Japan Controller – Senior Director

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. When you join Visa, you join a culture of purpose and belonging – where your growth is priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. Your work will have a direct impact on billions of people around the world – helping unlock financial access to enable the future of money movement. Join Visa: A Network Working for Everyone.

Job Description

Team Summary Controllership plays an integral part of Visa’s operations in Japan. Controllership is accountable for 1) ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting for activities for Japan in accordance with US GAAP, IFRS and various other local statutory requirements 2) establishing and monitoring internal controls, partnering with the business stakeholders to ensure the controls environment continue to stay strong and effective 3) management of Controllership Operations function. Job Description The Japan Controller is based in Tokyo, Japan and reports to the Asia Pacific Regional Controller, who is based in Singapore and has a dotted line reporting relationship with the Japan Head of Finance. The Controller has two core responsibilities: (1) ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting for activities across Japan in accordance with US GAAP, J GAAP, IFRS and various other local statutory requirements, and (2) ensuring that financial controls around business processes initiated across Japan are operated in an effective and compliant manner, and are in adherence to established policies and procedures. The Controller works collaboratively with business units and other functions (especially Compliance, Legal and Risk) to implement and maintain a robust controls framework, provide training on corporate policies and procedures, and liaise with stakeholders on remediation actions required. The Controller is also accountable for establishing and maintaining a strong internal controls environment across the country offices. Financial Accounting and Reporting: Manage the financial reporting processes and ensures that internal and external financial results are timely, accurate and in accordance with US and local GAAP and applicable accounting and reporting standards. Manage the independent financial statement audit including completion of audited financial statements. Work with the Global Accounting Policy and Singapore teams, when required, to implement new financial accounting policies and procedures. Ensure strong controls over financial accounting and reporting and that accounting policies and procedures are well understood and complied with. Ensure prompt and efficient integration of new acquisitions and set-up of new legal entities by partnering effectively with FP&A, Treasury, Finance Operations, Tax and Legal departments. Partner with Tax to achieve transfer pricing strategies with effective monitoring of legal entity transaction flows through timely reconciliation and settlement of intercompany balances. Business Operations and Internal Controls: Provide oversight, guidance, and consultative support on business transactions to achieve positive client outcomes whilst ensuring compliance with policies and procedures. Be the “go to” subject matter expert on Finance policies and procedures. Ensure needs of the business are represented in the development and delivery of controls, processes and procedures. Ensure that robust controls are implemented and adhered to in line with local regulations as applicable, Company’s policies, procedures and guidelines and international best practices. Partner with other supporting functions such as Compliance, Legal and Risk to implement and maintain business procedures with robust controls in place that are adhered to. Support the consistent delivery of guidelines and related policies and procedures across Asia Pacific Region. Manage the Japan Controls Committee to align on supporting the Business effectively, and review complex &/or high risk transactions. Perform root cause analysis and drive corrective action of exceptions identified by key controls stakeholders. Ensure remediation plans are in place and tracked to completion for Issues identified from Self-Assessment process, Continuous Controls Monitoring and Internal Audit results. Develop metrics reporting and analytics of implemented processes that measure risk and support continuous business improvement activities. Collaborates with other Asia Pacific Market Controllers to develop and maintain procedures and standard processes to assess, report, and remediate operational risk and compliance-related issues, provides regular self-assessment reporting to Group Executives and Country Managers Manage internal and external audits and lead remediation activities as required. Continuous Improvement: Embed a Lean Six Sigma culture of continuous process improvement to drive efficiency and future scalability with excellent customer service levels. Lead cross-functional and cross-regional implementation of finance initiatives, such as local billing and system implementations as needed. Influence decision making within a matrix management structure that positively impact strategic business objectives. Effectively stay abreast of Visa’s business and accounting areas of oversight and proactively advice senior management and cross-functional teams on accounting, reporting, system and process matters. Why this is important to Visa Controllership plays an integral part of Visa’s operations in Japan. This role ensures the country financials are reflective of the transactions and activities undertaken by the country and these are recorded in accordance with GAAP/IFRS. Additionally, ensures business stakeholders are provided the appropriate support and guidance. This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office two days a week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% of the time based on business needs.

Qualifications

What you will need: Certified Public Accountant or Chartered/Certified Accountant license required and Big 4 public accounting and audit experience. Bachelor’s degree in a business related discipline, Advanced Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or equivalent is highly desired. 10+ years of progress experience in audit, financial reporting or accounting operations, working in a large and fast paced multi-national commercial environment. Strong knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley and internal control requirements, High ethical and quality control standards. Strong knowledge and experience with US GAAP, J GAAP and IFRS, along with in-depth experience in preparation of statutory financial reports and tax transfer pricing strategies. Good knowledge of the Japan tax regime and filing process. Ability to work well under pressure, strong problem solving skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent inter-personal skills and a proven ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships at all levels. Ability to think strategically and support business objectives while effectively balancing risk/reward trade-offs. Strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills and ability to work effectively in a matrix management structure in a complex and diverse, international, and multi-cultural environment. Self-directed and motivated to continuously improve processes to exceed customer expectations and help promote a best-in-class organization. Proven leadership skills, with the ability to instigate and support change. Customer focused, driven and can lead by example. Knowledge of Microsoft office applications, Oracle Financials and Ariba. What will also help: Payment industry knowledge and experience a preferred but not required Japan market experience with a business level proficiency of the Japanese language preferred but not required Understanding and application of Lean Six Sigma methodology and tools Projects you will be a part of: As member of the Regional Controllership Leadership team, you will have the opportunity to participate in Global and Regional projects that not only enhance your skills and knowledge but also build your network and ensure Controllership continues to be world-class organization. As a world-class organization, we continually re-evaluate our processes to ensure we are operate at the most optimum level. Some of the projects you will be embarking on include but not limited to: Value In Kind (VIK) Global Process – Establishing a global standard process to enable efficiencies, remove redundancies Controllership Operations Redesign – Evolving our Centre of Excellence Controllership Operations function both Regionally and Globally Accounting Streamline Initiative – Partnering with Regional team to establish a global standard process to enable efficiencies and remove redundancies Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving visa/travel restrictions in place, we are currently only able to extend offers to candidates with the right to work in Japan and are unable to offer new immigration sponsorship.

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.