Senior Accountant

Spencer Stuart is a leading global executive search and leadership advisory services firm. Founded in 1956 and privately owned, Spencer Stuart is the partner of choice among organizations seeking guidance and counsel on senior leadership needs. We work with clients across a range of industries, from the world’s largest companies to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurial startups, private equity and nonprofit organizations. The firm has 60 offices in 31 countries around the world.

The successful search consulting team partners with an organization to select and recruit the “right leader” thus making a positive impact not only on the entire client organization but also, in some cases, the industry itself. In addition, a successful search, by definition, leads to a significant career progression for the executive moving to the new position.

Spencer Stuart is organized around industry and functional practices throughout all the major business sectors. With senior consultants bringing direct industry experience and knowledge to its specialty practices, the company is focused on responding to and meeting its clients’ unique recruitment needs.

POSITION SUMMARY
Spencer Stuart is looking for a Senior Accountant to work directly with the Finance Manager Germany and the corporate accounting team to assist with all facets of financial transactions and ensure timely monthly closes, a smooth year-end close as well as playing part in audits.

Key relationships
Reports to:
Finance Manager Germany

Other key relationships:
Regional Finance Director EMEA
EMEA Region Controller
Worldwide Office Accountants
Consultants, Executive Assistants, Associates

Key responsibilities

• Assisting in preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual fiscal close, incl. reconciliation of balance sheet and profit and loss accounts in close collaboration with the Finance Manager Germany.

• Assist in reporting and year-end close processes, in accordance with HGB and IFRS.

• Conduct self-reliant analysis and reconciliation of accounts, i.e., evaluate general ledger accounts independently and preparing journal entries

• Accept and allocate intercompany charges on a daily basis. Reconcile balances with the local accountants. Oversight foreign exchange differences on intercompany transactions after balance confirmations have been received.

• Manage Fixed Assets

• Post and document bank transactions on a daily basis and reconcile bank accounts in multi-currencies.

• Post and document received cash batches on a daily basis to sub-ledger and reconcile accounts receivable balance on a monthly basis.

• Run settlement runs

• Work in close cooperation with the Shared Service Center. Regular review of posted accounts receivable and accounts payable invoices as well as expense reports for compliance with internal and external requirements (e.g. internal guidelines or German VAT law)

• Be a sparring partner of the local Finance Manager

• Support in the preparation of tax returns

• Secure physical and online archiving is accurate and complete.

• Recommend and review accounting procedures to improve efficiency.

• Provide support and guidance to staff and answering questions related to accounting matters.

• Assist in general administrative tasks related to stakeholders.

• Participate in international projects, where requested and desired

CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Senior Accountant is a highly motivated individual who is self-disciplined with tremendous attention to detail. This individual has a demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced professional environment. He or she will have strong organizational skills and the ability to proactively work within the local Finance team, colleagues and clients in an international environment.

Ideal experience

• Successfully completed professional education in business administration with additional degree as a certified accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter IHK) or a Bachelor's degree with focus on finance and accounting

• At least eight years experience in Accounting, preferably gained in an international environment

• Prior experience in a professional services environment is preferred but not mandatory.

• Very good knowledge of HGB, solid knowledge of German income tax law desirable; knowledge in IFRS is an advantage

• Perfect oral and writing proficiency in German and English, at least C1

• Proficient in Microsoft applications (Outlook, Excel).

• Very good software skills, preferably used to work with Workday, and High IT affinity and interest in Software related questions

• High level of integrity and, adaptability, team-oriented personality, willingness to take ownership

• Flexible and stress-resistant, able to stand the hectic pressure of a project-based activity

• Result oriented to achieve a high level of quality.

Critical capabilities

Demonstrate ethical, sound professional practices and personal accountability. Act in a manner that is consistent with the Firm’s values. Hold others accountable to standards of performance. Display a curiosity and desire for knowledge and staying current with colleagues, the Firm and its systems. Regularly invest time in encouraging the team to innovate, continuously improve processes and share knowledge. The successful candidate will do this by:

• Adhering to the Firm’s Code of Ethics as outlined in the Red Book.

• Gaining an understanding of and following the Firm’s policies, procedures and brand standards.

• Advocating high-quality work by ensuring that client deliverables are thoroughly reviewed and edited.

• Increasing efficiency while maintaining quality in an environment where technology changes constantly and productivity demands remain high. The ideal candidate will do this by:

• Embracing and actively participating in training opportunities and proactively seeking guidance and coaching from peers or corporate trainers to augment or improve skills.
• Implementing the skills and knowledge in a timely fashion by persevering through the learning curve associated with incorporating these enhancements into every day work activities.
• Proactively sharing best practices with the search team by communicating the benefits of improved efficiencies. This could be in the form of informal, on-the-job opportunities or in formal, structured learning opportunities with colleagues.

• Remaining self-assured and maintaining a balanced perspective while demonstrating maturity and exercising good judgment.

• Unemotionally addressing issues on merit.