Accounting Associate

General Overview

Functional Area:  FIN - Finance
Career Stream:  FPE - Financial Process Execution
Role:  Associate
SAP Short Name:  ASS
Job Title:  Accounting Associate
Job Code:  ASS-FIN-ACCT
Job Level:  Band 06
Direct/Indirect Indicator:  Indirect

Summary

To ensure the integrity of balance sheet accounts by performing monthly account reconciliations and accounting entries. Highlighting discrepancies and correcting where appropriate or identifying actions for others to complete.Entry level during which an employee receives both functional and organizational training under moderate supervision. Incumbents carry out assignments within well-defined practices, procedures and policies. Works independently on details of assignments, and has limited decision-making authority; most decisions are made or guided by the immediate supervisor. Decisions/actions may have an impact on the department's/divisions goals. Works under moderate supervision and requires direction on how assignments are to be executed; begins to put forward ideas on how work assignments are completed. Establishes cooperative relationships to work effectively with colleagues; supports others and participates as a team member. Responsibility for own work commitments. Interacts directly with immediate supervisor, co-workers and team members; engages in routine exchanges of information; interactions with external contacts, if applicable, would be monitored.

Detailed Description

Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Prepares manual accounting entries and monitor system generated entries to ensure that financial statements are accurate and stated in accordance with GAAP.
• Prepares monthly account reconcilations for a series of balance sheet accounts.
• Ensures all reconciling items are cleared in a timely manner, by making the adjustment or communicating recommended action to the appropriate individual for correction.
• Thorough understanding of the balance sheet accounts in their scope of responsibility so that errors and anomalies can be recognized and explained or corrected immediately.
• Creates monthly reports to analyze variances between actual, forecast and plan.
• Provides an explanation of variances to management.
• Takes independent action to gather ideas and gain consensus with cross-functional teams on process improvement recommendations.
• Communicates to ensure ideas are understood and accepts perspective of others.
• Writes effectively and makes internal presentations.
• Actively participates in team discussions.
• Shares ideas, knowledge and skills.
• Treats all team members fairly.
• Evaluates alternatives based on pros/cons.
• Provides input on how to manage required changes.
• Leads by example and is accountable for own actions.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

• Working knowledge of corporate accounting policies
• Strong system skills, including common office platforms such as MS Office and Access, along with strong analytical skills
• Good communication, negotiation and presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy and working under tight time deadlines.
• Can distinguish between urgent and important issues and prioritize their work accordingly.
• Ability to evaluate, prioritize and problem solve a variety of tasks to ensure their timely and accurate completion
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of internal and external customers
• Thorough understanding of accounting principals.
• Can apply Corporate Accounting policy and procedures manual.
• Ability to manage specific general ledger accounts including reconciliations and understanding of accounting processes related to these accounts.
• Ability to prepare a forecast for one element of the business (cost center, profit center, pricing forecast or key balance sheet component)
• Ability to calculate and do basic interpretation of all key business metrics.
• Provide interpretation of reports/results to users.
• Generates reports with job-related software.
• Understanding of the capabilities of the tools can identify problems and trouble shoot input errors.
• Understands inter-relationships between depar

Physical Demands

• Duties of this position are performed in a normal office environment
• Duties may require extended periods of sitting and sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data
• Repetitive manual movements are frequently required (e.g. data entry, using a computer mouse, using a calculator, etc)
• Occasional overnight travel may be required

Typical Experience

• Zero to two years of experience in related field

Typical Education

• Bachelor degree in related field, or consideration of an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Enrollment at an intermediate level of an accounting designation may be required
• Education experience may vary by geography.

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.