Senior Financial Controller

Job Title

Senior Financial Controller

Job Description Summary

Position: Senior Financial Controller
Department: Financial Controllership
Reports To: SVP International Controller
Location: Amsterdam

Job Description

Role Purpose

The individual will support the EMEA Finance Operations Controller to deliver Financial Control for all entities in Netherlands. The role is responsible for ensuring all financial data and reporting is complete, accurate and complies with Global, Regional and Local legislation, regulation, polices and processes. The role is responsible for all aspects of Finance Controllership delivery for Netherlands including external and internal audits plus full oversight and management review of all accounting activities impacting the entities within scope. The individual should proactively adopt the outsourced finance operating model and core technology and support driving efficient, effective, aligned processes.
 

Key Responsibilities

Close & Reporting

• Responsible for accurate, timely, monthly closing of the books (in US Gaap) including preparing and reviewing supporting journals all in accordance with Global & EMEA deadlines, policies and compliance requirements,
• Approve AR invoice requests, AP invoices and journals checking all for completeness, accuracy and compliance
• Monitor and minimize late journals, unadjusted items and off system ETB adjustments
• Responsible for the timely production, management review, variance explanations, query resolution and sign off of all reporting and disclosures requirements (internal, external, statutory, treasury and group – including all supplementals) in accordance with polices & timetables issued by US/EMEA Controllership and in accordance with all relevant regulations and controls
• Deliver adequate management review over all aspects of accounting, the financial statements and reporting (eg FX, balance sheet reconciliations, close completeness etc) to identify and remediate issues
• Responsible for driving timely investigation & resolution of unusual, outstanding & aged items (eg: Balance sheet reconciliations open items, bank open items, intercompany mismatch, aged accruals)
• Support for all Netherlands payrolls
• Support appropriate requests from senior management
   

Audits & Statutory Financial Statements

• Support and contribute to the co-ordination, planning, management and cost efficiency of 9 local audits including the co-ordination and timely delivery of all PBC deliverables
• Support minimising audit costs and over-runs and implementing efficiencies in the audit process
• Support and contribute to the production, review, approval and filing of all local statutory accounts (in relevant GAAP) including production by others in accordance with required governance and local filing dates.
• For MS LLP, support and contribute to the production, review and approval of partnership accounts.
• Support Internal Audits and implement agreed recommendations according to plan

Collaboration with FSC, BOS, EMEA Centre, HR, all external advisors, Tax, Treasury, FP&A

• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders producing financial data (input or output).
• Support improvements to processes and controls that ensure data is recorded accurately and on a timely basis, including change management and training
• Support the timely resolution of issues, queries and escalations raised by stakeholders (eg the Business, US/EMEA Controllership, FSC teams (AP, AR, Treasury, Inter-company, Controllership), PWC and Buzzacott
• Proactively adopt and support all aspects of the Finance Operating model including efficiency initiatives. Take steps to make the FSC staff feel part of the ‘Belux & MSLLP ’ Finance team (retained/outsourced)

Balance Sheet Control

• Perform monthly reviews of balance reconciliations to identify unsupported items and drive monitored, timely resolution. Unadjusted amounts must be reported in accordance with Group reporting requirements
• Work with Internal Control and Senior Management to establish reconciliation frequency and thresholds that are risk appropriate and efficient
   

Compliance & Control

• Support the communication, training, understanding and implementation of existing and new Accounting and Treasury Policies ensuring financial records and reporting are compliant
• Support all SOX controls eg SOX 302 sub-certification process
• Responsible for ensuring financial controls are performed and appropriately designed (eg Co-star and reporting systems) to satisfy US and Local Gaap/IFRS and are performed on a timely basis and deficiencies are remediated
• Responsible for accurate, efficient coding (AP,AR, journals, payroll, manual payments) that minimizes reporting issues, re-classifications and balance sheet reconciliation issues
• Support senior management, Global & EMEA Controllership in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, checklists and close calendars
   

Revenue Recognition & Debtors

• Support the execution of accurate, documented revenue recognition review controls by the business, finance & the BPO
• Perform contract reviews where required and proactively support the adoption of EMEA policies and process
• Ensure bad debt allowances are in accordance with policy and Support aged debt reduction and the achievement of DSO targets
   

 Skills and Experience

• Experience in managing month end close process within a BPO / Shared service model
• Experience managing audits and statutory accounts process – audit background and SOX control experience preferred
• Financial management experience with a proven ability to translate financial data into commercial language
• Preferred: knowledge of core reporting systems, Essbase, HFM & Workday
• Possesses deep understanding of controllership activities within the context of a global professional services business
• Post qualification experience more than 5 years
• Knowledge and expertise of US Gaap
• Preferred: knowledge of core reporting systems, HFM & Workday. Essbase also preferred
• Preferred: Local Gaap/IFRS, SOX
• Effective communication skills in English, both oral and written, Dutch is of an advantage
   

What do we offer

• An informal working atmosphere in which you work together with enthusiastic and inspiring colleagues with years of experience in commercial real estate;
• Plenty of room for own initiatives, a lot of independence and responsibility plus various growth opportunities;
• A pleasant workplace in modern offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht;
• Good secondary benefits including 31 days of leave, laptop and iPhone, holiday pay, bonus scheme, pension scheme, employer's contribution to group health insurance and company fitness!
   

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2023, the firm reported revenue of $9.5 billion across its core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. It also receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), sustainability and more. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com. 

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