Accounting Manager at Engie Africa

Job Purpose/Mission

• ENGIE Energy Access is looking for an experienced, highly motivated and disciplined Accounting Manager with a passion for entrepreneurship, renewable energy, and financial inclusion to join our team. This position is a key role within the Finance Department of a fast-paced start up at the front lines of renewable energy and mobile payment technology.
• The Accounting Manager will report directly to the Head of Finance & Administration, collaborating her to provide timely and accurate financial information to management by researching and analyzing accounting data and preparing financial reports as well as implementing processes and controls to ensure best practices and adherence to global accounting standards. The role will be an important aspect of helping Management create strategic growth plans, assess and improve portfolio health and raise the equity and working capital needed to achieve the Company's ambitious goals.

Responsibilities
Reporting

• Ensure that all financial statements are accurate, complete, and compliant with GAAP and other applicable accounting standards.
• Prepare detailed internal financial reports, including researching and explaining significant variances by working closely with various departments and management.
• Manage the preparation of monthly business unit and consolidated financial statements.
• Preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and footnotes. Including EBIT Tracker, BvA, MBR, QBR and including other adhoc reports
• Owner of all requests for financial data (current and past periods)
• Support budget preparation by providing insights into trends and forecasts.
• Perform quality assurance and deliver recurring reports accurately and on-time.

Lead and manage period financial close (monthly, annual, etc):

• Drive Month-end & Year-end closure of accounts.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are reconciled.
• Submit month end checklist as well as financial reports at the end of each cycle.
• Coordinate closeout of monthly and annual inventory reconciliation.
• Track revenue and COGs recognition, accruals, prepayments, receivables and payables.

Maintain effective internal controls:

• Assess and monitor internal controls over financial reporting.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to financial reporting.
• Document and maintain internal control documentation.
• Support the on-going work to develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.
• Support the identification and delivery of solutions that will enhance and automate existing processes.
• Challenge the current approach, offer views on improvement, support implementation of those improvements.

Compliance :

• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all tax returns, including income tax, sales tax, and other relevant taxes.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in tax laws and regulations and adapt the organization's processes and strategies accordingly.
• Review and oversee the preparation of tax provisions and financial statements to comply with accounting standards.
• Ensure 0% fines as a result of non-compliance
• Develop and implement tax-efficient strategies to minimize the organization's tax liability.
• Provide guidance on structuring transactions, investments, and other financial decisions to optimize tax outcomes. Identify and pursue tax incentives, credits, and deductions available to the organization.
• Risk Management: Assess and manage tax-related risks by conducting regular audits and reviews of financial data and transactions.
• Ensure compliance with transfer pricing rules and international tax regulations if applicable.
• Communicate tax strategies and findings to senior management, providing recommendations for decision-making.
• Prepare and submit regular reports on the organization's tax status and liabilities.

Collaboration :

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure current and planned expenditure are integrated into business decisions.
• Work with external auditors, tax authorities, and consultants as needed
• Collaborate with other departments, such as legal, finance, and operations, to ensure tax considerations are integrated into business decisions.
• Work with external auditors, tax authorities, and consultants as needed

Team Leadership :

• Supervise and lead a team of reporting professionals, providing guidance, mentoring, and training as necessary.
• Allocate responsibilities and monitor team performance to ensure efficient reporting operations.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the reporting team.
• Provide performance feedback and coaching to team members.

At EEA, we have high expectations for our managers. Each manager plays a key role in creating an exceptional experience not only for our customers but for every person on our team. Our managers help EEA realize our ambitious goals while developing their own leadership skills and facilitating growth for their direct reports.

We believe that great managers:

• Deliver ambitious results: As a high-performing and accountable leader, you create an enabling environment for effective action and bold decision which contribute to successful delivery of results.
• Act with integrity: As an ethical leader you are honest, respectful, objective, and transparent. You create and build upon a foundation of trust and openness.
• Inspire and mentor the team: As an inspirational leader you walk the talk. You empower and coach your team with trust and humility.
• Are accessible: as an accessible leader, you develop and maintain deep connections with stakeholders through approachability and active listening.
• Ensure diversity and inclusion: as an inclusive leader, you ensure diversity and foster a sense of belonging.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7 years of broad-based accounting/reporting experience, including minimum 3 years supervisory or management experience
• ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified or equivalent accounting qualification i.e. degree in Finance or Accounting
• Working knowledge of Nigerian tax laws
• Experience working with and producing management and statutory accounts
• Experience in supervising, evaluating, training and motivating employees
• Excellent communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Experience working at multinational organisations will be advantageous
• Awareness and ability to demonstrate the importance of ethics & appropriate codes of conduct in the workplace
• Ability to achieve daily targets while attending to impromptu activities that may occur

Highly Desired Skills:

• Good people skills
• Ability to organize, multi-task and prioritize tasks
• Good influencing and negotiation skills
• Ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues

Language(s):

• English
• French is a plus

Technology:

• Knowledge of SAP software
• Excellent computer skills in the Microsoft Office environment with advanced Excel skills