Controller Belgium & Luxembourg

Job Title

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Position Title: Controller Belgium & Luxembourg

Department: Finance

Reports To: EMEA Regional Controller

Location: Brussels

Key Responsibilities:

Close & Reporting

• Responsible for accurate timely monthly closing of the books (in US GAAP) all in accordance with Global & EMEA deadlines policies and compliance requirements
• Review and approve AR invoice requests unbilled revenue accruals credit notes AP invoices and journals in accordance with the delegation of authority (DOA) - checking completeness accuracy and compliance
• Monitor and minimise late journals unadjusted items reported and off system ETB adjustments
• Responsible for the timely production management review variance explanations query resolution and sign-off of reporting and disclosure requirements (internal external statutory treasury and group) in accordance with polices & timetables issued by US/EMEA Controllership and in accordance with all relevant regulations procedures and controls
• Ensure adequate management review is in place over all aspects of accounting and reporting (eg FX reconciliations close cash forecasts etc) to identify and remediate issues on a timely basis
• Responsible for driving timely investigation & resolution of unusual outstanding & aged items (eg: reconciliation open items bank open items intercompany mismatch aged accruals unallocated cash)
• Support requests from senior management

Audits & Statutory Financial Statements

• Responsible for ensuring audited accounts are filed on time and that external audits are planned efficient and co-ordinated with stakeholders minimising audit costs and over-runs
• Provide details of audit fees for budgeting and accrual purposes and ensure all audit fees are reviewed and have been approved according to internal approvals
• Responsible for ensuring local statutory accounts are prepared reviewed and filed by the relevant filing deadline and meet relevant reporting requirements.
• Support Internal Audits and implement agreed recommendations

Balance Sheet Control

• Responsible for ensuring adequate governance is in place over the accuracy and integrity of all balance reconciliations and for reporting unadjusted items in accordance with Group/EMEA reporting requirements
• Work with Internal Control and Senior Management to establish reconciliation frequency and thresholds that are risk appropriate and efficient

Treasury:

• Responsible for reviewing weekly cash forecasts and ensuring these reflect the latest known input from Controllership
• Support Global Treasury and the business on treasury related requests (eg bank account changes FBAR FX cash flow reporting loan & interest settlement bank guarantees) adopting Corporate providers and processes
• Responsible for identifying working capital improvement opportunities and supporting improvements
• Responsible for the remediation of entity liquidity issues

Compliance & Control

• Responsible for ensuring adequate financial control reviews are evidenced
• Responsible for ensuring adequate governance is in place to identify prioritise and remediate risk in the countries and input to the quarterly EMEA Controllership risk review
• Support the communication training and implementation of Global and EMEA Finance Policies and procedures and ensure financial records are compliant
• Support the timely and accurate completion and submission by others of the SOX 302 sub-certifications
• Support the accurate efficient coding by others to minimize reporting and reconciliation issues and corrections (AP AR journals payroll manual payments)

Revenue Recognition & Debtors

• Responsible for ensuring revenue recognition and CECL policies are understood and correctly applied within Responsible for reviewing bad debt provisions ensuring they are adequate and in line with policy
• Perform ad hoc contract reviews and provide guidance on the most appropriate financial operational practices to adopt within the contract
• Support working capital optimisation across countries through meaningful metrics and finance operational support for aged debt reduction achievement of DSO targets prompt invoicing cash collection & allocation and resolution of credit balances

Tax & Other returns

• Responsible for ensuring regulatory returns (including CIT VAT ECSL other returns and business surveys) are adequately reviewed and submitted on time whether prepared internally or by service providers
• Responsible for ensuring tax related payments are correctly coded approved and made on time
• Support transfer pricing studies and external audits by tax authorities
• Collaborate with Tax to ensure intercompany recharges and allocations are appropriate and timely

Intercompany

• Responsible for ensuring the Global intercompany policy and process is deployed efficiently across countries
• Responsible for ensuring intercompany transactions are processed by others on a timely basis ( eg referral fees and recharges)
• Drive timely investigation and reduction of intercompany mismatches supporting the FSC Intercompany team and R2R process owner

Process & Systems

• Support process and system change projects in accordance with prioritised plans
• Actively seek out smarter ways of working and optimise system functionality to minimize manual effort

Legal entities & Ad hoc

• Support all stages of M&A activity including due diligence and post-acquisition integration
• Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize legal entity structures and minimize compliance cost
• Lead the investigation and remediation of negative equity situations

Collaboration with Stakeholders

• Collaborate effectively with teams producing financial data (input or output)
• Responsible for improvements to processes and controls that ensure data is recorded accurately and on a timely basis including change management and training
• Responsible for the resolution of issues queries and escalations impacting accurate accounting when raised by stakeholders (eg the Business US/EMEA Controllership FSC teams)

Knowledge & Experience:

• Masters degree in Finance Accounting Economics or a related field. Professional certifications (e.g. CPA ACCA CFA) are a strong asset
• Minimum of 3 years experience in external audit preferably with a Big Four or recognized audit firm.
• Minimum 10 years experience in similar role
• Demonstrated experience in managing statutory filings tax compliance and regulatory reporting in both Belgium and Luxembourg.
• Strong knowledge of local GAAP IFRS VAT regulations corporate tax and other country-specific financial obligations
• Ability to effectively engage with internal teams external auditors tax advisors and government authorities
• Experience overseeing finance operations across multiple legal entities or jurisdictions is a plus especially within the BeLux region.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g. WorkDays HFM) and advanced Excel skills. Familiarity with financial consolidation and reporting tools is a plus
• Fluent in French and English; proficiency in Dutch is highly desirable

We foster a culture of inclusion that embraces the unique strengths perspectives and experiences of all our employees. We firmly believe that our diversity enhances our teams capabilities leading to improved decision-making innovation and business outcomes. If you have any reservations about applying please dont hesitate to reach out to your local recruiter for additional information