Head Finance Japan Branch

Head Finance - Japan

Join Swiss Re Asia as our Head of Finance in Japan and play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of our Tokyo branch. This strategic leadership position offers an exceptional opportunity to drive financial excellence while partnering with business leaders to achieve sustainable growth in one of our key markets.

About the Role

As Head of Finance for Swiss Re Asia Pte Ltd's Japan branch, you will have overall responsibility for all financial matters, maintaining fiduciary oversight for the legal carrier. You'll lead a dynamic finance team while collaborating with global stakeholders to ensure strong governance, controls, and regulatory compliance. 

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering - Represent the branch as Finance Head with regulators and support stakeholders in interactions with relevant authorities

Financial Oversight - Provide trusted, high-quality financial information and contribute to branch operations as a management team member

Team Leadership - Coach and develop your team, cultivating a strong performance culture with effective cross-functional collaboration

Governance & Compliance - Maintain strong financial accounting and reporting functions while ensuring compliance with Japanese laws, regulations, and Swiss Re Group policies

Started Project Implementation - Lead key strategic projects including subledger transition and automation initiatives

Regulatory Relations - Maintain relationships with Japanese regulatory authorities and coordinate Finance involvement in statutory examinations

Capital Management - Collaborate with Group Treasury to ensure efficient capital management of the branch 

Process Improvement - Proactively drive process changes to address future business needs and support Finance initiatives in system enhancement 

About the Team

The Finance team at Swiss Re Asia's Japan branch plays a crucial role in maintaining financial integrity while supporting business growth. Working closely with both local business leaders and global Finance functions, the team provides strategic insights, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives financial excellence across operations. You'll lead a collaborative team that partners across functions and geographies, including offshore teams in Bangalore, India. 

About You

You are a strategic finance leader who combines technical expertise with business acumen. You thrive in a collaborative environment, can communicate complex financial concepts clearly, and have a passion for developing talent. Your ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including regulators, will be key to your success in this role.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• CPA or equivalent qualification (strong insurance accounting experience may be considered if lacking formal qualification)
• At least 15 years of relevant experience in financial/accounting functions, including team management
• Thorough knowledge of Japanese statutory accounting, insurance laws, and regulations (including tax) 
• Insurance sector experience with strong understanding of RBC/ESR
• Strong presence with the ability to engage and motivate teams
• Experience managing relationships with regulatory authorities 
• Ability to adapt to changing environments while maintaining high standards of performance
• Native level Japanese with excellent communication skills in English 

These are additional nice to haves:

•  Experience or knowledge of IFRS17
• Multi-disciplinary finance expertise across accounting, treasury, financial planning, and taxation Strategic thinking with a drive for continuous improvement 

The base salary range for this position will be shared with you during the interview process.