Global Overhead Accountant

Job Overview

The overheads accountant is responsible for the day to day financial management of cost centre & GL accounting records within the Clarks ERP for a specific area of a region. Some knowledge of accounting practices and some specific industry expertise is required in order to properly perform in areas of accounting judgement. Mainly working with the commercial finance team to support their communication to the business, they will also assist in building Budgets and Forecasts being led by the commercial team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure SAP based accounting records for overhead departments are maintained completely, accurately and in line with accounting standards and group accounting policies.
• Ensure SAP based accounting records for fixed assets (internal orders) for regional capital projects are maintained completely, accurately and in line with accounting standard and group accounting policies.
• Ensure the period end close is performed in line with group policy and deadlines. Any issues are escalated promptly to line management.
• Ensure any statutory adjustments are made promptly and any intercompany billing required is completed and sent to the SSC for processing.
• Ensure any accounting in foreign currency is done so in line with group policies, making sure the correct rates are used for each currency transaction.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounting records are supported by adequate evidence to satisfy external audit queries. Provide detailed balance sheet analysis on a monthly basis for Manager/Supervisor review.
• Work closely with Commercial Finance contacts to provide financial analysis of overheads to support their understanding of financial information and accounting entries for explanation to budget holders.
• Run reporting processes specific to the assigned overhead area, to support that area of the business and the commercial finance teams in understanding the financial result (e.g. Retail Branch Accounts, Turnover Certificates)
• Work closely with Commercial Finance contacts to ensure department budgets and forecasts are prepared completely, accurately and in line with agreed timetables.
• Ad-hoc work as directed by line manager or managers manager
• Key Outputs:
• Accurate and timely SAP financial information (both at Cost Centre, GL and Company code level) which is compliant with accounting standards and group accounting policies on which to base the Regional financial and management reporting. Some use of accounting judgment where necessary to ensure that overheads are compliant with UK Accounting Standards and Group Accounting policies. Independently assess prepayments, accruals and provisions to ensure suitability for inclusion in the financial result.
• Accurate and timely SAP internal order information which is compliant with accounting standards and group accounting policies. All asset data is correctly set up by the Fixed Asset Accounting (UK based) and any local GAAP requirements (US GAAP, US tax) is set up in conjunction with the Americas Reporting Manager and the US tax team
• Period close performed in line with expectation with any significant variances understood and communicated. All processes are fully understood and prioritised workflows produced to ensure delivery of those processes within allowed timescales & any processes impacting other areas of the region/group & enabling overheads are completed promptly.
• All inter group transactions (e.g. movements between companies that form part of the Clarks Group) are correctly recorded in both legal entities in SAP and any Inter-company billing requests are completed in line with SSC requirements and sent within a reasonable timescale for processing by the SSC.
• All transactions denominated in foreign currency are accounted for in line with group policy and directions from Group Systems Integrity on posting dates and exchanges rates to be used are followed.
• All balance sheet entries are accurate. Balance sheet ownership reports issued by the Group Finance Systems team are reconciled and properly explained for review by the line manager within the timescales laid out by group policy. Any erroneous items are notified to the line manager and promptly corrected.
• Accurate and consistent overhead reporting is produced for the commercial finance team with clear explanations where areas of significant variances to plan are observed and where accounting judgment have been applied.
• Accurate and consistent departmental overhead reporting is produced for regional business teams or external agencies (Retail Branch accounts, Turnover Certificates, Government statistic returns)
• Take an active role in building regional & departmental budgets and forecasts, as directed by the commercial finance leads or line manager. Ensure all plans are built using assumptions issued by the Group Reporting Analyst
• Ad-hoc work is performed in line with expectation and timescales.

Qualifications

Essential Knowledge:

• Technically able accounting technician with a strong background of double entry bookkeeping & cost centre accounting
• A good understanding of Clark's business and systems processes.
• A good understanding of SAP especially Cost Centre accounting

Technical Skills:

• Ability to apply basic accounting principles (prepayments, accruals etc.)
• Time management & prioritization
• Advanced PC/Microsoft skills – SAP, Advanced excel

Competencies:

• Ability to work well with others
• Prioritization and time management
• Oral and written communication skills
• Concern for accuracy