Accounting Manager

North American Accounting Team Manager

This position will lead a Center of Excellence (CoE) on the North American Accounting Team made up US and Canadian Accountants. Reporting to the Director of Accounting, North America, this key leadership position within accounting will help develop,strategize, and implement the vision for their team.

The manager of this team will be responsible for coordinating the timely and accurate execution of 's financial close. The team is involved in accruals and supporting the accounting and analysis of the operations. This individual will also play a key role in the company's transformation by using SAP S/4HANA to help guide us through general compliance with US GAAP, flawless execution of the company's internal controls, and assistance in maintaining the company's accounting policies and related procedural documents. Areas of focus / emphasis may include:

• Reviewing journal entries and account reconciliations in significant areas across several North American legal entities.
• Ensuring that reconciling items are identified and resolved on a timely basis.
• Coordinating accounting and controls work and related deliverables with internal/external audit and the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) internal controls group.
• Analyzing expenses to understand business drivers of variances
• Coaching, developing and acting as a mentor for staff within the group and on the entire North American Accounting Team to build a world-class accounting function with strong talent and growth opportunities for all.

Key Job Activities:

• Monitors that there is adequately designed and effectively operating controls related to the financial close process. Identifies and remediates internal control deficiencies in the areas/processes assigned.
• Oversees the day-to-day coordination of processing transactional financial data including the preparation and review of journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Ensures that all information provided by the entity (IPE) has adequate basis of source data, parameters and report logic controls and that those controls are effectively operating. Ensures the compliance with all applicable US GAAP guidance and internal company accounting policies and related controls and procedures. Responsible for statutory financial reporting requirements where applicable.
• Oversees accruals including use of company-wide accrual tool. Assists team members by leading training and answering questions. Manages reporting on vendor accruals.
• Develops fellow team members including technical skills and soft skills needed to progress through the organization. Advocates for each team member such that they progress their careers within out team. Promotes desired team culture including work-life balance. Manages the team's performance as needed utilizing performance differentiation techniques. Prepares performance evaluations and conducts annual reviews.
• Champions corporate initiatives. Leads team to achieve department-wide goals. Manages cross functional ad hoc projects as needed.
• Documents processes in Standard Operating Procedures. Promotes cross-training. Monitors KPIs for shift to business process organization.
• Tracks the status of open reconciling items and ensures that the team follows up on such items in an engaging and collaborative manner with cross-functional involvement making sure that they are resolved in the time prescribed by our policies. Utilizes existing tools and systems as well as explores potential enhancements or new systems as needed and as applicable to business conditions.
• Seeks ways to improve financial reporting and controls within general ledger and consolidation tool. Supports analysis and documentation for our Monthly Management Review. Prepare and present variance analyses and business insights in these meetings and throughout month.
• Oversees relationship between Accounting and operation sites. Contribute to regional P&L reviews. Optimize coordination between Operations and Accounting.

Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting 7+ years of experience with Accounting leadership roles
• Experience in effective leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills capable of interacting with staff, peers, and senior leadership competently and effectively
• Experience working with offshore Shared Services resources
• Detailed analysis of P&L trends and variances which drove meaningful decisions

Highly desirable:

• Prior SAP experience
• Prior experience documenting processes in SOPs
• Advanced Excel skills
• At least 3 years of public accounting experience demonstrating a good understanding of GAAP, audit processes (internal / external), month-end closing processes, general ledger accounts, and financial statement analysis
• Mid to Large public company experience
• Certified Public Accountant designation in US or local country is preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication. Ability to create and deliver presentations to management.