Group Consolidations Financial Accountant at Aspen Pharma Group

JOB PURPOSE

To aid and support Group Consolidation and reporting team in delivering quality, timeous and accurate Group consolidated financial information for all actualities – actual, budgets and forecasts to all relevant stakeholders including external auditors, internal auditors, Group Reporting Executive, Group CFO, board members and external stakeholders. Responsible for preparing and processing of elimination and other applicable consolidation journal entries and ensuring all intercompany balances and transactions contra. Provide updates of all Group reporting deadlines to relevant stakeholders as well as following up and coordinating adherence of these deadlines. Responsible for ensuring that foundation systems used to prepare an accurate and timeous consolidation has been submitted on time, this include (but not limited to):

• Sales and cost of sales information in GFS system
•  Submission of financial statement information in Cognos by affiliates
• Submission of additional information by all affiliates

Responsible for assisting with the preparation of the subsidiary financial statements using Caseware and ensuring compliance with Group. Liason between external audit and other stakeholders to ensure timeous sign-off of these AFS without major findings.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Group Reporting:

• Prepare Group management accounts for all actualities timeously;
• Prepares and processes Group elimination consolidation journals.  Ensuring all journals are complete, accurate with relevant supporting information.
• Reconcile Cognos submissions and review of information provided by all affiliates to ensure compliance with Group policies and accounting principles
• Reconcile and clear discrepancies between GFS sales and cost of sales information to Cognos
• Prepares all discontinued information in co-operation with Group consolidation manager to ensure information is accurate and timeous for all current and historical periods
• Executes improvements in data formats and processes to drive reduction of reporting days from a Group perspective
• Prepare and coordinates of all Group reporting deadlines to relevant stakeholders as well as reporting on adherence of these deadlines as well as ensuring compliance of these deadlines
• Combines responsibility with the rest of the team to ensure Group reporting is improving with 2 days by the end of 2022
• Responsible for providing accurate information to STATS SA.

Cognos Support: 

• Assists affiliates and all relevant stakeholders on Cognos related aspects to enable them to provide Cognos information timeous and accurate
• Locks dormant Cognos companies on a monthly basis
• General maintenance of reporting packs (Submission 1, 2 and 3) for affiliate and external auditors

Systems:

• Responsible to ensure that all sales related information submitted by affiliates are submitted on time and that the information is accurate  and relevant
• Responsible to ensure that all cost of sales  related information submitted by affiliates are submitted on time and that the information is accurate and relevant
• Manages all changes to master data information submitted into the GFS system relating to the above items as well as communication to the relevant stakeholders of changes
• Uploads monthly exchange rates (aligned with Cognos exchange rate) into GF

Projects:

• Prepare and assist team to prepare subsidiary AFS using Caseware and enhance disclosure and improve timelines as well as standardising financial statements.
• Assists the team in driving an overall reduction in reporting days of between 2/3 days a year
• Takes-on Cogs process in the GFS system (aligned with current revenue process)
• Plays an essential role in meeting the reduction of subsidiary AFS sign-off by 4 weeks

Stakeholder Management:  

• Builds a strong relationship between Consolidation team/Finance Project Team/Finance Project Team
• Collaborates with subsidiaries and external auditors to assist with meeting Group deadlines

Annual Financial Statements:                                                                                                                                                             

• Prepares of Subsidiary Annual Financial statements.
• Prepares of subsidiary annual financial statements in compliance with IFRS using Caseware.
• Liason with Group and subsidiary external auditors to ensure subsidiary AFS are sign off timeously             

Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Educational qualifications & experience:

• BCom Accounting degree or similar
• +3 years’ experience within a Group consolidation team with detailed knowledge of consolidation processes

Specific experience, knowledge and registrations:

• Commercial knowledge
• Pharmaceutical industry knowledge
• Good systems knowledge on Cognos and any other  consolidation systems and related financial reporting and business analysis application
• Detailed understanding of IFRS principles
• Knowledge of Global financial system
• Knowledge of Consolidation processes and principles

Work-specific skills & exposure:

• Advanced excel skills
• Excellent TM1 skills
• Good knowledge of Cognos system
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong CaseWare skills

Skills and attributes:

• Ability to interact with global colleagues and assist with technical queries and develop strong working relationships;
• Commercial and business awareness;
• Must be analytical with a focus on attention to detail, sense of urgency and deadline orientated;
• Energetic, self-motivated, with good problem-solving skills, initiative and a passion for service excellence;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written);
• Ability to function under pressure and organized approach and ability to prioritise deliverables
• Be able to influence and motivate the team including peers;

Knowledge:

• Accounting processes; finance systems; technical accounting; detailed IFRS knowledge; consolidation processes; continual updates of latest accounting practices and standards

ASPEN COMPETENCIES:

Business: 

• Performance Driven - ability to operate with a high level of energy, whilst remaining focused on the required outcomes. ‘Can do attitude’ and the courage to enter unknown territories. Set demanding targets and continually strive for high standards.
• Makes Good Decisions – solution orientated, innovative, agile and proactive. Good decisions are informed decisions. Employees need to seek information, isolate issues, hear.
• Create the future – challenge the convention and seek to find more productive and cost-efficient ways of doing things, continuously improving systems and processes to the benefit of Aspen.

People:

• Communicates effectively – Clear and transparent communication leads to clear understanding. Sincere messaging with no hidden agendas.
• Dealing with ambiguity and embraces change – ability to comfortably initiate change and overcome obstacles operating with a high level of flexibility. Show resilience in the face of constraints, frustrations or adversity.

Self:

• Contributes special expertise - contribute specific technical or functional expertise in their chosen career and possess an understanding of the bigger pharmaceutical industry picture.
• Takes action with integrity –internalise the principles of the Aspen Code of Conduct and demonstrate integrity, fairness, accountability, respect, transparency and sincerity.