Senior Accountant

Roles and responsibilities

Job Specific Accountabilities

Financial Reporting

• Ensures the timely preparation of financial statements of the company for submission to the Management
• Ensures timely preparation and issue of periodic detailed financial reports, such as analysis of various accounts to Financial Reporting Department.
• Oversee the trial balance, general ledger for subsidiaries, ensuring all entries are accurate and up to date.
• Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure all financial activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Provide guidance and support to accounting staff within the subsidiaries.
  

Budgeting and 5 Year Business plan:

• Assist in the preparation of budgets and financial forecasts for subsidiary companies.
• Attend budget related meetings and assist the planning and implementing procedures for budget preparation
• Identify significant variances and deviations from approved budgets
  

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or Accounting or any relevant discipline.
  

Minimum Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• 6-8 years of relevant experience in finance including at least 3 years in positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities.
• Experience preferably in shipping, logistics, marine services or related industry is preferred.
  

Professional Certifications

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), ACA, FCA
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• CPA Certifications.

Desired candidate profile

Key Responsibilities of a Senior Accountant

1. Financial Reporting and Analysis:

   • Preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
   • Analyzing financial data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
   • Ensuring financial reports comply with GAAP or IFRS standards.
   • Reviewing balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and other financial reports.

2. General Ledger Maintenance:

   • Overseeing the maintenance of the general ledger, ensuring all transactions are recorded accurately.
   • Managing journal entries, month-end and year-end closing processes.

3. Budgeting and Forecasting:

   • Assisting in the preparation of budgets and financial forecasts.
   • Performing variance analysis and providing insights into budget vs. actual performance.

4. Reconciliation and Audits:

   • Reconciling accounts, including bank, vendor, and intercompany accounts.
   • Leading or assisting with internal and external audits.
   • Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and company policies.

5. Supervising and Mentoring:

   • Supervising junior accountants and accounting clerks.
   • Training and guiding staff on accounting procedures and best practices.
   • Reviewing work completed by junior staff to ensure accuracy.

6. Tax Compliance and Reporting:

   • Assisting with the preparation of corporate tax returns and ensuring compliance with tax laws.
   • Coordinating with external tax advisors to ensure tax filings are accurate.

7. Internal Controls and Risk Management:

   • Establishing and enforcing internal controls to minimize financial risk.
   • Identifying areas of operational inefficiency or financial risk and suggesting improvements.

8. Cost Accounting:

   • Analyzing costs and providing insights to improve operational efficiency and profitability.
   • Preparing cost allocation models and ensuring accurate product or service cost reporting.

9. Financial Systems Management:

   • Implementing and maintaining accounting software and systems.
   • Identifying opportunities for system improvements to streamline accounting processes.

Key Skills for a Senior Accountant

1. Advanced Technical Accounting Skills

• In-depth knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) or IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).
• Strong proficiency in accounting software like SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, or NetSuite.
• Expertise in financial statement preparation, budgeting, and forecasting.

2. Analytical Skills

• Ability to analyze complex financial data and translate it into actionable insights.
• Proficient in variance analysis to explain differences between budgets, forecasts, and actual performance.
• Identifying trends in financial performance and providing recommendations.

3. Supervisory and Leadership Skills

• Leading and mentoring a team of accountants and finance staff.
• Delegating tasks and managing the workflow of the accounting department.
• Providing training and ensuring team members adhere to best accounting practices.