Senior Accountant, Financial Reporting

This is an international accounting and financial reporting position. Responsible for the preparation and completion of the Firm’s financial statement audits on a global basis. This position requires a hands-on technical accountant who is multi-talented, team-oriented, analytical, and organized, with excellent documentation skills and the ability to provide accurate results. This position is ideal for a candidate who enjoys working on multiple financial statement audits similar to what’s done in public accounting but prefers to work for one Firm and enjoys being part of the Firm’s Finance team. There’s essentially no travel necessary.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Financial Statement Audits
  • Support the preparation and completion of the Firm’s annual financial statement audits on a global basis, working closely with external auditors.  The Firm currently has seven financial statement audits on a global basis.
  • Support the preparation and completion of the Firm’s annual consolidated and statutory financial statements utilizing the modified cash basis, accrual basis, or tax basis of accounting, as necessary, and applying country-specific accounting principles as appropriate.
  • Prepare workpapers and obtain supporting documentation for journal entries, general ledger balances, financial statement balances, and financial statement notes.  Apply analytical skills to identify, research, and document significant changes in balances.  Analyze the cumulative translation adjustment and reconcile the VAT accounts between the cash and accrual books.
  • Prepare workpapers and obtain supporting documentation as requested by the Firm’s global external audit teams.
  • Support the implementation of new country-specific accounting pronouncements.
  • Compare data in local tax books with data in Aderant when necessary.
  • Maintain electronic files for audit workpapers, including external audit engagement letters. 
  • Compare external auditor invoices with agreed fees prior to approval, track audit-related disbursements vs agreed fees.

• Intercompany invoices
  • Prepare workpapers and obtain supporting documentation for intercompany invoices.
  • Prepare the Firm’s intercompany invoices and track settlements where necessary.

• Other responsibilities
  • Identify areas for process improvements and assist in the development of new procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and effectiveness of processes.
  • Apply expertise, knowledge, and skills to a wide range of standard and less typical accounting issues; identify and recommend solutions for complex problems.
  • Maintain shareable lists to organize and track completion of tasks.
  • Maintain efficient and logical shareable filing systems.
  • Prepare workpapers and provide documentation as requested by others across the Firm, including the Tax team.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS / KSAs:

• Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Accounting or equivalent.
• 3+ years of relevant audit and accounting experience.
• Public accounting audit experience.
• Law firm or professional services accounting experience.
• International and multi-currency experience.
• Excellent customer service and a team player mentality.
• Leadership skills including promoting teamwork, establishing consensus, coaching and guiding others.
• Diligence and self-discipline to produce high-quality work with minimal errors.
• Solid documentation skills to provide information necessary for internal and external review.
• Solid analytical skills to resolve increasingly difficult accounting challenges.
• Ability to research and document complex accounting processes.
• Ability to explain difficult issues clearly and concisely.
• Computer Skills – Expertise in MS Excel including pivot tables and advanced formulas; ability to become an expert in Aderant accounting inquiry and reporting functions; proficiency in Word.
• Ability to work overtime and during non-routine hours to communicate with global contacts.
• Strong desire to improve accounting skills and knowledge and to progress in responsibilities.

Additional Job Description

Location(s)

PhiladelphiaAustin, Boston, Charlotte, Washington DC

Time Type

Full time

Dechert LLP is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination.  The Firm prohibits unlawful discrimination in any term or condition of employment against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, membership or service in the armed forces, or any other characteristic protected by law.