Cambodia Investment Review
In a bold departure from conventional HR recruitment, Chokchey Finance PLC is searching for a strategic partner to revolutionize its human resources function. The position? Head of HR Department. But don’t let the title fool you — this is anything but a traditional administrative role.
Beyond Payroll and Attendance: A Call for Strategists
“We’re not hiring a manager. We’re hiring a strategist,” declares the company’s job posting, which has been circulating among headhunters across Southeast Asia. After 12 years of steady growth in Cambodia’s competitive financial sector, Chokchey Finance is preparing for its next chapter — and it needs an HR leader who can help write it.
What makes this opportunity unusual is its explicit rejection of the conventional HR playbook. The company isn’t looking for someone to maintain the status quo. Instead, it seeks a “Change Agent” who will work directly alongside the CEO as a core business partner.
Three Missions for a New Kind of HR Leader
The role is defined by three distinct missions:
- First, the Aggressive Talent Hunter. Forget posting job ads and waiting. Chokchey wants someone who will actively poach top performers from competitors and even cross-industries — hotels, IT startups, anywhere exceptional talent exists.
- Second, the Culture Architect and Psychologist. The ideal candidate must possess the psychological insight to understand hidden team dynamics, resolve unspoken conflicts, and transform organizational pain points into productive energy.
- Third, the Data-Driven Strategist. Intuition alone won’t cut it. The company demands HR strategies backed by metrics — turnover rates, productivity data, and employee satisfaction scores that prove real impact.
Who Should Apply? Perhaps Not Who You’d Expect
In another unconventional move, Chokchey explicitly states that financial sector experience is not required. The company welcomes candidates from hospitality, recruitment agencies, IT startups, and other industries — anyone with fresh perspectives and the courage to challenge norms.
“We look at ‘Impact’ over ‘Spec,'” the posting emphasizes, prioritizing curiosity, grit, and cultural intelligence over traditional qualifications.
Strong English proficiency is essential for deep communication with the Korean CEO, though Korean language skills are a plus rather than a requirement.
The Promise: Growth, Empowerment, and a Path to the C-Suite
For the right candidate, Chokchey offers a compelling package: competitive compensation, significant decision-making authority, and perhaps most notably, direct 1-on-1 mentorship from a CEO with over a decade of expertise.
“This is not a support role,” the company states plainly. “You will be a core partner driving business performance.”
The first 90 days are carefully mapped: observation in month one, diagnosis and quick wins in month two, and full-scale execution of talent acquisition and culture innovation campaigns by month three.
A Challenge Worth Taking?
As Cambodia’s microfinance sector continues to mature, the demand for sophisticated HR leadership is growing. Chokchey Finance’s unconventional approach may signal a broader shift in how regional financial institutions think about human capital.
For ambitious HR professionals seeking more than a desk job, the message is clear: Chokchey Finance isn’t offering a position — it’s offering a partnership.
Interested candidates may apply directly to: gil.park@chokchey.com.kh
