General Accountant

Job Description: General Accountant

Department: Record-to-Report (R2R) / Finance Operations
Reports To: Accounting Supervisor / R2R Team Lead
Job Function: General Accounting / General Ledger

Job Summary

The General Accountant is responsible for performing general ledger accounting activities and ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timely recording of financial transactions. The role supports month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities, prepares and posts journal entries, performs balance sheet account reconciliations, investigates accounting discrepancies, and assists in financial reporting and audit requirements.

The position works closely with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, Cash Management, Intercompany, Tax, Treasury, and business unit finance teams to ensure transactions are appropriately recorded and reconciled in accordance with accounting policies and internal controls.

Key Responsibilities

1. General Ledger Accounting

• Prepare and post recurring and non-recurring journal entries.
• Review accounting transactions for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate account classification.
• Perform journal corrections, reclassifications, and other adjustments when required.
• Maintain adequate supporting documentation for journal entries.
• Investigate unusual or incorrect General Ledger balances and coordinate necessary corrections.
• Ensure transactions are recorded in the appropriate accounting period and business unit.

2. Month-End and Period-End Close

• Perform assigned activities according to the monthly closing timetable.
• Prepare and post month-end accruals, prepayments, reclassifications, allocations, and other adjustment entries.
• Review General Ledger balances and investigate material or unusual movements.
• Monitor outstanding accounting issues that may impact period close.
• Support quarter-end and year-end closing requirements.
• Ensure assigned accounting activities are completed accurately and within established deadlines.

3. Balance Sheet Reconciliation

• Prepare monthly balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Reconcile General Ledger balances against supporting schedules, subledgers, and other appropriate documentation.
• Identify and investigate reconciling items and accounting discrepancies.
• Monitor aged or long-outstanding reconciliation items and coordinate their resolution.
• Maintain clear explanations and supporting documentation for outstanding items.
• Ensure reconciliations comply with established internal controls and review requirements.

4. Accruals and Prepayments

• Prepare and maintain accrual and prepayment schedules.
• Record monthly accruals for expenses incurred but not yet recorded.
• Process amortization or release of prepaid expenses based on appropriate schedules.
• Review existing accruals and determine whether balances should be retained, adjusted, or reversed based on available supporting information.
• Reconcile accrual and prepayment accounts to supporting schedules.

5. Intercompany Accounting

• Record and/or review intercompany transactions.
• Perform intercompany account reconciliations and investigate differences between counterparties.
• Coordinate with other business units or finance teams to resolve intercompany mismatches.
• Prepare necessary intercompany adjustments and support timely clearing of outstanding balances.
• Support intercompany confirmations and period-end activities.

6. Cash and Bank Accounting

• Support bank and cash account reconciliation activities where these fall within the General Accounting scope.
• Investigate discrepancies between bank records and General Ledger balances.
• Prepare appropriate cash-related adjustments and journal entries.
• Coordinate with Cash Management, Treasury, AP, and AR teams regarding outstanding transactions.

7. Fixed Assets Support

Depending on the organization's R2R operating model, the General Accountant may:

• Support Fixed Asset accounting and reconciliation.
• Review asset-related General Ledger accounts.
• Support depreciation, asset additions, transfers, retirements, and accounting adjustments.
• Reconcile Fixed Asset subledger balances against the General Ledger.
• Investigate Fixed Asset accounting discrepancies.

8. Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Prepare supporting schedules for monthly financial reporting.
• Perform General Ledger account analysis and investigate significant or unusual variances.
• Provide accounting information and supporting documentation to business units and finance stakeholders.
• Assist with preparation of management and statutory reporting schedules as required.
• Support ad hoc financial analysis and reporting requirements.

9. Internal Controls and Compliance

• Perform accounting activities in accordance with established accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Maintain appropriate audit trails and supporting documentation.
• Ensure account reconciliations and journal entries meet required control standards.
• Identify control or process issues and escalate them appropriately.
• Support SOX or other applicable financial control requirements where relevant to the assigned entity.

10. Audit Support

• Provide supporting documents, account reconciliations, journal entries, and schedules requested by internal and external auditors.
• Respond to audit queries related to assigned General Ledger accounts.
• Assist in resolving audit findings or outstanding accounting queries within the General Accounting scope.

11. Process Improvement and Standardization

• Identify opportunities to improve or automate accounting and reconciliation processes.
• Support preparation and maintenance of SOPs, process documentation, and Quick Reference Guides.
• Assist in standardizing accounting processes across supported business units where appropriate.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• CPA or equivalent professional accounting qualification is an advantage.

Experience

• Experience in General Accounting, General Ledger, or Record-to-Report (R2R).
• Experience with month-end close, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and account analysis.
• Experience working in a Shared Services or Global Business Services environment is an advantage.
• Exposure to multi-entity or multi-country accounting operations is beneficial.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of General Ledger and financial accounting principles.
• Knowledge of:
  • Journal Entries
  • Balance Sheet Reconciliations
  • Accruals and Prepayments
  • Intercompany Accounting
  • Cash/Bank Reconciliation
  • Fixed Assets
  • Month-End Close
  • Financial Reporting
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle Fusion, Oracle EBS, or equivalent.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Good knowledge of accounting principles
• Ability to investigate and resolve accounting discrepancies
• Ability to meet strict month-end deadlines
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Effective communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple business units or legal entities
• Teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Continuous-improvement mindset
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced R2R environment

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree holder in Accounting, Finance or related course
• Must have at least 1-2 years of experience in Record-to Report or General Accounting
• Experience with ERPs (e.g. SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft); PC proficient – strong experience with Microsoft Excel (advanced excel skills a plus), Word, PowerPoint; experience with MS Access and Project is a plus
• Strong technical and analytical skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must have stakeholder management experience
• Must be independent yet a strong team player
• Ability to quickly learn and apply enterprise AI tools and technologies to support technical workflows and business objectives

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