The Accounting Manager is a senior individual-contributor and team-building role responsible for the full spectrum of financial management, statutory compliance, and human resources administration for SEM. This position will be the primary internal expert for accounting, taxation, and back-office operations, working closely with the Director (expatriate), the Japan headquarters finance team, and external service providers including auditors and tax agents.
This is a hands-on managerial role that requires both technical depth in Malaysian accounting and tax regulations and the organisational breadth to oversee HR and administrative functions in an SME environment. The role is critical to the company's in-house transition plan and carries significant ownership from Day 1.
Key Responsibility
A. Accounting & Bookkeeping (Primary Focus)
Own and manage the full-cycle bookkeeping function using SQL Accounting or Autocount software; maintain the general ledger, journals, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and fixed-asset register.
Prepare and review monthly management accounts, trial balances, and variance analyses for reporting to the Japan headquarters.
Lead the migration of historical accounting data from the external provider into the in-house accounting system upon implementation.
Prepare the annual consolidation reporting package in accordance with the parent company's reporting standards and deadlines.
Establish and maintain internal accounting policies, chart of accounts, and document-management procedures in compliance with Malaysian Private Entities Reporting Standards (MPERS).
Manage banking operations including payment processing, fund transfers, bank reconciliations, and liaison with SMBC bank for the company's local account; co-ordinate the planned transition of bank operations from Japan headquarters to the local entity.
B. Taxation & Statutory Compliance
Manage all corporate and statutory tax obligations including Corporate Income Tax (Form C / CP204 / CP204B), Monthly Tax Deduction (PCB / e-CP39), Withholding Tax (CP37), and Sales & Services Tax (SST).
Coordinate with the external tax agent for the preparation and filing of tax returns; review returns for accuracy prior to submission.
Ensure timely payment of all taxes via government portals (MyTax, MySST, etc.) and maintain accurate tax payment records.
Manage SST registration and bi-monthly filing obligations; monitor changes in SST scope and rates applicable to the company's business activities.
Prepare and submit employer statutory forms including Form E, EA Forms, and CP22 (new employee notifications) in compliance with LHDN requirements.
Monitor changes in Malaysian tax legislation and advise management on implications for the business.
C. Human Resources & Administration
Manage the end-to-end payroll process using Application HRIS, including salary computation, overtime, allowances, Payslip generation, and statutory deduction calculations (EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB).
Ensure timely submission and payment of EPF via i-Akaun Majikan and SOCSO/EIS via the ASSIST portal.
Administer employment-related compliance in accordance with the Employment Act 1955, Industrial Relations Act 1967, and other applicable Malaysian labour legislation.
Manage the full employee life cycle for administrative purposes: onboarding documentation, employment contracts, leave management, off-boarding, and CP22 / CP22A submissions.
Handle the application and renewal processes for expatriate Employment Passes and other work authorisations via the ESD portal and TalentCorp.
Liaise with SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) and maintain up-to-date statutory company secretarial records in coordination with the company secretary.
Manage general office administration including vendor management, office supplies, and facilities.
D. Audit & Internal Controls
Serve as the primary internal liaison for the annual statutory audit conducted by the external auditors; Having discuses with GM, prepare audit schedules, respond to auditor queries, and ensure the provision of all required documentation.
Develop and implement internal control procedures covering financial authorisation, payment approval, segregation of duties, and document retention.
- Support the implementation of an internal audit framework appropriate to an SME in a start-up phase.
E. Reporting & Headquarters Liaison
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for submission to the Japan headquarters in the required format and timeline.
Support the production of the annual consolidation package and respond to queries from the Japan group finance team.
Coordinate with the Japanese expatriate management team and provide English-language financial summaries and briefings as required.
MUST TO HAVE:
Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Hands-on experience with SQL Accounting Software or Autocount. Proficiency in at least one of these systems is mandatory.
Minimum 3 years of full-cycle accounting and bookkeeping experience in an SME or subsidiary environment, including GL, AP/AR, and financial reporting.
Strong working knowledge of Malaysian corporate and personal income tax, PCB, SST, WHT, and LHDN filing requirements. Experience operating MyTax and MySST portals.
Demonstrated experience acting as the internal point of contact for statutory audits. Ability to prepare audit-ready schedules and respond efficiently to auditor queries.
Ability to prepare management accounts and financial reports under MPERS. Experience preparing group consolidation schedules or reporting packages.
Practical experience operating key Malaysian government portals: MyTax, i-Akaun Majikan, ASSIST (PERKESO), MySST, and SSM BizChannel.