Elaine Tan
Singapore
Summary
Senior Finance Leader with 20+ years of experience spanning finance business partnering, FP&A, controlling, project management, M&A integration, and finance transformation across multinational environments. Recognized as a trusted advisor to business leaders, delivering strategic insights that influence commercial outcomes and drive both top-line and bottom-line performance. Strong track record in leading cross-functional teams, optimizing processes, implementing ERP systems, and driving large-scale transformation across Asia Pacific.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project - Performance Change Manager
Schneider Electric South East Asia (HQ) Pte Ltd
01.2021 - Current
- Lead behavioural and process change deployments across East Asia, Japan, Pacific, and Italy, ensuring consistent adoption of new ways of working across diverse markets.
- Spearheaded the Adoption Governance framework for the team, setting standards, tracking adoption readiness, and reinforcing accountability across countries.
- Demonstrate strong stakeholder influence, communication clarity, and cross-cultural collaboration, enabling smooth transitions and minimising resistance.
- Translate complex transformation programmes into clear, actionable steps tailored to local business needs and operational realities.
- Build high levels of trust and credibility, resulting in business teams frequently approaching me as a consultant for guidance on process issues, best practices, and decision support.
- Apply structured change methodologies to assess impacts, mitigate risks, and drive timely and sustainable adoption.
- Foster engagement by articulating the “why” behind changes, reinforcing desired behaviours, and embedding new practices into daily operations.
- Demonstrate resilience, empathy, and adaptability, enabling constructive challenge and alignment even in ambiguous or high-pressure environments.
Service Controller
Schneider Electric Singapore Pte Ltd
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Act as a finance business partner supporting selling, execution, forecasting, month-end and reporting activities with accuracy and integrity.
- Ensure financial transparency by maintaining up-to-date project financials in ERP systems that reflect actual project status.
- Partner with local, regional, and global project teams to provide data stewardship, financial analysis, metrics, reporting, and compliance support.
- Provide financial guidance to Project Managers, including commercial documentation, forex (hedging), tax, and trade compliance, leveraging broader finance networks as needed.
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, project accounting, and performance tracking from kick-off to close-out.
- Analyze performance trends and deviations, recommend corrective actions, and support mitigation and prevention plans.
- Challenge PMs constructively to improve outcomes, protect margins, and optimize cost and revenue levers.
- Lead and participate in monthly project reviews, clearly communicating issues, actions, and contributing to accurate forecasting.
- Deliver monthly reporting, variance analysis, and ad-hoc financial insights at project and business-unit levels.
- Ensure compliance with IFRS, internal policies, and standardized business/system processes.
- Collaborate and network with controllers and finance partners to address risks, resolve issues, and ensure consistent best practices.
Finance Business Partner
Schneider Electric IT Singapore Pte Ltd
01.2007 - 01.2019
- Served as trusted advisor for IT business unit across Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei.
- Achieved +1.5% YoY revenue growth in 2020 (EUR 62M, 23.3% of cluster revenue).
- Implemented Oracle ERP across Asia Pacific (2010).
- Key contributor to transforming representative office into regional logistics hub.
- Led business carve-out (2009) and M&A integration of cooling distributor (2011).
- Pioneer in SSC transition with full training, SOP development, and process redesign.
- Managed quarterly revenue cycles, budgeting, forecasting, and statutory compliance.
- Turned around cost-overrun project, improving margin from 21% to 25%.
- Reduced DSO from 160 to 60 days via targeted credit strategies.
Finance Manager
MediaRing Ltd
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Led a team of 7–8, managing monthly closing, statutory reporting, and governance.
- Strengthened internal controls and executed end-to-end financial operations.
Credit Collections Manager
Datapool Pte Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Supervised collection teams, negotiated payment plans, and enhanced collection procedures.
Accountant / Assistant Manager
StarHub Ltd
01.2000 - 01.2003
- Managed interconnection settlements, reporting and collaborated on pricing negotiations.
Audit Senior / Audit Assistant
Ernst & Young
01.1995 - 01.1999
- Conducted audits across multiple industries, assessed controls, and prepared financial statements.
Education
Master of Finance -
Nanyang Technological University
01-1998
BA (Hons) Accountancy - undefined
Lancaster University
01-1994
GCE A Levels - undefined
Raffles Junior College
01-1992
Skills
- Oracle, SAP, Hyperion, Essbase
- Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Problem Solving, Active Listening, Interpersonal Communication
Certification
- Cybersecurity
- New & Smarter Ways of Working
- Time Management for Managers
AWARDS
'Act Like Business Owner' Award (2019)
CORE COMPETENCIES
Change & Transformation Leadership – Behavioural Change • Adoption Governance • Stakeholder Influence • Communication Strategy • Cross‑Cultural Deployment
Finance Business Partnering – Decision Support • Performance Management • Pipeline & Margin Analysis
Project & Service Controlling – Forecasting • Budgeting • Project Accounting • IFRS Compliance • Variance Analysis
Business Transformation – Shared Service Migration • Process Harmonisation • Operating Model Changes
Commercial & Risk Governance – Contract & Commercial Review • Forex/Hedging • Trade & Tax Compliance
Data, Systems & Reporting – ERP (Oracle, SAP) • Hyperion • Essbase • KPI Frameworks • Financial Transparency
Leadership & Collaboration – Coaching • Influencing Without Authority • Multi‑country Stakeholder Management
Problem Solving & Advisory – Trusted Consultant for Business Teams • Issue Resolution • Mitigation Planning
Timeline
Project - Performance Change Manager
Schneider Electric South East Asia (HQ) Pte Ltd
01.2021 - Current
Service Controller
Schneider Electric Singapore Pte Ltd
01.2019 - 01.2021
Finance Business Partner
Schneider Electric IT Singapore Pte Ltd
01.2007 - 01.2019
Finance Manager
MediaRing Ltd
01.2004 - 01.2007
Credit Collections Manager
Datapool Pte Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2004
Accountant / Assistant Manager
StarHub Ltd
01.2000 - 01.2003
Audit Senior / Audit Assistant
Ernst & Young
01.1995 - 01.1999
BA (Hons) Accountancy - undefined
Lancaster University
GCE A Levels - undefined
Raffles Junior College
Master of Finance -
Nanyang Technological University