Local Operations & Compliance
Operational support for companies running a business in Southeast Asia. We provide interim management, compliance, payroll, and administration, so your operation runs correctly after launch.
Interim Management
We provide experienced interim managers for operations in Southeast Asia. Our partners take on roles such as country manager, CFO, COO, or operations lead, and run them until a permanent solution is in place.
Typical situations include leadership gaps, transitions, and growth phases where the current team needs reinforcement. Our partners have held these roles in the region, in industry and in interim mandates. When you engage us, one of the partners takes the role. You know who you are getting before we start, and that person has done the job before.
The assignment ends with a working handover. We help recruit or train the permanent person, and we stay until the role runs without us.
How we can help
Interim Management
One of our partners placed in your operation as interim manager, engaged monthly.
How we work
We agree on the role, the decision rights, and what a finished assignment looks like before we start. A partner then takes the role on the ground, usually within weeks. We run the operation day to day and report to you on a rhythm that suits you. Toward the end we help recruit or train the permanent person and stay until the handover holds.
What you get
A senior person in the seat quickly, while the search for a permanent hire runs. If you want, we run that search too. When we leave, the role works without us.
Who this is for
Companies with an operation in Southeast Asia that face a leadership gap, a transition, or a growth phase where the current team needs reinforcement.
Common questions (FAQ)
Company Setup & Licensing
We set up your legal presence in Southeast Asia and handle the licences, permits, and registrations around it. One point of contact from the structure decision to a company that is ready to operate.
The setup covers what a new operation needs. The entity itself, the operating licences, the bank account, the registered address, and work permits and visas for your foreign employees. Where the law requires a resident director, we provide one. Trademark and IP registration can be included from the start.
The legal filings are done by selected law firms. We manage the whole process, so you deal with us and the work gets done.
How we can help
Legal Entity Setup (LLC)
Incorporation of a wholly owned company, with licences and registrations included.
Representative Office Setup
A local presence for market research and sourcing, without trading rights.
Business Licence / Sub-licence
Application and approval for a specific operating licence.
Visa & Work Permit Processing
Work permits and visas for your foreign employees, handled end to end.
Local Director / Nominee Service
A resident director where the law requires one.
Bank Account Opening Support
We manage the corporate bank account application with the bank.
Trademark / IP Registration
Registration of your trademark and IP in your markets.
How we work
We start with the structure decision, based on your business model and what you plan to do in the market. Selected law firms handle the filings while we coordinate the lawyers, the documents, and the licences. In parallel we arrange the practical setup, including the address, the bank account, and the registrations. Most clients ask us to stay on and let us run the administration once the company is live.
What you get
A licensed company ready to operate, with bank account, registered address, and all registrations in place. One point of contact through the whole process. After setup, we hand over or continue with the ongoing administration.
Who this is for
Companies setting up their first entity in Southeast Asia, and companies that need a licence, permit, or registration handled in a market where they already operate.
Accounting, Payroll & Compliance
We run the administration of your Southeast Asia operation. Payroll, accounting, tax, and compliance, handled monthly by one team that knows your setup.
The service covers monthly payroll and statutory filings, bookkeeping and management accounts, tax preparation and filing, and coordination of the annual audit with the external auditor. For companies without their own entity, we can employ your staff through ours.
The work runs together with selected local accounting firms. We manage the process and stay your single point of contact. We also keep your compliance current. Licences, registrations, and filings are updated as rules change and as your business grows. When authorities have questions, you have a partner who already knows your setup.
How we can help
Payroll Processing
Monthly payroll, payslips, and statutory filings for your local team.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Monthly bookkeeping and management accounts you can rely on.
Tax Compliance & Filing
VAT, corporate, and personal income tax prepared and filed on time.
Annual Audit Coordination
We manage the statutory audit with the external auditor for you.
Company Secretary / Governance
Statutory registers, filings, and governance kept in order.
Employer of Record / PEO
We employ your staff through our local entity, so you can build a team without setting up your own.
Virtual Office / Registered Address
A registered address with mail handling.
HR Setup & Policy Localization
Compliant HR policies, contracts, and a local employee handbook.
Contract Drafting & Localization
Commercial contracts drafted or adapted to local law and practice.
Controller-as-a-Service
An outsourced controller function with monthly reporting to your headquarters.
How we work
We begin with a review of your current setup. From there the work runs on a monthly schedule, with payroll, filings, and accounts delivered without reminders from you. We follow the regulatory developments in your markets and update your documentation and registrations when something changes. Periodic reviews confirm that the setup still holds.
What you get
Monthly payroll, statutory filings, bookkeeping, and tax delivered on schedule. Compliance kept current as regulations change. One team that knows your setup and handles questions from authorities when they come.
Who this is for
Companies with an entity and staff in Southeast Asia that want the administration handled by one team, and companies that want local employees before setting up their own entity.
Common questions (FAQ)
Recruitment
We recruit the managers who run your Southeast Asia operation. Country managers, operations and supply chain managers, and finance leads, found through a proactive search in our own network.
The best candidates already have jobs, and reaching them takes a direct approach and a credible story about the role. We approach people through our network in the region, meet every candidate in person, and look at motivation as much as skill.
You receive a shortlist with our honest view of each person, including our doubts. We support the offer negotiation, the reference checks, and the employment setup with contracts and payroll registration.
How we can help
Recruitment / Talent Search
A proactive search through our network, with screening, interviews, and a shortlist with our honest view of each candidate.
How we work
We define the role and the compensation range together with you. We then approach and screen candidates directly, run structured interviews, and present a shortlist with our assessment of each person. You review the finalists, and we support the process through offer, references, and employment setup. For the full method, see Local Team Recruitment under Market Entry & Expansion.
What you get
A shortlist of people who were right for the role rather than just available. An honest assessment of each candidate, including our doubts. Support through offer, references, and employment setup.
Client case
See how we support local operations in practice
Explore real client cases covering compliance, interim leadership, and operational support across Southeast Asia.
Ready to Optimize Your Operations?
Let's discuss how we can help streamline your business processes and maintain operational excellence.