GL Accountant at Barry Callebaut

About the Role

• The GL Accountant performs accounting activities by group-wide (international)/national accounting principles and standards within the assigned scope.
• He/she is responsible for managing and maintaining a company's general ledger, which is the central repository for all financial transactions, and ensures the integrity and accuracy of financial data, providing a clear picture of the company's financial position and performance.
• This job documents and reviews the organization’s financial statements/positions to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, laws, as well as reporting requirements.
• The GL Accountant gets guidance and support from the Accounting Manager on complex activities, ad hoc requests, and key issues in the execution of duties.
• This role reports to the Accounting & Reporting Manager and based in Lagos.

Key Responsibilities
Management:

• External communication: Is the go-to person when it comes to maintaining good relationships with regulatory bodies (FIRS, LIRS, OGIRS, Other Regulatory Bodies), Auditors and Tax Advisors and Consultants.
• Internal communication: Manages the communication between the Business, departments and the Accounting Team for easy and efficient support to the business.
• Implementing and enforcing accounting policies and procedures
• Coordinates the work on General Accounting processes
• Identifying and resolving accounting discrepancies and issues
• Develop, distribute, and monitor accounting policies and procedures
• Developing and maintaining accounting documentation and procedures
• Maintain and administer chart of accounts and reporting
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovative solutions and communicate them to the accounting manager

Cost control:

• Review all payments before approvals
• Tracking and analyzing expenses
• Managing budgets, accruals, and prepaid
• Overseeing accounts payable, fixed assets, and inventory
• Ensuring accurate cost allocation and financial reporting
• Ensure that all appropriate deductions are made before payment
• Ensure that the right amounts are being paid per contract details and supporting documents
• Upload payments on bank platforms for approval
• Ensure that all statutory deductions (WHT, VAT, PAYE etc.) are paid on time to avoid penalties
• Prepare and post all manual journals after reviews by FBP and Accounting & Reporting Manager
• Support the Operations and Logistics, Sourcing, Salesforce, Quality Assurance and Sustainability FBP in all their processes
• Acts as the AP interface between the Company and APs and Inter-Company Team to facilitate swift processes of invoicing

Inventory Management:

• Compile, consolidate, and reconcile inventory management
• Managing inventory reserves and physical counts
• Providing inventory reports and analysis
• Maintain inventory systems and technologies
• Perform inventory revaluations if any
• Ensures accurate costing and reconciliations

Process improvement:

• Support the implementation of effective financial controls.
• Ensure a good understanding and control of Operations and Logistics, Sourcing, Salesforce, Quality Assurance and Sustainability
• Ensure that all necessary information is recorded in the appropriate information systems
• Deliver improved procedures and follow up on internal/external audit report points raised
• Reduce manual data entry and increase use of technology

Reporting Processes:

• Perform period-end activities such as Group Reporting, booking of manual journal entries, accruals, prepayments, etc.
• Budget vs. Actual Reporting and Variance Analysis and Commentary
• Follow the clearing of all Vendor Accounts
• Supervise AP and AR processes for month-end reporting (incl. reconciliation of vendor and customer balances with all control accounts) 
• Review and reconcile all GL Balances before month-end reporting
• Perform any ad hoc activities requested by the CoE Accounting, Reporting & Risk, FBP and/or any relevant stakeholder

About You

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or similar 
• Must have 4-6 years’ experience in Finance as a supervisor (for stakeholder management) with an emphasis on accounting experience in a multinational company, preferably in B2B / food industries
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in Finance & Audit
• A Chartered Accountant
• Microsoft Office and Google-based applications knowledge with technical proficiency (e.g., SAP – ERP systems, Excel, PowerPoint, Sage 300)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, internal SSC departments and customers
• Goal oriented with drive continuous improvement initiatives regarding processes, technologies, and organization
• English business proficiency (written and spoken)
• Leadership experience (Drive to Deliver, Dealing with People, Shaping the Business)
• Adaptability to changing environment and promote knowledge sharing organization-wide and a team player.