Accounting Manager

Accounting Manager, Japan

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Accounting Manager to join our Japan Finance team in Tokyo. This role will be responsible for overseeing daily accounting operations, ensuring compliance with Japanese accounting and tax regulations, supporting statutory reporting requirements, and leading the development of the local finance team.

The successful candidate will serve as the local finance lead, providing hands-on guidance, supervision, and coaching to two accountants while driving operational excellence and continuous process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations

• Oversee day-to-day accounting activities, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Manage month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes to ensure timely and accurate financial results.
• Review journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and other accounting activities performed by team members.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and accounting standards.

Tax and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Japanese accounting standards and local tax regulations.
• Manage statutory reporting requirements and support internal and external audits.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors, auditors, and regulatory authorities.
• Support corporate tax, consumption tax, withholding tax, and other local tax filings.
• Monitor changes in accounting and tax regulations and implement necessary updates.

Team Leadership and Development

• Provide day-to-day supervision, coaching, and guidance to two accountants: 
• Review team members' work and ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established procedures.
• Identify training needs and develop team capabilities through ongoing coaching and mentoring.
• Establish clear processes, work instructions, and performance expectations.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented team culture.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, and operational efficiency.
• Support finance transformation, automation, and standardization initiatives.
• Partner with regional finance and shared service center (SSC) teams to implement best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement and enhance the overall effectiveness of finance operations.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree or above in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 5-6 years of accounting and tax experience in Japan.
• Strong knowledge of Japanese GAAP, local tax regulations, statutory reporting, and audit requirements.
• Experience working in a multinational company environment is preferred.
• Previous experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching junior accounting staff is highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong accounting, financial reporting, tax, and compliance expertise.
• Experience with month-end close and balance sheet management.
• Solid understanding of internal controls and process improvement.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems.

Language Requirements

• Fluent Japanese (written and spoken).
• Business-level English is required.
• Business-level Chinese (Mandarin) is preferred.