General Accountant

The role of the General Accountant is to ensure operational excellence and accuracy in the subsidiary’s financial processes. You will be responsible for executing complex accounting operations, participating in month‑end closing procedures, preparing financial reports for local management, and supporting the Western Europe Finance Manager, while ensuring compliance with applicable accounting and tax standards and internal controls.

This position focuses on supporting financial operations, compliance, and accuracy in the following areas:

Key Responsibilities

• Supplier and Customer Supervision: Review, provisions, follow‑ups, and reporting of unpaid invoices not covered by Coface.
• Technical Accounting Management: Support various accounting areas including purchasing, inventory, and fixed assets; ensure compliance with depreciation policies; monitor and control expense reports; integrate and check payroll entries; prepare bank entries, etc.
• Monthly and Annual Closing: Assist the Finance Manager during local month‑end closing procedures, ensuring timely and accurate submission of financial data to the group. Includes accrual entries, prepaid expenses, invoice issuance, and balance sheet review.
• Budget and Budgetary Control: Assist the Finance Manager in the budgeting process, monitor expenses and revenues against the established budget, prepare marketing expense reports for Western Europe, and explain key financial performance drivers.
• Compliance and Audit Coordination: Support the Western Europe Finance Manager during internal and external audits; prepare required documents and annexes.
• Process Efficiency: Identify and support improvements to financial processes and internal controls to increase efficiency, reduce risks, and ensure compliance with group policies.

Qualifications

• Strong technical accounting knowledge: principles and French accounting/tax standards; IFRS knowledge is a plus.
• Proven experience contributing significantly to full month‑end and year‑end closing cycles.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (complex formulas, pivot tables).
• Hands‑on experience with a major ERP (e.g., SAP FICO).
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze financial data, detect anomalies, and present results clearly and concisely.
• Compliance mindset: meticulous attention to detail and strong commitment to maintaining financial integrity and regulatory compliance.
• Communication: ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to collaborate within the group and with external professionals (clients, suppliers, auditors, advisors).
• Independence: proven ability to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks autonomously.
• Languages: fluent in French and English; German is a plus.

Ready for your next career move?

We look forward to receiving your application!

Interested in this position but don’t meet every requirement? We’d still love to hear from you – please send us your cover letter and resume!

∗ SMA is committed to equal opportunity and diversity – regardless of gender, age, origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

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