Head of Accounting

Key Accountabilities
• Responsible for the coordination and review of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting for the country entities
• Manage preparation of Statutory Accounts and tax returns for all entities. Target is for all to be completed on time.
• Lead the annual statutory audit work to ensure it is completed within agreed timelines
• Responsible for accounting related internal controls. Proactively monitor, design and implement effective internal controls. Working with management, operations and accounting teams on implementing the changes.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the country / cluster leadership and other country functions
• Provide support to investigate and resolve accounting issues for all entities
• Ensure balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly in line with the group policy
• Accountable for ensuring compliance with IM group accounting policies, US GAAP and SOX. Responsible for country approval and cluster certification of SOX (or SOX-Lite) controls for Country entities with a goal of maintaining the same effectiveness, not lower than the average of EMEA countries.
• Ensure finance systems optimisation and continuous improvement. Proactively contribute to the development and implementation of the Finance Systems strategy within the framework of the IM global financial systems strategy.
• Accounting support of Cluster’s M&A activities, due diligence and post-acquisition integration projects relating to financial reporting aspects, lead the set-up of reporting for newly acquired entities.
• Manage a team across the Country entities for all aspects of their performance management.
• Drive the effective operation of accounting shared services in the country. Identify any issues and manage resolution. Lead any additional transition to the outsourcing companies or system implementation
• Ownership of P2P activities as part of the accounting function
• Revenue recognition: monitoring for risk around significant new or complex arrangements, closely working with global SME
• Support capital lease and real estate area, monitor significant or complex transactions and work closely with global SME
• Responsible for building and maintaining relationships with both internal and external key stakeholders (see below)

Qualifications:
• Chartered Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA or local equivalent)

Experience/Skills
• Approximately 15 years of post-graduation experience
• Managing the accounting function of a subsidiary of a large multinational corporation
• Strong understanding of local GAAPs
• Good understanding of US GAAP
• Presence of character to command respect and build working relationships at all levels
• Experienced in preparing Statutory Accounts
• Good understanding of Taxation (particularly VAT)
• Experience in implementing/improving financial processes
• Management experience including managing employees
• Exposure to SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley)
• Experience working within a matrix organisation
• Proactive self-starter with proven problem solving skill set
• Experience of working in a shared service environment
• Excellent communicator with team building skills
• Independent, proactive and inspires to challenge the status quo