Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Main point of contact for R2R in Americas (NAM & LAM) to external and internal stakeholders (e.g. PwC)
• Drive accounting processes standardization and optimization in close alignment with all relevant areas, providing transparency of as-is and to be accounting processes flow.
• Advise and coordination across Americas of all projects and initiatives on related subjects.

Key Responsibilities:

People Management

• Take a key leadership role in the day-to-day management of accounting teams (regional and countries) including planning, recruiting, managing, training and developing of team resources.
• Define performance targets and monitor employee performance. Ensure that the annual performance assessment process is carried out.
• Ensure team members meet and/or exceed business unit (BU) customer service expectations for financial accounting services.

Partnership with Global and Finance Teams

• Work with the finance teams to ensure all deadlines and deliverables are achieved including reporting requirements for teams and coordination with Group Accounting.
• Coordinate with Global Shared Service (Chennai mainly) teams to ensure entries booked impacting local results are booked properly.
• Review reconciliations performed Global Shared Service (Chennai mainly) teams to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Organize the team to deliver accounting services in accordance with these requirements, focusing on customer service, quality of reporting, consistently producing reliable information, holding regular meetings and publishing KPI’s.
• Manage and resolve any strategic service issues.

Accounting and Reporting

• Manage and control accounting systems used for legal entity (or divisional) accounting and financial reporting.
• Ensure that a closing procedure is in place, the month end close is in line with the company’s reporting calendar and that all journal entries and adjustments are explained and documented.
• Implement procedures and processes to ensure that an appropriate level of quality control and management review is in place and that the published financial reports are accurate.
• Oversee and manage the analysis of the balance sheet accounts and that such accounts are reconciled timely to underlying supporting documentation.
• Monitor and reconcile the local books of record with the parent company financial statements, noting any reporting differences.
• Liaise with external auditors on local audits.  Liaise with Group Internal Audit on local audits.
• Provide technical direction of accounting and financial reporting in accordance with Company policies, IAS / IFRS and local statutory policies to ensure full compliance across the region.

Business Compliance (Controls)

• Maintain and enhance internal control framework to guarantee secure information quality, compliance, and diligent reporting to external and internal stakeholders.
• Sponsor and implement the measures necessary to oversee internal control risks, clearly communicating controls to the team and take any remedial action or adjust such controls as required.

Project Management / Other

• Drive continuous improvements with regards to accounting processes to achieve a best-in-class finance function and bolster service levels.
• Support local and global teams on financial system integration projects and leading the Accounting team’s involvement in such projects.
• Hold a holistic view to connect experts cross functionally.

Key Relationships: 

• adidas Group employees
• External and internal auditors
• Other Finance departments (e.g. Tax, FP&A, DP, ICPP, etc)
• Global Shared Service
• Group Accounting
• Functional Areas

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Solid experience from accounting and IFRS, both theoretical and practical knowledge
• Strong analytical skills. 
• Good communication skills. 
• Strong computer skills. SAP knowledge a plus. 
• Must be able to develop staff and balance multiple priorities.
• Be a leader who inspire and influence.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• 10+ years experience in accounting.
• Fluent in Spanish and English