline.
Evaluate the return on investment for marketing campaigns, product launches, and new store openings with a brand-focused perspective.
4. Cash Flow, Treasury, and Capital Management
Manage cash flow, working capital, and short- to long-term liquidity planning with rigor.
Oversee relationships with banks, credit facilities, capital expenditure financing, and group funding structures.
Monitor foreign exchange exposure and recommend pricing or hedging strategies aligned with business objectives.
5. Operational Excellence and Systems Leadership
Drive continuous improvement across finance, accounting, and IT operations.
Ensure data accuracy, system stability, and timely reporting through ERP, POS, and business intelligence platforms.
Promote process simplification, efficiency, and scalability to support ongoing business growth.
6. People and Culture Leadership
Lead, develop, and inspire finance, accounting, and IT teams in line with the brand’s values and culture.
Foster a high-performance environment grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and integrity.
Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and a respected contributor to the leadership team.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or Economics; professional certification (CPA or equivalent) preferred.
10 or more years of progressive finance experience in luxury, beauty, FMCG, or multinational environments.
Strong knowledge of Japanese accounting standards, international financial reporting, and local tax regulations.
Proven experience managing retail and multi-channel P&L structures.
Fluent in both Japanese and English.
Demonstrated leadership capability and strong cross-cultural communication skills.
Core Competencies
Strategic thinking with sensitivity to luxury brand positioning
Strong analytical capability and disciplined decision-making
Hands-on leadership with operational agility
High standards of integrity, discretion, and accountability
Ability to influence and collaborate across local, regional, and global teams