Finance Manager, China

You can find Arclin everywhere. Our technologies make homes and transportation safer, help crops flourish, keep water clean, protect first responders and members of the military, and preserve the purity of essential pharmaceuticals. These vital, everyday products can't fail, and we’re here to give the world an extra layer of performance and peace of mind. With ~4,000 team members across more than 30 global manufacturing facilities, we operate with the scale to make a global impact and the agility to solve complex challenges at the molecular level. Rooted in scientific discovery and innovation, Arclin’s materials redefine performance across industries
- from Firepoint®’s patented intumescent technology that helps stall flames and save lives to the iconic Kevlar® and Nomex® brands trusted to protect those who serve, strengthen aerospace and industrial systems, and perform where reliability and safety are top of mind. As we expand our mission‑critical materials portfolio and shape the next era of performance technologies, we’re looking for people who want to grow, lead, and solve the challenges others can’t. Together, we’ll advance the innovations that keep the world moving. Because at Arclin, our people are truly Vital Beyond Measure. Arclin is building a dedicated finance organization in Asia as it exits DuPont transition services following its acquisition of the Aramids business. SAP S/4HANA goes live on 1 March 2027, and DuPont transition services end on 1 May 2027. The Finance Manager, China will be the single accountable owner for all financial, tax, and statutory reporting requirements of Arrow Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned trading enterprise in the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, and its Shenzhen Branch. This is a hands-on role for someone with deep knowledge of Chinese tax, statutory accounting, and regulatory requirements, who will be Arclin’s primary finance contact with tax bureaus, regulators, banks, auditors, and advisors in China. Because finance and tax compliance in China directly affects the ability to invoice customers and transact business, the role is critical to day-to-day commercial operations. Arclin runs one global finance organization. Global shared services in Alpharetta, Georgia handle transactional work such as accounts payable, cash application, payroll, treasury execution, and consolidation; this role supports those processes only where a local presence is required. The role sits within the APEJ Finance team, helps shape the APAC Finance operating model, and may support other Arclin APAC entities as that model evolves. Key Accountabilities The Finance Manager remains accountable for the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all work for the in-scope entities, including work performed by shared services or external providers. Corporate Tax and Treasury set policy and provide specialist support, but do not replace local ownership of the legal entities and their relationships with Chinese authorities. 1. Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Own the month-, quarter-, and year-end close within the global close calendar and BlackLine, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, fixed assets, inventory (including physical count oversight), and close readiness in line with Arclin GL policies and cut-off rules.
• Maintain statutory books under China Accounting Standards (CAS) and deliver US GAAP reporting packages to group consolidation, with a documented CAS-to-US GAAP reconciliation.
• Manage intercompany transactions and settlements, validate balances before each close, and resolve mismatches with counterpart entities.
• Act as local finance business partner to China commercial and operations leaders, and provide local support to customer service, credit, and procurement where a local presence is required, including e-fapiao exceptions, vendor fapiao verification, credit reviews, and local customer and vendor documentation. 2. Tax Compliance and Tax Authority Management
• Own all PRC tax compliance, including VAT, Corporate Income Tax, Individual Income Tax withholding, stamp duty, surcharges, and withholding tax on cross-border payments, in coordination with Arclin Global Tax and external advisors.
• Manage the digitized e-fapiao process and Golden Tax System integration, keep contracts, invoices, fund flows, customs, and logistics records consistent, and forecast and secure e-fapiao quota increases so customer invoicing is never interrupted.
• Serve as the company’s single point of contact with the tax bureaus: respond to inquiries and risk alerts, lead tax audits and inspections, and protect the entities’ tax credit rating.
• Maintain transfer pricing and related-party documentation, including annual related-party reporting forms and, where required, the Local File. 3. Statutory and Regulatory Compliance
• Own the annual statutory compliance calendar, including the statutory audit, CIT annual reconciliation, annual inspection, and all other registrations, filings, and government submissions.
• Lead the annual statutory audit with the local audit firm and prepare audit-ready financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with SAMR, SAFE, customs, social insurance, and housing fund requirements, and serve as the entities’ registered finance responsible person.
• Own the finance side of customs and trade compliance, including import duties and import VAT, in coordination with Global Trade and customs brokers.
• Support entity rationalization, including registration or deregistration of branches and dormant entities.
• Monitor changes in PRC tax and regulatory requirements, assess their impact, update local processes, and brief Arclin leadership proactively. 4. Treasury and Cash
• Manage local banking, payments, cash forecasting, and foreign exchange compliance in coordination with Arclin Treasury, including bank account transitions, KYC, and serving as a personal authorized bank signatory.
• Lead the repatriation of excess cash to the group, including dividends, intercompany settlements, and the related tax, bank, and SAFE documentation, so cash does not become trapped in China.
• Maintain controlled custody of company chops, seals, and banking and tax UKeys. 5. Controls, Systems, and Transition
• Design and operate internal controls for the entities, including segregation of duties, journal entry review, and delegation of authority, in line with Arclin policies.
• Serve as China finance lead for the DuPont TSA exit and the SAP S/4HANA implementation, ensuring every China finance, tax, and statutory activity has an Arclin owner before TSA exit, and act as China key user after go-live.
• Document local processes, drive process improvement and automation, and contribute to regional finance projects. Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field.
• 8+ years of accounting, tax, and statutory reporting experience in China, including 3+ years as a manager or entity finance lead at a foreign-invested enterprise or multinational subsidiary.
• Strong, current knowledge of CAS, VAT, CIT, IIT, e-fapiao, Golden Tax Phase IV, SAFE, and the annual statutory compliance cycle, with hands-on ownership of statutory audits, tax filings, and tax bureau interactions.
• Working knowledge of US GAAP (or IFRS) and experience reporting to an overseas parent.
• Hands-on experience with SAP (S/4HANA preferred) and local tax and e-invoicing platforms.
• Native-level Mandarin, including formal written Chinese, and professional fluency in written and spoken English.
• Based in mainland China (Shanghai preferred) with the right to work there; willing to serve as an authorized bank signatory and complete related KYC requirements. Preferred Qualifications
• Existing relationships with tax bureaus and regulators in Shanghai and/or Shenzhen.
• CICPA or Chinese Certified Tax Agent; ACCA, US CPA, or CMA also valued. Big Four audit or tax experience.
• Experience with carve-outs, TSA exits, ERP implementations, transfer pricing, or customs compliance.
• Experience in chemicals, advanced materials, or industrial businesses. Japanese language skills are a plus. Key Competencies
• Ownership and integrity: treats compliance as non-negotiable and escalates risks early.
• Self-direction: works independently with remote global leadership.
• Relationship building: earns credibility with regulators, auditors, and business partners.
• Process mindset and communication: builds documented, audit-ready processes and explains complex Chinese requirements simply.
• Commercial awareness: acts early to prevent compliance issues from disrupting customers. Success Measures (First 12 Months)
• All tax and statutory deadlines met with no penalties, and a strong tax credit rating maintained.
• Within 90 days, all tax bureau communications, e-fapiao quota management, and statutory filings taken over from interim owners.
• FY2026 statutory audit, CIT reconciliation, and annual inspection completed on time, with accurate monthly reporting to group.
• TSA exit and S/4HANA go-live completed with no disruption to invoicing, payments, or compliance.
• Documented local control framework in place, and a cash repatriation plan agreed with Treasury and Tax.