Accounting & External Reporting Lead Job at Mondelez International Inc

Mondelez International, Inc. empowers people to snack right in over 160 countries around the world. We’re leading the future of snacking with iconic brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Bournvita, TomTom, Cloret, and Trident gum.  Our 90,000+ colleagues around the world are key to the success of our business. Great people and great brands. That’s who we are.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Accounting & External Reporting Lead - WA

Job Requisition ID: R-122325
Job Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full Time

Job Description

• You will manage all accounting and external reporting matters for your assigned country. You will also effectively partner with an external auditor to address complex accounting topics and to ensure the timely and accurate reporting of results.
• In addition, you will work with our Mondel?z International Digital Services organization to drive accurate and timely reporting and to ensure proper reconciliations for all accounts in the market.
• In this role, you will foster a strong connection with the regional team and when appropriate, with the corporate controlling team to ensure full compliance with Mondel?z International’s Accounting and External Reporting (AER) policies and to ensure that we are adopting U.S.
• GAAP accounting standards in a timely manner. You will also ensure that we comply with all local accounting standards, see to the timely filing of financial statements and of indirect tax returns/payments (e.g. VAT, excise tax, sales tax).

How you will contribute
You will:

• Manage all accounting and external reporting matters for your assigned country, including ensuring accurate and timely U.S. GAAP reporting and the timeliness and integrity of statutory financial reporting, balance sheet reconciliations and KPIs.
• Address complex accounting topics in coordination with the Business Unit or Region Controller and ensure timely adoption of all U.S. GAAP Accounting Standards in the country. You will also support the business on policy interpretation for changes in process or M&A activity
• Drive for harmonization, efficiencies and improvements to ways of working on AER processes and systems such as SAP and build a mindset of continuous improvement in the country team
• You will also provide insights into balance sheet movements and cash flow and ensure account reconciliations, intercompany charges, fixed assets, and restructuring are signed off for your assigned country
• Contribute to a strong controls and compliance environment in the country and ensure full compliance with our AER policies. You will act as our primary contact with our external auditor for the country
• Build a high-performing Accounting and External Reporting (AER) team (Mondel?z International  employees and actively manage the relationship with Mondel?z International Digital Services/third party providers). Recruit and develop talent and drive our AER talent agenda in the country

What you will bring
A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career. You will bring experience and knowledge in:

• Technical Expertise in accounting and external reporting (AER) including a deep understanding of U.S. GAAP, IFRS, close processes and financial reporting systems. General knowledge in complex technical accounting such as treatment of FX, derivatives, employee compensation and pension plans. Expertise in policy, controls and compliance design including SOX reporting. General knowledge of tax laws and indirect and direct tax
• Business acumen and understanding of our business and finance beyond the AER scope. Big Four accounting firm experience preferred
• Leadership Skills including proven business partnering and communication skills across a large global, public company. Experience working as a global finance leader managing global, cross-functional and business partner teams to drive timely and accurate results
• Growth / digital mindset and the ability to identify strategic opportunities and leverage technology to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness
• Integrity and sound judgement in all decisions and interactions aligned with Mondel?z International values and policies and external regulations

Job Specific Requirements
Annual Financial Statements / Quarterly / Annual Statutory Audits:

• Serve as liaison between business function and PWC/EY
• Channel for data/information to key stakeholders
• Follow ups as and when required
• Ensure ALL activities are tracking to plan
• Timely delivery of required financial analysis | Timely escalation of issues
• Repository of Information
• Provide Company Secretariat with financial inputs required for entity Board Meetings.

Month/Quarter End Close (MEC) Activities:

• Act as Genpact first point of contact
• Track MEC activities status
• Follow up with stakeholders within the business to obtain relevant information on accruals, “one-timers” and other information with financial impacts
• SAP Trial Balance review prior to HFM reporting
• SAP-HFM Reconciliation Reviews
• Ensure timely promotion of entities
• Timely escalation of issues
• Timely & accurate submission of Quarter End requirements, among other tasks.

Monthly Balance Sheet Reviews (Blackline):

• Timely approval of allocated retained accounts
• Monthly/timely allocation of accounts to be Financial Manager reviewed
• Timely & value-adding Finance Manager reviews of allocated accounts
• Ensure issues raised from reviews are resolved in subsequent months | Timely. 

Financial Services Spend Tracking:

• Must obtain details of final approval annual budget for each spend bucket from Overheads Controlling
• Monthly tracking & review of Financial Services Spend Accruals
• Provision and/or review of monthly variance commentary. 

Monthly VAT & WHT Reviews:

• Provide information as may be required by Genpact and/or EY
• Review workings carried out by EY
• Initial approval of workings for filing/payment
• Ensure accuracy of relevant balances
• Timely escalations. 

A&ER Business Partnering to the Business:

• Serve as Business Partner / Liaison to HR & Legal
• Key contact to obtain HR & Legal information for regional submissions
• Provide required financial information to HR & Legal. 

Tax-related Tasks:

• Ensure EY prepares Annual Statutory GVP for entities (if in scope)
• Update Quarterly SOX data collection templates for non-EY entities
• Complete Quarterly EYDC Significant Events responses and sign-off post review with Team Lead
• Submit Hard Close requirements | Serve as Preparer for Quarterly Local Roll Forwards
• Submit Cash Tax information post review with Team Lead
• Liaise with Tax Manager for entity tasks where required
• Timely & accurate submission of the annual International Tax Questionnaire (ITQ)
• Timely escalation of issues. 

Balance Sheet variance analysis and Submissions:

• Coordinate, bring together the analysis for submission
• Timely sending out of commentary/data requests to key stakeholders within the business
• Collecting, challenging, reviewing & consolidating CON301 commentary for West Africa
• Set up timely review meetings
• Ensure timely submission to region. 

Cash flow planning and reporting:

• Cash flow planning and assistance, bringing together stakeholders from OTC, supply chain, Commercial finance, build bottom-up plans, review with FD and local FLT, work with other verticals to identify and track initiatives to deliver cash flow for the West Africa entities. 

Education / Certifications

• University degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics 
• 5-7 years of experience in accounting & controlling areas 
• 2-3 years of experience as Deputy Financial Controlling Manager in major FMCG company 
• 1-2+ years of people management experience 
• Must be a member of ICAN, ACCA or its equivalent
• Experience in leading major cross-functional projects 
• A thorough understanding of corporate finance and reporting systems and internal control principles related to reporting 
• Solid knowledge of local statutory Accounting, Tax and Civil legislation 
• Good knowledge of US GAAP / International Accounting Standards and Statutory Accounting.