Accountant

Job description / Role

Accountant - Sales Control - Automotive Finance Shared Services

Toyota, Honda, Marks & Spencer's, Ikea, Toys R Us and Dubai Festival City are just some of the amazing stable of world renowned brands managed by the Al Futtaim Group of Companies. Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim is one of the most progressive regional business houses in the Gulf region. Today, Al-Futtaim operates through more than 65 companies in sectors as diverse as commerce, industry and services, and employs in excess of 20,000 people across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Pakistan, Singapore and Europe.

Automotive Finance Shared Services is a department under Automotive handling the back office functions related to accounting for Automotive. AFSS handles Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, General Ledger Accounting, Reconciliations, Sales Accounting and annual closing and audits for the Automotive Division of Al-Futtaim.

Reports to: Finance Manager/Account Manager
Direct Reports: None
Department: Automotive Finance Shared Services
Locations: Dubai

JOB PURPOSE:
As a member of AFSS- to support the Department Head to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures with major emphasis on cash control, sales accounting processes and approvals, Credit Request Reviews and Accounts Receivable follow up and General Ledger Reconciliations and Vendor reconciliation and Payments.

DESCRIPTION:
* Review of daily collection and deposit of cash and cheques by branches and scrutinise GL control accounts for exceptions.
* Validation of Sales document pack /LPO and credit approval or clear funds/ registration copy and authorise final release of the vehicle for customer delivery.
* Refunds are processed within the sub-delegated authority /documentation and facilitate refund process with AFSS for beyond authority levels.
* Check and validate all agreed check list before confirming passport release of branch staff as applicable.
* Monthly reviews of General Ledger /trend analysis, process improvement, streamline process across automotive companies.
* Providing analysis and reports related to open line item in General ledger and taking required action to clear.
* Providing support in yearly stock audit and yearly closing of books.
* Reconciling of GL Accounts, preparing ‘action-triggering' schedules and taking timely action to resolve any issues.
* Process credit application request from Business.Maintain approval and relevant documentation as per approved credit deals
* Authorise credit requirements within the framework of sub-delegated credit release authority from AFSS.
* Periodic customer's account Reconciliation and Account clearing.
* Processing payment s to vendor and suppliers within established time limits and ensuring that expenses are correctly booked.
* Preparing and monitoring the payroll system. Ensure that staff payment is paid in a timely and appropriate manner.
* Reconciling Vendor balances and creating monthly accrual.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
* Immediately Highlight deviations and take corrective action.
* Adherence to Policy Procedures by flagging exceptions immediately through an ongoing review of branch operations through both substantive checking of transactions and branch visits.
* Reconciliation completed and schedules prepared each month.
* Timely and meaningful analysis prepared.
* Timely processing of credit requests and approvals to ensue customer service levels are met.
* Exception reporting and ensuring overdue are collected in time.
* Timely processing of Payment and approvals to ensure Vendor and staff service levels are met.
* Reconciliation and schedule to be prepared each month end.

JOB CONTEXT:
* Job holder is required to interact with AM/FM - AFSS; Location Managers and Divisional Heads - requires good communications skills.
* Understanding of systems (SAP and Policy / Procedures) is crucial both for determining applicability and relevance as well as for designing verification procedures and processes that are meant to highlight exceptions.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge:
* Degree in Accounting/ Professional accounting qualification preferred.
* Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to communicate and interact well.

Minimum Experience:
3 to 5 years of similar experience, with a good knowledge of ERP systems.

Job-Specific Skills:
Good accounting knowledge, Analytical, process oriented, well organised, with excellent communication skills, a team player. Should possess a good knowledge of excel and have prior experience in working with large databases.

Behavioural Competencies:
* Organisation: Should be plan and prioritise workload with minimum supervisory input.
* Self-Starter: Should be able to anticipate emerging trends and issues in the books of account and initiate appropriate action.
* Team Player: Should enjoy working in a team and be able to solve problems and resolve issues in a amicable manner.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.