Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Provide transparency on legal entity reporting across EM.
• Main point of contact for Accounting in EM to external and internal stakeholders.
• 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 EM and Global (as needed) of all projects and initiatives on related subjects.
• FP&A and Head Office support.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting and Reporting

• Manage the consolidated view of the Legal Entity P&L, Cashflow, Operating Working Capital (OWC), DSO, and other relevant KPI’s for EM.
• 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.
• Drive best practices across EM on topics relating to Accounting, Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, Tax and Treasury.
• Drive accounting processes standardization and optimization in close alignment with all relevant areas, providing transparency of as-is and to be accounting processes flow.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Work with the EM and Global finance teams to ensure all deadlines and deliverables are achieved including reporting requirements for teams and coordination with Group Accounting.
• Review Liquidity plans across EM and escalate red flags to EM FD.
• Support EM FD and FP&A in driving performance in achieving cash flow targets and roll out “cash-flow improving” initiatives as needed across EM.

Partnership with Global Business Services (GBS) and EM Finance Teams

• Coordinate with GBS teams and EM Finance teams (as needed) to drive change management relating to GBS related transitions.
• Review reconciliations performed by GBS teams to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Monitor performance and service levels of GBS in accordance with set KPIs/requirements focusing on “internal” customer service, quality of reporting, production of reliable information, etc.
• Support EM FD to manage and resolve any strategic level GBS related service issues
• Monitor GBS costs to ensure efficiency is achieved with transitions and also support EM finance teams with budgeting and forecasting topics relating to GBS.
• Work with Internal Control (IC) teams to address any internal control risks, clearly communicating controls to the team and support to take any remedial action or adjust such controls as required.

FP&A Support

• Support and execute Operating Working Capital (OWC) analysis (ageing of receivables, overdue receivables & inventory, non-current stock, clearance, accounts payable) for making better business decisions by actively collaborating with business partners and EM countries.
• Provide support to EM Hub team and clusters to better understand and analyse Cost of Sales Variances to ensure improved forecast accuracy.
• Support EM Hub FP&A team with ad hoc tasks and projects.

Head Office Support

• Support the wider Finance team in driving the key Finance Priorities across clusters/ countries and functions for EM.
• Simplify and operationalize the EM Leadership team processes and calendars, supporting the Finance VP with key executive management presentations and visits, driving SLT decisions and actions/follow ups.
• Ensure contributions made to Townhalls, Board Meetings, etc. (in cooperation with other relevant functions).
• Assist with preparation of Finance meetings & workshop formats (topics, document & follow up decisions, bring in external parties, etc.)
• Ensure team and stakeholder awareness of the purpose and deliverables at various EM milestones, driving accountability and faster decision-making via meeting management and deliverables tracking
• Prepare relevant documentation to ensure the VP Finance is prepared for all relevant interactions and executive management formats.
• Facilitate sharing of best practices, team upskilling sessions or improvement ideas.
• Set up and implement smart tools and solutions (e.g. sharepoint, smartsheet, etc.) as well as consistent templates in line with global templates and best practices
• Support communication of a consistent narrative on the EM Strategic plan through the organization
• Provide (ad-hoc) support to VP EM Commercial and SLT on a variety of business topics

Project Management / Other

• Support local and global teams on financial system integration projects and leading the Accounting/Finance teams’ involvement in such projects.
• Drive continuous improvements with regards to accounting processes to achieve a best-in-class finance function and bolster service levels.
• Any other Corporate Finance topics that EM FD may need support that’s not covered by other EM functions.

Key Relationships: 

• VP Finance, EM
• Senior Director Financial Planning & Analysis, EM
• Director Financial Planning & Analysis, EM
• Director ICPP
• Senior Director NTP
• EM & Cluster Finance Teams (Accounting, FP&A, Tax, DP, ICPP, NTP, etc)
• Global Finance Teams
• Other EM Functional Areas
• Other Group Functional Area

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Solid experience from accounting and IFRS, both theoretical and practical knowledge
• Strong analytical skills. 
• Good communication skills. 
• Team player and strong collaborator
• Strong excel skills.
• High Attention to detail
• Business understanding of processes and structure.
• Independent handling of a variety of tasks with different levels of complexity by developing effective plans and organizing work efficiently.
• Ability to accept and meet deadlines
• Ability to maneuver in consistently changing environment.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Chartered Accountant preferred.
• 5+ years experience in accounting.