Book to Record Manager at Lafarge Africa Plc

Lafarge Africa Plc is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group - the biggest building and concrete solutions company in the world. It is a publicly quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and serves Nigeria with a wide range of building and construction solutions designed to meet housing and construction needs from small projects like individual home buildings to major construction and infrastructure projects.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Book to Record Manager

Requisition ID:  2735
Location: Lagos

Job Summary

• The role holder is responsible for managing all accounting and financial reporting matters for the country.
• He/She is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate reporting of financial results and other group and statutory reporting requirements. He/She will collaborate with the rest of FSSC team to ensure proper reconciliations are done for all ledgers and that proper books are kept.
• In this role, He/She will foster a strong connection with the Group Accounting, Reporting & Consolidation Team (ARC) team to ensure full and timely local compliance with Holcim’s Accounting & Reporting Policy (HARP).
• He/She will also coordinate external audits with the company’s auditors and manage audit requests efficiently and in a timely manner.

Responsibilities
Internal and External Financial Reporting:

• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Prepare all board relate reports as it relates to Statutory Financial Statements
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual hard close process by tracking all month-end close activities with cross-functional stakeholders
• Provide insights into balance sheet movements and cash-flows and ensure account reconciliations, intercompany charges, fixed assets and bank reconciliations are properly managed and sign-off at country level.
• Address complex accounting topics in collaboration with the functional controller and ensure full compliance to HARP in accounting for all business transactions.

Audit and Internal Controls:

• Coordinate and manage the external audit process in collaboration with auditors, ensuring smooth and efficient audit engagements.
• Coordinate the preparation of audit schedules, documentation, and supporting materials to facilitate the audit process.
• Act as Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (ICFR) champion for the country and ensure ICFR documentation is in place and properly kept for record purposes.

Fixed Assets Accounting:

• Oversee the fixed asset accounting process, including asset acquisitions, disposals, depreciation calculations, and impairment assessments.
• Ensure accurate and complete recording of fixed asset transactions in accordance with company policies and accounting standards.
• Perform periodic reconciliations and physical asset verifications to maintain the integrity of fixed asset records.
• Track the compilation of project costs/Capital expenditures into fixed asset accounts, and capitalize those projects once they have been completed.

General Ledger Supervision:

• Oversee the maintenance of the general ledger, including chart of accounts.
• Ensure accurate and complete recording of financial transactions in the general ledger.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, and intercompany transactions.
• Lead the monthly balance sheet reconciliation process, ensuring all reported numbers are substantiated with schedules and back-up documentations and these are centrally stored on drives.

Bank Reconciliations:

• Oversee the bank reconciliation process, ensuring timely and accurate reconciliation of bank accounts.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between bank statements and general ledger records.
• Monitor and reconcile other related accounts, such as credit card transactions and cash clearing accounts.

Process Improvement:

• Perform continuous assessment of the close process and lead process improvement or implement feedback to reduce the time required to close the financial period.
• Continuously evaluate existing accounting and financial reporting processes, identifying opportunities for improvement in efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness.
• Lead or participate in projects to streamline workflows, automate processes, and enhance the quality of financial reporting.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as IT and finance, to implement system enhancements and optimize data integrity.
• Drive the standardization and process improvement with areas of responsibility within financial reporting and accounting.

Team Management and Development:

• Lead and supervise a team of accounting professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment, encouraging professional growth and development of team members.
• Conduct performance evaluations, set goals, and identify training needs to enhance the skills and knowledge of the team.

Job Dimensions
Internal:

• Head of Financial Shared Services Centre, Chief Financial Officer, Head of FPP&A, General Counsel & Company Secretary and Group Accounting, Consolidation & Reporting (ARC) Team

External:

• Internal & External Auditors

Direct Reports:

• Financial Reporting Analyst
• General Ledger Team
• Fixed Asset Accounting Team
• Bank Reconciliation Accountant

Key Performance Indicator (KPIs)

• Timeliness of Financial Reporting: Measures the ability to prepare and submit financial statements and reports within established deadlines.
• Accuracy of Financial Reporting: Evaluates the accuracy and reliability of financial statements and reports, ensuring adherence to accounting standards and internal controls.
• General Ledger Integrity: Measures the maintenance of a reliable and accurate general ledger, reflected in minimal variances and proper segregation of duties.
• Reconciliation Accuracy and Timeliness: Evaluates the accuracy and timeliness of bank reconciliations and fixed asset accounting, demonstrating control over financial transactions and assets.
• Audit Performance and Findings: Assesses the effectiveness in managing external audits,including timely completion, satisfactory ratings, and minimal audit adjustments.

Requirements
Level of education/qualifications normally required:

• Degree in Accounting Finance, Economics, or any other relevant degree. ICAN or ACCA qualification is a pre-requisite for this role.

Specific Work experience:

• 7 to 10 years experience with at least 4 years in similar role, with people management responsibilities.
• Experience in multi-national companies with group reporting structure is an added advantage.

Technical / Functional Skills:

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, regulations, and standards (IFRS).
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Behavioral competence:

• Ability to work effectively under time pressure, in a demanding environment, while maintaining the highest professional standards.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders at various levels.

Leadership and Managerial Abilities:

• Ability to self-organize, drive consistency and high standards in team’s way of working, and take ownership of team output.
• Leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a team.

Mobility Requirements:

• Working conditions are normal for an office environment with occasional stretches to meet strict timelines. 

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.