APAC Controller

About the Team

The Finance team at OpenAI is dedicated to positioning the organization for success by collaborating with company leaders to establish scalable financial infrastructure, uphold strong governance and controls, and facilitate ongoing global expansion.

Role Overview

As OpenAI broadens its presence across the Asia Pacific region, the company seeks an experienced APAC Controller to develop and lead the regional controllership operations. This senior finance leadership position supervises accounting, financial reporting, compliance, systems, and finance operations for a diverse and expanding portfolio of legal entities throughout APAC.

This strategic and hands-on role reports to the International Controller and is pivotal in building and scaling a regional finance organization while enforcing robust financial controls, operational excellence, and compliance across various jurisdictions. The Controller will collaborate closely with Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Finance Systems, HR, and business teams to support rapid regional growth.

Based in Singapore, this position follows a hybrid working model and serves as the inaugural senior financial leadership role dedicated to this region, playing a crucial role in shaping the future finance functions across one of the fastest-growing markets for OpenAI.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounting, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting activities for APAC legal entities.
• Manage regional close processes including month-end, quarter-end, and year-end consolidations into the global group.
• Ensure adherence to U.S. GAAP, IFRS, and local statutory accounting standards.
• Direct preparation of statutory financial statements, audits, board reports, and regulatory submissions across multiple APAC jurisdictions.
• Handle complex intercompany transactions, transfer pricing policies, and foreign currency issues in coordination with Tax and Treasury departments.
• Collaborate with Legal, Tax, Treasury, and external advisors on establishing new entities and maintaining ongoing compliance obligations.
• Design and implement scalable accounting procedures, internal controls, and operational workflows to support continual regional expansion.
• Lead finance technology initiatives including Oracle and other ERP systems implementation, emphasizing automation and process enhancements using AI and emerging tech.
• Ensure rigorous governance over accounting operations, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Contribute to public company preparedness activities, such as SOX compliance and internal control frameworks development.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing APAC finance and accounting team, establishing a regional hiring strategy aligned with organizational growth plans.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, payroll providers, accounting firms, and finance service vendors.
• Act as the principal finance representative for APAC entity boards, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Serve as the senior finance business partner for APAC leadership to support regional expansion into new markets and jurisdictions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with global Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, HR, and GTM teams on strategic initiatives.
• Help define and evolve OpenAI's international finance strategy and operational model.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Holds a professional accounting accreditation such as CPA, CA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent.
• Brings over 10 years of progressive accounting and controllership experience in multinational companies.
• Possesses substantial experience overseeing accounting and finance operations spanning various APAC countries.
• Expertise in U.S. GAAP, IFRS standards, consolidated financial reporting, intercompany accounting, and foreign currency handling.
• Proven track record leading statutory audits and managing corporate compliance across multiple jurisdictions, including familiarity with Indian Companies Act requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of transfer pricing, international corporate structuring, and multinational operational complexities.
• Experience with implementing or operating major ERP systems such as Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, or Workday.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in dynamic and ambiguous environments while balancing strategic leadership with operational responsibilities.
• Keen interest in applying AI and automation technologies to modernize finance functions.
• Experience establishing regional controllership functions at early stages and supporting accelerated international growth and new entity formation.
• Background in public company finance environments and SOX compliance.
• Knowledge of international payroll, equity compensation, and APAC-specific finance operations.

Company Overview

OpenAI is a research and deployment company focused on artificial intelligence, striving to ensure that general-purpose AI benefits all of humanity. The company pioneers advancements in AI capabilities and aims for safe global deployment through its products. OpenAI emphasizes safety and human-centric design in developing AI technologies, promoting inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences across humanity.

Equal Employment and Other Policies

OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on any legally protected status including race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

The company administers background checks according to applicable laws and considers applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with relevant fairness ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations during recruitment.

OpenAI upholds applicant privacy and encourages responsible reporting of any job posting compliance concerns.

Location and Work Model

This position is located in Singapore and follows a hybrid onsite work arrangement.