The Outstation Finance Accountant is responsible for providing support to Finance Manager in the functions of management Accounting, General Administration, Procurement, Budget Reporting, Legal and Tax Matters of Brussels Airlines in a station, performing his/her tasks in full compliance with the local rules and regulations well as the Lufthansa Group and Brussels Airlines internal guidelines and procedures. He/she puts everything in place in his/her field of activity in order to safeguard and enhance the company’s reputation and assets in the country. He/she takes ownership of the tasks falling in the scope of the Finance activities.
1. Accounting
The Finance Accountant must master the SAP accounting software. It is an every-day task. At all times, the SAP content must reflect the truth. He/She must refer to the booklets of procedure for the proper application of the company’s internal rules
o Payable accounts:
– Verification and posting in SAP of all local influx invoices and local expenses reports with the tools: Finesse, Scantool, Fuel, etc.;
Generate payment to suppliers according to the applicable procedures, contractual due dates
General administration: contact and negotiation with suppliers on handling requests, statements of account, etc.
Tax application and control
o Accounts Receivable:
Financial control of direct sales performed at CTO and ATO with the use of e-tools: Oneres and Sirax. Sales are electronically and automatically posted in SAP; purpose, payments, corrections and matching of related accounts should be performed
Control of corn received
BSP sales: general administration, follow-up of defaulting agents, BSP-Link administration, ADM/ACM administration
– Financial handling of refunds – claims
– Periodic management of the credit facilities, contact with the customers, reconciliation
o banks.
Daily posting of the bank transactions
Daily matching of related accounts, periodic bank reconciliation
o General accounting
Payroll posting
Monthly and Yearly closure: verification, posting of provisions, clearing of accounts
according to company’s procedure
– Control and clearing of the control accounts
2. Administration
o Collect the information from the departments, prepare the salaries for the payroll provider, Timely payment of salaries, taxes and general contributions
o Prepare the periodic staff list for HR BRU
o Asset/Stock management (Assets, equipment, furniture, vehicles, consumables, etc.)
o General contract management, assist the business unit for new contracts and their renewal, coordination with the local lawyer/consultants, with BRU departments, filing contracts in the newly created central folder BUY:CONTRACT
o Procurement – Purchase order: according to the existing SN/LHG guidelines using the JUSTORDER tool exclusively
3. 3. Budget monitoring
o Take part in budget preparations
o Accounting control of costs / income realized versus budget (GR55 tool in SAP)
o Propose and corrective action measures in agreement with line management
o Provide accurate financial reports to the local management and HQ
o Use of Anaplan tool to prepare, adjust, justify variances BUD vv actuals
4. Legal and Tax matters
o Periodic control, with the support of the local legal counsel, local tax and payroll consultants, legal and Tax BRU offices and Finance long Haul Dept, that Brussels Airlines is at all times updated with local laws and regulations (Legal, labour, tax, etc.
o Signing all documents, contracts mean for third parties (customers, suppliers, staff, general airport and non-airport related authorities) as per company rules.
o Follow-up of local legal cases against SN or initiated by SN
5. Treasury Management
o Plan and handle regular transfer of funds to/from BRU HQ, keeping local cash levels to a minimum, and communicating with Treasury Dept BRU
o Periodic forecasting to plan Cash-in and cash-out
o Daily communication of bank balance to Corporate Finance HQ
o Keep funds secure at all times and in all SN locations in a country-present
o Outgoing payments: according to due dates and planning
6. Credit Management
o Customer analysis credit request from sales department (Passenger, Cargo and Mail)
o Develop a local Credit Policy in line with the existing Finance Outstations procedures
o Periodic follow-up of client age list
o Take all necessary steps to obtain payment on or before due date (reminders, etc.)
o Suspend/nnish credit facilities, triggering legal actions if needed
o Organize weekly meetings with sales department to review list and agree on corrective measures.
7. Compliance
o Strict application of the 4 eyes principle.
o Strict observance of anti-bribery and anti-corruption rules
o Strict observance of the European GDPR rules
Key Result Areas
· Key result area 1
Up to date keeping of the local accounting. Take full responsibility and ownership of the contents in terms of quality and quantity
· Key result area 2
Ensures an effective credit and treasury management according to Brussels Airlines and local legal criteria.
· Key area 3
Fully interact with colleagues and the different departments as a real teamplayer.
· Key result area 4
Provides timely and accurate reporting to the local management team members, as well as to the selected HQ management.
· Key result area 5
4 eyes principle: escalate to the Finance Manager non-compliance or deviations from the internal rules and procedures or laws issues.
Skills
– Accounting degree is required, CPA/ACCA qualification is desired
Some experience in the international field – lived and work abroad (Africa) are additional assets
Fluent in English, both verbal and written. Proficiency in French is an added advantage
Excellent communicator:
Frequent contacts with key managers in head office, not limited to the Finance Dept (Commercial, Ground OPS, HR, Security, to list a few);
Frequent contacts with the outstations: local staff, Managers and Country managers, with instructions if need be; contact with key partners like the banks, the consultants, the authorities.
