PATMI Partnership is a human resources advisory firm, known for its deep focus on finance leadership, succession, and transition. We specialize in guiding companies through periods of change, growth, and complexity — especially in finance-led transformation.

PATMI works closely with boards, CHROs, CFOs, and operational leaders to build resilient leadership pipelines, particularly at the CFO and CFO-1 levels. Our role extends beyond talent — we are advisors in organizational readiness, finance capability building, and enterprise scaling.

We are proud to support this important finance leadership appointment on behalf of a respected, high-integrity SME in the industrial engineering sector. Our client’s journey reflects a broader narrative in the region — of family-grown industrial firms evolving into regionally agile, professionally run businesses ready to embrace growth and modernization.

Learn more about us at www.patmi.sg

Our client is a Singapore-headquartered engineering SME, operating in both Singapore and Malaysia, with ambitions to scale across Southeast Asia in the coming decade. The company is a trusted partner to clients in infrastructure, manufacturing, and heavy industry, delivering engineering services, custom-fabricated solutions, and systems integration.

With a strong reputation for reliability, technical quality, and customer-centricity, the business has grown steadily over the past 20 years. It is now poised for the next chapter — modernizing its operations, deepening its regional footprint, and professionalizing key functions to enable sustainable scale.

To support this transformation, the company is seeking a Finance & Administration Director — a leader who will serve as both a financial steward and a strategic business enabler.

As Finance & Administration Director, you will report jointly to the Deputy CEO and COO. You will lead the company’s finance, accounting, administration, and support functions across Singapore and Malaysia, while actively contributing to business planning and strategic execution.

This is a rare opportunity to work close to the business, influence leadership decisions, and help shape a company’s growth path from SME to regional player. You will play a key role in professionalizing the finance function, improving processes, building controls, and supporting market entry strategies — while keeping the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and family legacy intact.

1. Strategic Finance Leadership

• Serve as the senior-most finance authority in the business, advising the Deputy CEO and COO on financial strategy, business planning, and investment decisions.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling process for group and subsidiaries.
• Translate strategic goals into measurable financial outcomes and resource plans.

2. Finance Operations & Control

• Oversee full-spectrum finance functions including accounting, taxation, treasury, audit, compliance, and cash flow management.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting cycles for both internal and statutory purposes.
• Ensure strong internal controls, accounting discipline, and risk management processes.

3. Business Partnering & Growth Enablement

• Partner closely with commercial, project, and operations teams to ensure financially sound decision-making across bids, tenders, contracts, and procurement.
• Conduct financial due diligence for partnerships, investments, and market expansions.
• Support pricing strategies, cost control initiatives, and margin improvement efforts.

4. Cross-border and Regional Integration

• Harmonize finance operations between Singapore and Malaysia, standardizing systems and controls across entities.
• Lead integration of finance support in new markets as part of regional growth.
• Monitor regulatory developments in both countries to ensure full compliance.

5. Administration & General Management

• Lead corporate services functions including office administration, legal liaison, company secretarial, HR coordination (in partnership with external providers), and facilities.
• Act as a key contact for banks, auditors, regulators, legal counsel, and key vendors.

6. People, Systems & Process Development

• Build and mentor a lean but capable team of finance and administrative professionals.
• Drive digitalization of finance — including adoption of ERP/accounting software, reporting automation, and cloud systems.
• Establish SOPs and workflows that support speed, compliance, and accountability.

This role is for a hands-on, grounded, and business-focused finance leader — someone who thrives in entrepreneurial settings and wants to make a visible, lasting impact. You understand the nuances of growing an SME in Asia and can balance structure with agility, compliance with speed, and control with collaboration.

• 15 or more years of finance experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within an SME or mid-sized company.
• Industry experience in engineering, manufacturing, construction, or industrial services preferred.
• Proven experience managing cross-border operations, especially in Singapore and Malaysia.
• Strong understanding of regional accounting standards, tax laws, and corporate governance.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems and finance digitization initiatives.
• A commercial mindset with the ability to “speak the language” of operations and business growth.
• CA, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent professional certification; MBA is a plus.

This is a rare chance to join a values-based, high-integrity organization at an inflection point. The company has legacy, capability, and vision — and now needs a finance and administration leader who can tie it all together with structure, accountability, and strategic foresight.