Manager, Finance Planning, Internal Controls & Business Process Improvement - Rakuten Symphony Financial Management Department (RSFMD)

Job Description:

Business Overview

Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services worldwide across a wide range of fields, including internet services such as e-commerce, travel, and digital content; fintech services such as credit cards, banking, securities, electronic money, and smartphone app-based payments; mobile carrier services; and professional sports.
By organically linking these services through its membership platform centered on Rakuten members, Rakuten has created a unique “Rakuten Ecosystem” unlike any other.

*Rakuten’s business by the numbers:
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/services/

Department Overview

You will be responsible for providing accounting services for Rakuten Group subsidiaries and businesses.
You will join the Rakuten Symphony Financial Management Department at Rakuten Group, Inc.

As a mid-sized company in its growth phase, Rakuten Symphony places the highest priority on balancing the speed of management decision-making with sound organizational governance.
In this role, you will serve as a manager overseeing three areas-finance planning, internal controls, and business process improvement-while acting as the “command center” connecting the CFO with the business frontline.

We are looking for someone who will go beyond routine administration and help build a foundation for sustainable growth by creating and continuously operating effective systems and processes.

Position:

Why We Hire

As a member of our Global Finance Team, you will serve as a Financial Manager responsible for finance planning, internal controls, business process improvement, and organizational management.

Your responsibilities will include supporting the development of mid-term and annual business plans, managing KPIs, preparing management reports, and evaluating new businesses and investment opportunities. You will also lead company-wide risk assessments, the development and operation of internal controls, and audit-related activities.
In addition, you will drive the advancement of management and operational foundations through process visualization, standardization and automation, digital transformation, the development of operational manuals, member development, and annual roadmap management.

<Key Benefits>
・Opportunity to work in the high-tech telecommunications industry. As this is also a strategic national policy area, the role may lead to broader career opportunities, including experience in managing government subsidies.
・Opportunity to participate in a dynamic transformation within a global organization undergoing PMI.
・Involvement across the entire process, from planning through implementation. As the organization is still being developed, you will have the opportunity to design and build management systems from the ground up based on your own ideas.
・Opportunity to drive reforms hands-on across financial accounting, management accounting, and treasury operations.
・Assignment to an organization directly reporting to the CFO, providing an attractive career step for those aspiring to become a CFO in the future.
・Opportunity to work in a global environment and develop as a global business professional.

Position Details

1. Finance Planning | Corporate Planning
・Support the development of mid-term and annual business plans, including KPI design and management
・Prepare and analyze materials for management
・Support the evaluation of new businesses and investment opportunities, including business feasibility and ROI analyses
・Optimize and restructure finance reporting and meeting frameworks

2. Internal Controls
・Conduct risk assessments across company-wide business processes
・Design and establish internal control frameworks, including segregation of duties and guidelines
・Evaluate control effectiveness and drive remediation activities
・Coordinate with external auditors and the Internal Audit team

3. Business Process Improvement
・Analyze current company-wide business processes and visualize issues
・Plan, drive, and measure the effectiveness of improvement initiatives, including standardization, automation, and authority reviews
・Manage projects promoting digital transformation and the use of IT
・Facilitate cross-functional improvement projects
・Develop and maintain business manuals, policies, procedures, and process flowcharts

4. Management and Organizational Operations
・Set objectives, conduct performance evaluations, and develop team members through 1-on-1 meetings and feedback
・Negotiate and build relationships with cross-functional stakeholders
・Develop and manage the annual roadmap, including reporting to management

Work Environment

<Organization Structure>
・Headcount: Approximately 20 members in the Rakuten Symphony Financial Management Department
・Age range: Primarily employees in their 30s and 40s
・New graduates to experienced hires: 20% to 80%

<Background of Experienced Hires>
Joined Rakuten Group, Inc. after working at a major audit firm, primarily serving general trading company clients. Within Rakuten Group, they were involved in company-wide consolidated financial reporting before moving to the Rakuten Symphony Financial Management Department, where they handle accounting operations as well as team management.

Mandatory Qualifications:

・At least five years of hands-on project experience in areas such as corporate planning, internal audit, or management infrastructure transformation
・Experience in business process risk analysis, control design, and process improvement
・Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing stakeholders
・Experience preparing reports and proposal materials for management, including quantitative analysis

Desired Qualifications:

・Experience working at a consulting firm, audit firm, or similar organization
・Professional certification such as CIA, Certified Public Accountant, USCPA, or Small and Medium Enterprise Consultant
・Knowledge of frameworks such as J-SOX and COSO
・Experience developing and managing team members as a manager or team leader
・Experience with BPR, digital transformation, or ERP implementation
・Experience using RPA tools, BI tools, or workflow systems

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Rakuten Crimson House
1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Additional information on English Qualification

TOEIC score of 800 or above (the role involves day-to-day communication with international team members)

Related Pages
・Employee Benefits: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/benefit/
・Employee Conditions: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/information/
・Culture: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/culture/

#corporate #finance #accounting #financeandaccountingdiv

Languages:
English (Overall - 4 - Fluent), Japanese (Overall - 4 - Fluent)