The Finance Manager for Japan is responsible for leading all finance, accounting, tax, and treasury operations for Lonza Japan K.K. This role ensures full compliance with local and international accounting standards, maintains strong internal controls, drives financial reporting accuracy, and provides business‑critical analysis to support decision‑making. The position partners closely with APAC and global finance teams, while also supervising the Japan finance staff and supporting board and shareholder governance activities.
What you will get
An opportunity to lead the full spectrum of finance operations in Japan within a global life sciences organization.
A collaborative culture working with local, regional, and global finance and business teams.
Exposure to strategic financial management, business partnering, compliance, and corporate governance.
Professional development opportunities and the chance to shape financial excellence supporting long‑term business success.
What you will do
Accounting & Compliance
Oversee all accounting operations and ensure accuracy of all accounting and tax data.
Maintain compliance with local statutory regulations, IFRS and Lonza policies.
Address and resolve audit findings from internal and external auditors.
Ensure timely and accurate submission of periodic financial reporting.
- Strengthen and monitor internal controls.
Tax & Treasury
Coordinate with tax accounting firms for timely tax filings and local transfer pricing documentation (JP & EN).
Collaborate with APAC and global tax/treasury on optimization of tax structure and treasury operations.
Identify opportunities to reduce effective tax rate and enhance net income.
Financial Analysis
Manage monthly financial variance analysis versus plan and provide insights to management.
Monitor AR aging, AP timing, and inventory levels to improve cash flow.
Capital Spending
Review and evaluate capital investment proposals (CARs) to ensure alignment with financial criteria and strategy.
Ensure CARs include robust financial and business justification.
Corporate Governance Support
Coordinate board and shareholder meetings for Lonza Japan K.K., including documentation and filings.
Leadership & Operational Support
Work with auditors to ensure new administrative processes align with internal control requirements.
Assess and develop financial staff capabilities, ensuring readiness, succession planning, and sufficient resources.
Supervise accounting managers, controlling, and finance teams.
Perform additional duties as assigned.
What we are looking for
Education
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or related field.
CPA or equivalent certification preferred.
Minimum 5 years in domestic and international accounting and finance.
Experience in planning, analysis, financial controls, systems evaluation, and team supervision.
Fluent in Japanese and English
Strong communication, team‑building, and people‑management skills.
Solid understanding of IFRS, local GAAP, tax regulations, and treasury practices.
About Lonza
At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our global teams collaborate daily to deliver the medicines of tomorrow. Our culture is shaped by our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion, and Integrity. We foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and meaningful contributions impact millions of lives.