Finance & Accounting Leader

This role leads finance and accounting operations for a fusion-energy startup expanding globally and preparing for an IPO. Responsibilities include supporting management decisions with financial information, identifying issues, building and improving governance, internal controls, and finance and accounting processes, and managing team development. The position also leads cross-functional problem solving with domestic and overseas stakeholders and supports the operating environment for research and business development teams.

Working with a team of five in Japan and two members at overseas locations, the role covers standalone and consolidated finance and accounting, IPO preparation, and management duties. Accounting work includes daily accounting, monthly, quarterly, and annual closing, journal entries, receivables and payables, cash receipts and payments, accounting treatment reviews, closing acceleration, management reporting, audit-firm coordination, accounting issue review, accounting policy documentation, coordination with subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, and company-wide work-hour management.

Finance responsibilities include cash-flow management and cash-position monitoring in yen, US dollars, euros, and pounds; payment planning, expected receipts, cash forecasting, and working-capital management; credit and receivables management involving North American and European companies; expense settlement; financial operations for affiliated companies in Japan and Canada; preparation and practical support for financial-institution and investor interactions; financial analysis; and budget-versus-actual management and variance analysis.

The role leads IPO-related internal-control and governance preparation, including rules, approval flows, business-process design and review, standardization, documentation, and issue resolution. It also supports grant applications and research and development activities, and serves as a core member of the IPO preparation project. Management duties include leading finance and accounting work, cross-functional improvement projects, process standardization, and approval checks for vouchers and applications.

Applicants need at least 10 years of combined finance or accounting experience in an operating company, global company, or startup, including accounting and financial-reporting work such as monthly or annual closing, or finance work such as cash management, payments, and receivables and payables. Managerial experience covering strategy, execution, decision-making, team leadership, and organizational operations is expected, along with experience improving accuracy and quality, coordinating stakeholders, and preparing numerical analysis and reporting materials using Excel or similar tools.

Native or equivalent Japanese document-writing and presentation ability and business-level-or-higher English ability are required. The posting names experience with Slack or Teams, Microsoft Office or Google applications, hosting online meetings using Teams or Zoom, and business use of AI. Experience in manufacturing accounting or cost management, consolidated accounting, IFRS, IPO preparation, relevant qualifications, or NetSuite is welcomed.

The position is a full-time permanent role, although contract employment may also be possible. Working hours are 9:00 to 18:00 with a one-hour break, with a flextime system where applicable. The workplace is the Tokyo headquarters in Ota-ku, with work also possible at the Tokyo satellite office in Marunouchi. Remote work may be discussed for people living within commuting distance. Weekends and public holidays are off, with 120 or more annual holidays. Benefits include social insurance, other welfare benefits, salary increases, and special paid leave at joining. Domestic or international transfers may be possible. The offices are entirely smoke-free indoors, with a smoking room in the building.