Financial Accountant

Our client, a leading Marketing and Distribution Company, is seeking to onboard a Financial Accountant on a three months contract role.

Job Purpose:
To assist with the preparation and review of financial statements and associated reports and analyses which support sound decision-making and adherence to financial reporting, tax and other applicable regulations, while ensuring that the needs of internal and external stakeholders of the Company are adequately met.

Major Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Financial Statement Preparation and Reporting
• Preparation of monthly management accounts in agreed format for review by the Financial Controller, and circulation to Executive Management by the 2nd working day.
• Preparation of variance analyses providing explanations for both income statement and balance sheet, analytical reviews and reconciliations of income statement and balance sheet accounts for inclusion in monthly reporting to the Executive by the 2nd working day.
• Detailed review of expenses prior to close-off to enable a quicker turnaround of month-end reports
• Daily posting of journals, cash receipts, AP etc. to facilitate preparation of the financials by the 2nd working day.
• Ensures all Intercompany accounts are reconciled, adjusting entries passed and agreed with fellow subsidiaries prior to monthly close off.
• Preparation and Review of Account Reconciliations
• Assists in review and preparation of all balance sheet reconciliations to ensure reasonableness, completeness and accuracy of reported values, as well as ensuring adjusting entries are accurately prepared and posted in the general ledger by stipulated due dates monthly or quarterly.
• Assists in review and preparation all bank reconciliations monthly by the 6th working day of the following month and follow up to ensure that reconciling items are cleared in no more than one month
• Assist with Treasury Management
• Preparation of weekly Cash flow forecasts, keeping track of all relevant inflows and outflows for review by the Financial Controller.
• Ensure decisions following the weekly Cash flow review, are effected timely to be able to meet all its financial obligations to creditors, lending agencies, shareholders, inter-company etc. and, any decision regarding surplus cash is effected for all currencies.
• Maintain the debt schedule for all debt, ensuring agreement to the general ledger and review of the calculation of interest expense and accrued interest ensuring accurate
• Daily preparation of online or hard copy bank transfers, cheques and ACH payment in a timely manner.
• Assist with the Preparation and Coordination of External Audits
• Assist with the management of all tax-related audits (VAT or BIR)
• Supports the management of Annual Statutory Audits (interim and final), to ensure timely resolution of all audit-related matters, escalating to the FC as necessary
• Assist with the preparation of Financial Year End Audit schedules and files
• Responsible for bank and loan confirmations for external audit purposes
• Assists with the preparation of IFRS compliant Financial Statements with explanatory notes for year-end statutory audits and related reporting
• Assist in the preparation of IFRS 9 & 16 computation by deadline date
• Assist with the Preparation and Coordination of Internal Audits
• Ensures that financial records, reconciliations and supporting schedules are up to date, accurate and easily accessible before audit reviews
• Act as the primary liaison between the Finance Department and the Internal Audit team.
• Assists Management with updating of company policies, internal controls and process documents, to close control gaps identified by Internal Auditors
• Support training of finance team members on revised controls or procedures
• Tax Preparation and Statutory Compliance
• Preparation of bi-monthly VAT returns and supporting schedules, ensuring VAT accurately calculated and relevant submitted to the revenue and paid on time
• Calculation of quarterly Corporation tax and Green Fund levy remittances and preparation of related payments to statutory bodies by the due date
• Supports the Preparation of the Annual Budget
• Assists with relevant analysis and preparation of the annual Operating Budget by the due date.
• Supervise, direct and review the work of direct reports within the team to ensure the following:
• Periodic staff performance appraisals as required by the Company;
• Making recommendations for training/improvement opportunities for direct reports;
• Making recommendations for promotion of direct reports
• Performs other duties that may be required to enhance the operations of the Company.

Knowledge and Experience:

• ACCA or similar accounting qualification
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a similar role
• Experience with integrated Accounting software package(s)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

Key Competencies:

• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong organisation and administrative skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to direct the work of others, lead and motivate direct reports and support the professional development of team members
• Must be flexible, honest and reliable

Relationships:

• Works closely with staff in Finance, Sales, Warehouse, Operations
• Accountable to Executive and Senior Management for provision of information and resolution of queries
• Interacts regularly with Banking Institutions and Group Companies

Key Performance Indicators:

• Customer Service
• Query resolution
• Reconciliations
• Reporting
• Quality of Work (accuracy, timeliness)

Job Ref: RM