Senior Finance Partner, Japan

Location: Tokyo, Japan Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience. We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints. That's where you come in. As a Senior Finance Partner, Japan on Finance team, you will take a high-impact leadership position serving as the "strategic anchor" for the organization’s operations within the Japanese market. This role functions as the critical nexus between the Japan regional office and Global Finance, ensuring that local market nuances are meticulously integrated into the broader corporate financial framework. By providing rigorous financial oversight and maintaining cross-functional operational continuity, the incumbent safeguards the organization's regional stability while driving global strategic alignment. You will execute a dual-mandate mission. The primary objective is to provide high-level financial stewardship and management accounting expertise for the region. Simultaneously, the role ensures the functional integrity of "Non-Finance" operations—ranging from complex regulatory compliance under the Payment Services Act to HR logistics. This is a role of synthesis, bridging the gap between high-level global strategy and precise local execution. You will report into International VP, Finance on the team. Responsibilities: Strategic Financial: Act as the primary financial contact for Japan, aligning local budgets with global Strategic Planning & Forecasting (SPF) processes. The foundation of fiscal discipline required to navigate the unique challenges of the Japanese gaming and entertainment market. The incumbent must manage resources with a high degree of precision, accounting for both macroeconomic complexities and political volatility to ensure long-term regional health. It includes: 1) Strat Fin & Management Accounting - The Senior Regional Business Partner supports the development of the financial forecasts for Publishing/esports and Enterprise. This involves the end-to-end execution of the annual Strategic Planning & Forecasting (SPF) process, ensuring local initiatives are fiscally grounded and globally aligned. Operational excellence is maintained through a rigorous "Actuals" management process. The incumbent performs code-level verification of all regional spending This process involves detailed variance analysis against the Budget and Prior Year performance, conducted in close partnership with accounting to manage local payment and purchasing workflows; 2) Treasury & Cash Flow Management - Liquidity management is a critical safeguard for regional stability. The Business Partner prepares monthly Cash Flow Forecasts and oversees all intercompany transactions. This includes the management of Accounts Payable (A/P) related to cost allocations and royalties, and Accounts Receivable (A/R) for sponsorship and ticket sales. Administrative duties include the oversight of online banking platforms (Citi Bank, SMBC, and Asia Extended Service/AES) and the strategic management of corporate card providers. 3)Tax, Controllership, & Audit - The role manages partnerships with external experts to maintain compliance and audit readiness. This includes collaborating with Vistra Japan for Transfer Pricing and Cost Plus verification, and PwC Tax Japan  for CbC, Master, and Local File documentation. The incumbent provides essential advisory on contract-related tax matters—specifically withholding tax, consumption tax, and reverse charges—while coordinating tax treaty applications and responding to tax office inquiries. Operational & Regulatory Stewardship: Oversee critical "Non-Fin" support to ensure the regional office complies with Japanese statutory requirements and maintains seamless business continuity. In Japan, regulatory compliance and operational agility are fundamental to business survival. The "Non-Fin Pillar" encompasses the stewardship required to protect the organization’s "license to operate," ensuring all administrative and legal frameworks are robust. It includes 1) Legal & Compliance: Payment Services Act (PSA) The Senior Regional Business Partner serves as the primary internal Point of Contact (POC) for Prepaid Payment Instruments. This is a high-risk area involving escrow-related responsibilities, including the calculation and semiannual deposit of funds with relevant authorities to meet statutory obligations. This work is executed in coordination with external counsel. The incumbent also monitors monetization modifications and ensures that statutory disclosures required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions are accurately reflected in-game and on local websites. 2) HR Operations & Payroll Support The role provides critical financial oversight for HR functions, partnering with HR operations and our external HR partners  Key responsibilities include the finalization of year-end statutory statements, management of social insurance matters, and the calculation of corporate tax deductions related to continued employment and labor matters. 3) Corporate Administration & Office Management In partnership with our workplace experience team, the incumbent manages the organization's corporate profile. This includes the preparation and filing of legal materials for Country Manager changes, office relocations, and other essential corporate updates with Japanese authorities. 4) Insurance, Travel, & Payment Processing The Business Partner manages the annual insurance portfolio to mitigate corporate risk, including:Accident Insurance: Fire, Liability, and Travel Insurance: To support revenue growth, the role supports the implementation of regulatory-compliant payment methods through our local partnerships. These diverse operational duties are synchronized through a disciplined communication rhythm that connects local execution to global leadership. Regulatory Risk & Audit Defense: Manage high-stakes relationships with external tax, legal, and audit partners to mitigate risk and defend the organization’s fiscal standing. Cross-Functional Governance: Serve as the central point of synchronization for regional budget owners and global finance leadership, ensuring transparency and accountability. Success in this role requires a disciplined communication rhythm to synchronize local operations with global finance leadership. The Senior Finance Partner maintains the following recurring governance schedule to address variances and align on strategic pivots. Required Qualifications: Bilingual Mastery: Native-level Japanese and fluent English are required Advanced FP&A & Controllership: Proven expertise in Strategic FP&A and Management Accounting Tax & Treasury knowledge: Solid foundation in Corporate Tax (consumption, withholding, transfer pricing), Treasury management, and the coordination of tax treaties. Regulatory Expertise: Strong familiarity with the Japanese Payment Services Act (including escrow/deposit requirements) and the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions. HR & Labor Compliance: Understanding of social insurance, labor matters, and year-end statutory reporting Expert Vendor Management: Proven ability to lead high-value relationships with external counsel (TMI Associates) and professional service firms (PwC, Vistra, Grant Thornton). Stakeholder communication: High agility in navigating a complex environment involving Legal, HR, IT, Esports, and Publishing teams. For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes your fellow Rioters, who are the customers of your work. Being a dedicated fan of games is not necessary for this position!