Connect Group

We are looking for an ambitious, driven finance professional to join my client's European finance team, taking ownership of senior-level tasks and ensuring all European entity management accounts are completed accurately and within tight month-end deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Ensure timely completion of month-end and year-end close activities.
• Analyze balance sheet and income statement accounts, explaining significant variances.
• Support monthly management reporting and consolidated financial reporting packages.
• Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies and internal controls using SAP ECC, S/4 HANA, NetSuite, and BlackLine processes.

General Ledger Accounting

• Maintain general ledger integrity across assigned European entities.
• Review transactions for proper accounting treatment under US GAAP and local accounting requirements.
• Monitor accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, intercompany transactions, and reserves.
• Coordinate intercompany reconciliations and settlement activities.

Statutory & Regulatory Compliance

• Support the preparation of local statutory financial statements.
• Coordinate with external accounting firms and auditors on statutory reporting requirements.
• Assist with local tax reporting support, including VAT and other indirect tax filings.
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory, accounting, and reporting obligations.

Audit Support

• Act as a primary contact for internal and external auditors.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and technical accounting analyses.
• Assist with internal control documentation and the implementation of corrective actions arising from audit findings.

Business Partnership & Process Improvement

• Partner with operational leaders to understand business performance and accounting implications.
• Provide financial support to regional management teams and assist with budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, and reporting efficiency.
• Participate in finance transformation initiatives, ERP enhancements, and the implementation/optimization of SAP S/4HANA and BlackLine.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

• Experience Years: 5–8 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Preferred Background: Experience within a multinational life sciences, medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or manufacturing organization; public accounting experience preferred.

Technical & Accounting Skills:

• Strong knowledge of US GAAP (IFRS knowledge is a plus).
• Knowledge of internal control frameworks, revenue recognition, inventory accounting, and manufacturing cost accounting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with SAP ECC, S/4HANA, or other ERP systems (and BlackLine or similar consolidation tools).
• Exposure to transfer pricing, intercompany accounting, and shared service centre environments.
• Geographic Scope: Experience supporting multiple European legal entities and operations in countries such as Germany, the UK, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium.
• Language Skills: Strong written and verbal English communication skills. Proficiency in German or French would be highly advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, ‘can-do’ attitude with a solutions-focused approach and a drive to expand skills beyond current levels.
• High level of commitment, initiative, and a proven team player mentality.
• Comfortable thriving in a fast-paced environment and communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders.