Accountant at Hotpoint Appliances Ltd

Reports to: Finance Manager

Department: Finance

Location: Ruiru

Job Purpose

• The role is responsible for processing transactions, maintaining proper books of accounts, preparing financial reports, plans, forecasts, analysis and to facilitate effective decision making across the organization. The role has responsibilities for Cash and Tax accounting.
• The role aims to provide timely, accurate and complete financial information and to come up with data-driven insights on how to optimize costs and drive business performance in an optimal way.
• The role entails the analysis of the company’s key overheads, tax and cost drivers.

  Job Responsibility and Accountability

• Process transactions, maintain proper, up-to-date books of accounts and prepare financial reports, ensure compliance with policies and procedures, and assist the Finance / Treasury / Credit Manager in all finance operations-related tasks.
• Prepare, consolidate and track financial entries and ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Monitor and control costs.
• Review and approve journals.
• Prepare reconciliations, commentaries and reports to explain actual performance Vs Budgets and other comparatives.
• Analyze trends on past and current revenues, margins, overheads, tax to provide insights that enable the management to anticipate and plan for the future.
• Analyse the impact of tax, change of accounting policy, procedures and other initiatives.
• Prepare and analyse finance-related reports.
• Collaborate / assist other accountants and build strong partnerships cross-functionally.
• Develop templates for analyzing different scenarios for overheads, revenues, margins, working capital etc.
• Identify and analyze tax savings opportunities for the company.
• Drive revenue and cost optimization initiatives
• Provide the management with analysis and advice on cost optimization and allocation.
• Use qualitative and quantitative techniques to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of overheads utilization (e.g use of ratios).
• Perform cost / benefit analysis for proposed, current and closed projects and initiatives, including outsourced services, leasing, pricing, discounts e.t.c
• Proactively partner with and advise non-finance team members on revenues and cost control and optimization.
• Working closely with the retail, sales, marketing and supply chain teams to map out cost optimization opportunities and project forecasts.
• Participate in the cross-functional review and analysis of cost center reports.
• Assist the Financial Accountant to conduct the finance training as part of an upskilling and awareness creation program.
• Go for structured trade visits to develop a deep commercial appreciation of the business
• Perform pre and post implementation evaluation of the effectiveness of cost optimization initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate the cost efficiency of each department.
• Overheads’ budget and tax controls / process checks & reviews
• Controls and compliance: Facilitate audits and perform self-assessments on overheads/tax optimization   procedures, policies and initiatives.
• Coach / train other accountants in the team.
• Work with line managers on development plan.
• Work cross-functionally to implement and improve financial data, systems and reports.
• Participate in various committees or task forces geared to business performance improvement, strategy development and execution.
• Carry out ad hoc assignments as assigned from time to time by the line Manager, Financial Accountant and CFO.

  Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics from an accredited University.
• Membership of a recognized professional accountancy body (e.g. CFA, CPA or ACCA).
• Minimum 2 years’ relevant experience in a busy Finance environment.
• Must be conversant with Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience in working with analytics tools such as BI, Qlik, Business Warehouse e.t.c will be an added advantage.

  Key Skills:

• Interpretation of financial information with a commercial lens.
• Excellent financial modelling skills.
• High attention to detail, excellent analytical and presentation skills.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across the organization.
• Stakeholder and risk management experience.
• A strong team player with demonstrated experience in leading and working with teams.
• Knowledge of commercial finance best practices.