Accounting Lead

Job Description - Accounting Lead (ACC
000516) Job Number

ACC
000516

AZADEA Group is a premier lifestyle retail company that owns and operates more than 40 leading international franchise concepts in fashion and accessories, food and beverage, home furnishings, sporting goods, multimedia and beauty and cosmetics across the Middle East and Africa spread across 13 countries overseeing more than 700 stores.

The Accounting Lead is responsible for overseeing and supervising core accounting functions, ensuring compliance with group accounting policies, procedures, and local laws/regulations.

• Develop, update, and monitor compliance with core accounting policies and procedures, ensuring adherence to relevant sections of the Finance department's Delegation of Authority Matrix.
• Supervise the preparation of regular accounting reports, including the trial balance, monthly payment schedule, daily cash report, and daily collection report. Validate and ensure the accuracy of financial data by reconciling ledgers and accounts.
• Analyze transactional processes to identify opportunities for enhancing operational efficiency. Implement improvements in workflow, automation, simplification, and standardization of processes to streamline operations.
• Monitor and track payments to suppliers, approve checks and payment vouchers based on approved authority. Supervise bank transactions, letters of credit (LCs), shipping documents, and other financial instruments to ensure accuracy and compliance with established procedures.
• Coordinate the monthly and annual close process, ensuring adherence to cut-off dates and making necessary adjustments as per the period-end calendar.
• Maintain and update the Chart of Accounts for each entity to ensure consistency and alignment with current business needs.
• Process and approve inter-company transactions to prevent double counting and ensure the accuracy of financial statements. Ensure the integrity of accounting records and financial systems and strengthen internal controls.
• Collaborate with IT team to define user requirements for system development and upgrades, ensuring alignment with business needs and objectives.
• Produce and validate ad hoc reports and presentations as requested by management. Collaborate closely with the Shared Service Centre team to oversee and validate the preparation of financial reports, ensuring compliance with group timelines. Report to country management as required.
• Ensure adherence to taxation regulations, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and company procedures. Collaborate closely with internal and external auditors throughout financial and operational audits to ensure the provision of accurate and timely information.
• Monitor the annual country budget, identifies variances, and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
• Assist Azadea's Business Services team with special projects requested by upper management.
• Recruit, train, motivate, and evaluate the team to ensure that the department has the necessary skill base, and that staff are optimally motivated and enabled to maximize their potential and contribution to the company.

• Fluency in English.

• Proficiency in MS Office.

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with emphasis on Accounting, or Finance, or a related field.

MBA or CPA is a plus.

Six to eight years of experience in a similar role.

Three years of experience in a managerial role.

To make better business decisions. For example, provides rich and rigorous forecasts of the financial implications of ideas and opportunities. Makes well-balanced decisions regarding expenditures that take into account multiple considerations.

Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders. For example, ensures that own efforts meet the needs and requirements of internal and external stakeholders. Works to identify all relevant issues and satisfy…