Expense Accountant Lead

The Expense Accountant Lead will serve as the point of contact for stakeholders, both internal and external, and collaborate with other coordinators within scope of expertise.   

The lead will oversee compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements and support audits. Contribute to process improvements, optimize accounting systems, and collaborate with geographical cross-functional teams. This includes the oversight of the knowledge transfer from Regional teams to the local team. 

They will oversee the entire process from initiation to completion, including high-level quality assurance, organization, coordination, planning, and ensuring deadlines are met.   

Leadership & Oversight 

• Mentor accounting staff, fostering technical excellence and industry-specific knowledge. And, provide solutions, stay updated through training and professional networks, share knowledge, enhance team expertise, document processes, and drive improvements.  

• Partner with purchasers, GCCB and regionals finance teams to ensure alignment between accounting and business operations. 

• Make decisions at the appropriate level or escalate to managers when necessary, and keep managers informed. 

Key Skills & Attributes 

• Deep understanding of accounting principles and regulatory frameworks. 

• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills, especially for multi-entity and cross-border transactions. 

• Experience with accounting systems and ERP platforms. 

• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-accounting stakeholders. 

Standard of Service Delivery 

• Support and work closely with other global and central accounting teams and actively participate in communities, working in an open and collaborative manner with all accounting professionals and other stakeholders.  

• Build strong expertise and working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the quality of services delivered.  

• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. 

• Assist in quarter-end and year-end closing activities, including accruals and reconciliations. 

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing efficiency and effectiveness within the accounts payable function. 

• Generate reports and provide analysis as needed to support management decision-making and financial reporting requirements. 

• Accounts payable 

• Ensure the process of invoice management, external and internal, is consistent and efficient from reception to payment (incl. check address, VAT and IBAN) 

• Check and process electronic invoices from supplier invoices via Ariba-SAP MM/SAP Cockpit (ReadSoft), with integrated digital approval workflow, including support for internal users 

• Ensure adherence to established procedures for vendor setup. 

• Manage payment proposals and provide input for liquidity planning 

• Ensure timely and accurate reconcilaion of intercompany transactions in alignment with the closing calendar. 

• Justify and clear P2P and bank suspense items 

• Answer Vendor & requestors reminders 

• Review analyses/commentaries for balance sheet and P&L accounts 

• Ensure open items of all accounts are justified 

• Follow the closing operations (Accruals, Deferred charges, etc.) 

• Accounts Receivable 

• Ensure accurate, efficient, and timely management of the customer invoicing process.  

• Ensure the "Mirroring" of Intra-Group  customers invoices with direct bookings of intercompany invoices in Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, using correct VAT codes and reclassification to avoid any intercompany discrepancies. 

• Control internal and external automatic recharges (PAPM) with the various actors (Group Cost Controlling & Budget, Tax department and SAP Support). 

• Take all necessary actions to promptly clear accounts receivable and cash suspense accounts for incoming payments on a daily basis.  

• Act as an interface between the Group's foreign entities and the reporting department concerning the re-invoicing of intragroup recharges (follow up complaints, respond to requests for information). 

• Carry out a quarterly review of unpaid invoices and send the necessary reminders. 

• Ensure Allowances for Doubtful Accounts are properly assessed. 

• Ensure justification of accounts; and outstandings are followed quarterly and customer "aged balance" are justified. 

• Accounting Fixed Assets  

• Manage creation of assets and amortization periods  

• Ensure depreciation is properly accounted for  

• Monitor inventories (assets output)  

• Documentation for internal and external auditors 

• Provide external auditors with necessary information regarding all accounts and business transactions. 

• At least 5 year's experience with accounting principles and methodologies 

• Ability to manage deadlines and prioritize effectively.  

• Proven ability to manage and prioritize a demanding workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment, while maintaining flexibility and assertiveness when needed.  

• Demonstrate experience collaborating in a multicultural environment with teams across diverse geographic locations 

• Proactive communicator with strong oral and written skills, complemented by effective influencing, negotiation, and motivational capabilities.  

• Advanced Excel Skills: Strong capabilities in Microsoft Excel, including the use of complex formulas, pivot tables, etc.,  

• Follows through on commitments and can be counted on to act with integrity. 

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics or accounting