Clarins Business Controller

About Clarins

Founded in Paris in 1954 by Jacques Courtin-Clarins, Clarins is a family-owned beauty house renowned for its plant-inspired skincare, makeup and spa expertise. Combining scientific research with a close understanding of customers’ needs, the brand has built an international presence while preserving its French heritage. As an employer, Clarins brings together specialists across research, product development, manufacturing, retail and corporate functions, united by a commitment to quality and service. Its emphasis on responsible beauty, innovation and long-term stewardship offers a distinctive professional environment for those seeking to contribute to an established beauty house with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Role & Responsibilities

• Partner with the regional Ecommerce and Retail teams on KPI tracking, preparing, consolidating and analysing performance reports.
• Maintain the regional Retail financial database and ensure data integrity and accuracy; review business plans and follow the performance of new boutique openings and renovation projects.
• Prepare quarterly APAC Retail and Ecommerce performance reports with insights into operational and financial results.
• Consolidate monthly APAC Ecommerce and Retail P&L statements, analyse significant variances against budget and reforecasts, and highlight discrepancies and risks.
• Serve as the primary contact for Headquarters Controlling on DTC financial matters, ensuring alignment and timely communication.
• Communicate and implement Group DTC guidelines and requirements across APAC markets.
• Partner with Regional Supply Chain and serve as the key contact for Headquarters Logistics Controlling, in coordination with the RFPAD.
• Review market submissions on Inventories and Purchases for timely, accurate and complete actuals and budget-cycle reporting; serve as the primary contact for APAC markets on related reporting.
• Prepare consolidated APAC inventory reporting for regional management, covering resale and POP inventories, provisions and destructions, and provide variance analysis.
• Develop and monitor the monthly APAC year-end stock landing forecast; investigate and document variances against budget to keep inventory levels aligned with plan.
• Analyse stock equations for the Regional Hub and each APAC subsidiary during budget and reforecast cycles, challenging assumptions and validating purchase projections and cost-of-goods-sold forecasts.
• Prepare and review monthly HFM/DMP reporting analyses, identify significant variances and obtain explanations from markets.
• Support APAC markets with Supply Chain data and reporting requirements, providing training and guidance to strengthen accuracy, consistency and compliance.
• Own the intercompany P&L for sales transactions between the Singapore Hub and APAC markets.
• Monitor intercompany transactions between the France-based factory and APAC markets in collaboration with Regional Supply Chain.
• Lead preparation of the Hub budget and reforecasts, including Group reporting on intercompany P&L, inventories and purchases; align with Regional Supply Chain assumptions and reconcile with consolidated forecasts from APAC subsidiaries.
• Partner with Supply Chain to prepare and monitor Singapore Hub inventory provisions in line with Group policies and accounting standards.
• Support monthly closing by preparing, documenting and communicating required journal entries to Accounting, particularly for provisions, inventory variances and destructions.
• Monitor monthly intercompany P&L, purchases and inventory landing against budget and reforecasts; investigate and analyse deviations and report findings to the RFPAD.
• Allocate and communicate APAC markets’ share of IAS 38 allocation related to POP at the Singapore Hub.
• Manage Singapore Hub intercompany transfer prices for Intercompany Sales in the Group Supply Chain ERP (M3): maintain the pricing structure in line with Group policies, implement annual price-list and billing-price updates, and support subsidiaries on pricing matters, including follow-up on missing forecast valuation prices.
• Identify and drive process improvements that reduce manual work, improve data accuracy and streamline recurring finance processes.
• Partner with Finance, Data and Technology teams to design streamlined workflows and implement automation that strengthens data quality and controls; translate business requirements into practical improvements, standardise reporting and planning, and promote modern tools and best practices for timely, insight-driven decisions.
• Undertake other responsibilities and projects consistent with the Business Controller, Asia Pacific role, including initiatives to lead change within Clarins.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.
• Strong numerical aptitude and business acumen.
• At least 5 years of FP&A or related experience in a sizeable organisation, preferably in the beauty, retail or FMCG industry and APAC region.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, including the ability to simplify financial concepts for non-finance stakeholders.
• Proactive, adaptable and independent, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across diverse teams and cultures.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with Workday, HFM, IBM Cognos (BIA), M3 or Power BI is an advantage.

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years of FP&A or related experience in a sizeable organisation; preferably in the beauty, retail or FMCG industry and APAC region.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.

Benefits

Development and training opportunities; attractive compensation and benefits; flexible work environment with up to 1 day of remote working per week.

Culture

As a family-owned French beauty group, Clarins combines an entrepreneurial spirit with a culture rooted in botanical expertise, scientific innovation and close attention to customers. Its workplace values collaboration, the transmission of know-how and a shared commitment to responsible beauty, connecting professional excellence with care for people and nature.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.