Chief Accountant

JOB SUMMARY

The Chief Accountant is responsible for overseeing the company's financial operations, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, and managing internal controls. This leadership role involves strategic oversight of the accounting and operations, ensuring that financial processes comply with regulatory standards and the company's financial goals. The Chief Accountant also plays a crucial role in budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and financial decision-making at the highest level.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Financial Reporting and Accounting:

• Ensures accurate, timely, and compliant financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) in accordance with accounting standards.
• Oversees the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring that all financial data is correctly captured and reported.
• Analyze financial performance and provide insights into key trends, variances, and areas of concern.
• Oversees internal and external audits, ensuring that all financial statements are prepared and reviewed in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Payroll Management. Overseeing the accurate and timely processing of payroll.

2.Internal Controls and Compliance:

• Establish, implement, and monitor internal financial controls to safeguard company assets, ensure the integrity of financial data, and mitigate financial risk.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal financial regulations and tax laws, including coordination with legal and tax advisors.
• Identify financial risks and develop strategies to minimize exposure to financial loss, fraud, or misreporting.

3.Financial Allocation:

• Oversee the development and implementation of the company's annual budget, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and operational needs.
• Manage financial forecasting processes, providing accurate and timely forecasts to senior leadership, and adjusting for market or operational changes.
• Perform variance analysis to identify and explain discrepancies between forecasted and actual financial performance.

4.Financial Strategy and Decision Support:

• Provide strategic insights into financial performance, profitability, and resource allocation to support executive decision-making.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities, improving the company's operational efficiency while maintaining quality standards.
• Assist in long-term financial planning by providing detailed analysis of potential financial scenarios and their impact on business operations.

5.Leadership and Team Management

• Supervise, mentor, and develop the controllership team, ensuring alignment with the company's goals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and ensuring the team is appropriately staffed and trained.
• Work closely with other departments (e.g., operations, HR, IT) to ensure financial data is integrated effectively and accurately across the organization.

6.Tax and Treasury Management:

• Tax Compliance.Ensure the company's tax obligations are met and work with external tax advisors to develop tax strategies that minimize liability.
• Oversee cash flow management to ensure that the company has sufficient liquidity to meet operational needs and strategic goals.
• Monitor the company's treasury operations, including banking relationships and the management of cash and financial investments.

7.Technology and Systems Management:

• Lead efforts to automate financial processes, improving efficiency, accuracy, and data-driven decision-making.

8.Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Communicate financial performance and insights to the Board of Directors and senior management.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

• A Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field (Master's or CPA preferred).

WORK EXPERIENCE AND DURATION REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of at least 8-12 years of experience in accounting or finance, with at least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Significant experience in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team, with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret financial data to support decision-making.
• Strong focus on accuracy and precision in financial reporting.

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CMA (Certified Management Acountant), or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)