Finance Manager (Fluent Japanese Required)

Koala is a global furniture brand bringing Australian design and innovation to the world. We create forward-thinking products that solve problems for people and homes everywhere, driven by our purpose to make the world a more comfortable place.

We’ve always believed in doing things differently, whether in the way we develop products, how we do people and culture, or the way we bring the brand to life. That mindset has fuelled our growth, helping us disrupt categories in ways that are creative, bold and often unexpected. While we’re a household name in Australia, our journey on the global stage is only just beginning.

Since launching in 2015, our furniture has reached homes across Australia, Japan, the US and the UK. As a B Corp-certified, customer-obsessed, and data-led company, we’re committed to revolutionising furniture for generations to come through design, innovation, and meaningful sustainability.

Role Description

With rapid growth in Japan, we’re strengthening our finance function with a hands-on and technically strong Finance Manager. Reporting to the Group Finance Manager, this role goes beyond standard reporting — you’ll play a multi-functional role, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting while driving improvements in processes, compliance, and business performance.

This is a high-impact position where you'll be trusted to run the numbers for the Japan market, partner remotely with in-market leadership, and ensure our business is set up to scale successfully

Working Environment & Collaboration

This role is based in Sydney, Australia, reporting to the Group Finance Manager. While the time zone overlap with Japan is small, success in this role depends on strong remote business partnering - building trust and influence with the Japan country leadership and ops without daily in-person contact.

Key Responsibilities

Month-End & Reporting

• Take ownership of the month-end close process, delivering timely and accurate financial results, including reconciliations and preparation of Balance Sheet and P&L

• Reconcile multiple payment gateways across e-commerce sales channels, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in reporting

• Lead and develop the Financial Accountant, Japan, ensuring strong day-to-day execution of month-end and compliance activities while building local capability over time.

Tax & Compliance

• Work with third-party advisors to manage statutory tax compliance, including consumption tax, income tax, and asset tax

• Strengthen governance, controls, and compliance frameworks across the Japan entity

Business Partnering

• Build strong working relationships with the Japan operational team, acting as the main point of contact for all tax and compliance matters for the JP market.

• Act as a key collaborator with the global finance team, ensuring alignment, transparency, and effective cross-border communication

• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring robust analysis and local insights

Business & Process Improvement

• Apply curiosity and critical thinking to challenge the status quo and deliver practical improvements

• Champion process governance and leverage data, systems, and emerging tools like AI to streamline workflows, enhance accuracy, and provide deeper business insight

• Play a key role in evolving the finance function as the business scales

Ideal Background...

• Bilingual Japanese & English skills (business level) a must

• 5+ years’ experience in financial accounting, with deep knowledge of general ledger, month-end/year-end close, tax compliance and audit

• Previous experience in manufacturing, eCommerce or retail industry

• Previous experience working in Japan in a similar role, or a solid understanding of Japan taxation and regulatory compliance requirements, is preferred

• Professional qualification in accounting or finance such as CPA

• Strong technical accounting knowledge, paired with the ability to think critically and apply it in a commercial context

• Proven ability to work autonomously while maintaining strong governance and attention to detail

• Comfortable operating as a remote business partner to an in-market team, with the ability to build trust and influence cross-culturally without daily in-person contact

• Demonstrated curiosity in exploring new approaches, including how AI and modern systems can improve efficiency and insight

• Successful track record of managing tight deadlines under pressure

• Experience with NetSuite or other ERP systems is an advantage

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a fast-scaling international e-commerce start-up with a growing footprint in Japan

• High visibility: work directly with country leadership, Group Finance, and global HQ

• Opportunity to shape finance operations in Japan from the ground up

• Competitive package, plus genuine career growth opportunities

• Join a collaborative, curious, and impact-driven team where your work will shape the future of Koala’s growth in Japan.

Perks and Privileges

Koala is only great when its employees are happy; and we’re one happy bunch!

• Hybrid working - We’re mixing it up with ~3 days back in the Alexandria Treehouse (office) and work from bed/home (WFB)

• Take a break - Generous time off - volunteer, parental, Koala life leave and more to help keep your work-life balance, balanced.

• Treehouse goods - Fully stocked kitchen with an emphasis on healthy local produce, think bougie brekky, catered lunches, soup/salad bar, kombucha on tap, monthly barbies and more.

• Pet-friendly - The Koala Treehouse is as pet-friendly as they get!

• Surprise & delight - The two-word combo at the core of everything we do. All Koalas can expect to enjoy free Koala products with ‘mates rates’ for your friends and fam.

• Support & wellbeing - Our employee experience respects and embraces all families, formed, found and evolving. You’ll have access to our Employee Assistance Program, which includes unlimited sessions for financial, work, relationship, family or wellbeing support.

• Accelerate your career - via our Learning Management platform, as well as individual and team growth budgets and dedicated days.

• Community & connection - We believe that simply doing ‘no harm’ isn’t good enough So, how are we doing our part? BCorp Certified, WWF Partnership, volunteer days, a member of 1% and so much more.

All in all, the Koala Community is a great place to hang out and belong to!

Why Join Koala?

At Koala, we do things a little differently and we don’t shy away from the fact that we expect a lot from our employees! We have no ego; we seek feedback that grows us; and we have a strong bias for action. We want you to challenge expectations, always look to make a difference and give us something different from the norm. We want people that bring great energy, that have a long-game focus and are always trying to find new angles and approaches to the way we work. We're a team full of entrepreneurial spirit and have a relentless focus on 'what's next' but while always reviewing 'what's been done' and learning, growing and adapting. Honesty and empathy drive everything we do, as well as a total focus on exceeding our customers’ expectations. So if you feel like this could be you... well what the bloody hell are you waiting for? Drop us a line, and let's see what you've got! ;)

There’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ candidate, Koala is a place where everyone has opportunity. So however you identify and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day. We’re an equal opportunity employer, and recognise that a diverse workforce is crucial to our success as a business.

To read more, check out our careers, LinkedIn, or the great work we do with Work180.