FRA Head of EMEA Technical Accounting and Central Eastern Europe & Middle-East, Africa (CEE & MEA)

Head FRA CEE & MEA

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The Head FRA EMEA Technical Accounting and CEE & MEA region will lead Financial Accounting and Reporting for all countries in scope, managing the people, resources and information systems including financial, tax and inventory control across all relevant Business Units. Ensure Alcon operating units are provided with effective and efficient finance services that are compliant with Alcon Standards as well as accounting policies and procedures. Also, ensure operating units are aligned with the overall Alcon Group and Finance strategy and objectives. 

They will establish a well performing operation that meets agreed service levels, drives productivity improvements on a continuous basis and achieves operational excellence as measured internally and against external benchmarks. Ensure a robust coordination and collaboration with the European FRA Operations Leadership and operational teams driving harmonization and standardization across the EMEA region. They will be a member of the Europe FRA Operations Leadership Team.

They will also act as the regional technical accounting leader for the region providing guidance and support in line with Alcon Manual of Accounting and IFRS knowledge.  The role as well will act to consolidate and monitor ongoing audits whether tax, statutory or internal.  The role will be an escalation point on complex accounting topics and work with the Global Technical Accounting team where needed.

In this role, a typical day will include:

Leadership and Management

- Actively engage in the EMEA Leadership team in setting the EMEA vision and objectives, and supporting implementation of agreed strategies and policies across the region

- Develop a high performing team of FRA leads and teams for countries in scope by engaging, motivating and providing the appropriate support through right staffing, retention and recognition of talents

- Coordinate with partners, customers and key stakeholders to ensure integration, efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of FRA services

- Business partner with Alcon International key stakeholders to ensure that business objectives are met through provision of timely, accurate and relevant financial information

- Own EMEA R2R RPO activities implementation in the region (promotion of common practices, enforcement of globally approved projects and processes, monthly KPIs consolidation and action tracking, monthly Global & Regional projects update, review and approval of continuous improvement initiatives (FIT tool))

- Actively engage in driving an innovation mindset promoting continuous improvement, use of new digital technology (automation tools) and Lean Six Sigma methodologies

- Strive for excellence in communication within the organization

- Actively manage the FRA cluster budget and head count to ensure targets including the management of risk and associated impacts

- Ensure group and statutory audit fees are managed proactively and in compliance with FRA Corporate direction

- Lead, coordinate and support in ad hoc projects

Accounting & Reporting

- Ownership of all Financial Reporting & Accounting activities for defined Cluster.

- Be Single Point of Contact for all accounting & reporting matters related to the Cluster

- Provide strong reporting/decision support for Country Finance Heads, support the Cluster business and all external users including but not restricted to Regional FRA team, BPA teams (Unit BPAs and Bangalore BPAs) and Local and Regional HoF’s.

- Provide Accounting Services through managing own team and / or liaison(s) in outsourced services providers (within the Group and 3rd party services providers)

- Ensure accounting services are conducted in line with IFRS, Alcon accounting standards.

- Strive for excellence in quality and timeliness, ensuring all statutory requirements are met.

- Act as business owner Finance/Controlling over the companies ERP system

- Provide accounting support for major business deals.

- Ensure timely and accurate delivery of financial reports for all applicable Countries across the region. Coordinate local timelines for reporting of Actual results.

- Liaise with relevant Alcon functions, providing necessary information related to the process/region/cluster.

- Prepare the regular financial statements review, developing tools and processes for constant quality and efficiency improvements across the regional FRA organizations

- Proactively manage potential risks to FRA service delivery and performance, i.e. early identification of root causes for issues and taking corrective actions to remediate/solve

FRA EMEA Technical Accounting

- Responsible for assisting the Heads FRA EMEA Operations, Technical Accounting, Consolidation and Reporting, in ensuring accounting compliance with IFRS.

- Provide assistance in the quarterly and annual intangible impairment review/testing procedures; maintaining Sarbanes-Oxley Act processes for FRA Operations global controls; and various monthly/quarterly reporting activities for the FRA Operations.

- Provide accounting / reporting support as SPOC/SME for FRA EMEA Operations areas on technical accounting utilizing IFRS knowledge, understanding of the Alcon Manual of Accounting, and working with the Global Technical Accounting team.

- Building a strong understanding of the Alcon Manual of Accounting and attending policy updates and communicating these policies to the local entities, FRA Operations, Business Units (BU’s) function, etc.

- Investigating financial accounting policy issues, recommending, and implementing actions as appropriate.

- Providing technical accounting support to local entities, regions and functions (in line with the responsibility matrix) for complex / significant matters, preparing / reviewing appropriate accounting documentation (Accounting Position Paper) in line with matrix for approval of accounting issues.

- Responsible for assisting the Head of FRA Operations TA in maintaining the various requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the FRA Operations in conjunction with established processes.

- Responsible for analyzing the FRA Operations and balance sheet, cash flow, other operating income and expense, intangible assets and provisions, and other elements associated with the specific activities of functions supported by FRA Operations TA (including product costing and development) and driving improvements in the process and presentation of the output.

- Act as central point to monitor statutory audits, tax audits, indirect tax compliance, KPI monitoring, and other activities to provide a region view

- Rolling out improvements in the process and documentation to the Regions and local entities as appropriate.

- Supporting IFRS to US GAAP conversion readiness where applicable.

- Preparing and/or reviewing training material content for FRA, including instructing assigned sessions.

Compliance

- Ensure full compliance to AFCM/SOX 404 requirements driving the Internal Control annual cycle within the Reporting Units for assigned controls (self-assessment, testing, remediation, and certification).

- Manage the quarterly SOX 302 certification process and work with Global FRA Operations to clarify issues

- Strive for Internal Control improvements, drive for automation and simplification of the internal control set-up, while maintaining all the Risks under control in line with Novartis requirements

- Liaise with auditors as required

People Management

- Role model a leadership style which is inclusive, proactive, respectful, change agile, innovation/creativity and results driven

- Manage a large, diverse team to deliver a high-performing organization

- Initiates within the workforce a strong customer service focus and culture

- Ensure that the local FRA staff are appropriately skilled, trained and developed

- Monitor and manage performance against objectives for all direct reports

- Ensure performance measures are aligned to the finance aspiration

- Recruit, train and develop financial associates to provide high quality service levels and provide for back-up and succession planning.

Other

- Change Agent within the Group, constantly leading best practice sharing, process improvements and developing the teams profile, skills and talent

- Active attendance at the Regional project meetings to ensure the Cluster affiliates’ views are heard and taken into account when implementing significant changes to the EMEA FRA function

- Strive for excellence in quality, timeliness and compliance of all implemented solutions, ensuring all requirements are met

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO ALCON:

Education (minimum/desirable):

Certified specialist (i.e. Chartered Accountant, CPA) for Finance and Accounting or similar University degree

Experience:

- 10+ years’ experience in Financial reporting and accounting department.

- Excellent understanding and ability with ERP systems, as well as relevant financial sub-systems, familiar with built in controls and information flow.

- Strong leadership and management skills - line management, coaching, influencing, mentoring & development of team members.

- Strong knowledge and practice of IFRS.

- Very strong written and oral communication skills.

- Experience in large scale industrial multinational environment and in the Eastern European and MEA markets

- Masters or Advanced degree in Accounting and/or Finance preferred

- CPA/Chartered Accountant Preferred? Accounting experience – Public and Industry

- Comprehensive knowledge of IFRS (GAAP), accounting and financial reporting requirements.

- Experience in financial accounting and reporting, auditing and financial process engineering, with record of strong control focus

- Proficient ERP knowledge (SAP, JDE)

- Solid Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

- Experience working with shared services teams

Languages: Fluent in English, both written and spoken

Other languages an asset

HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON:

? Manage your own workload and schedule while hitting your set targets

? Collaborate with teammates to share best practices and learnings as work evolves

? See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities

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