Financial Accountant - France

Principle Objectives of Role:

Reporting directly to the Regional Financial Controller (Fr, Lux & Ire) as a key member of a high performing finance team you will oversee the smooth and efficient management of the general ledger and reporting functions for the French retail business. Assisting the Regional Financial Controller (Fr, Lux & Ire) in the preparation of financial information for internal and external reporting, you will also support and co-ordinate with other members of the finance team to ensure all tasks are evenly distributed and completed within the relevant timelines and provide training and mentoring to colleagues.

Key Areas of Accountability:

Financial Accounting

• Supporting the Regional Financial Controller with month-end reporting to DCC Group including, preparation of monthly management accounts, monthly trading commentary and monthly checklists within the reporting deadlines.

• Supporting the Regional Financial Controller in preparation of annual financial statements and related schedules.

• Co-ordinating with auditors (both internal and external) to ensure a smooth and efficient audit process.

• Management of the month-end close process, including co-ordination with other members of the finance team to ensure timely completion of month-end tasks.

• Ensuring that all key month-end reconciliations have been performed by the appropriate team member and reviewed by an appropriate supervisor.

• Ensuring that a comprehensive month-end folder is prepared each month, containing all key month-end reconciliations, and supporting schedules for key balance sheet accounts.

• Ensuring compliance with all financial control requirements (e.g. manual journals, key account reconciliations, etc).

• Supporting the Commercial Finance team with weekly and quarterly forecasts and annual budget process.

Overhead Management and Reporting

• Co-ordinating with the accounts payable department to ensure that invoices are posted to the appropriate nominal ledgers and profit centres (site-level, network-level, central).

• Prepare and send monthly spend trackers to the operation teams to ensure the correct allocation of expenses to the relevant budget categories.

• Responsibility for month-end overhead accruals process.

• Working with the Regional Financial Controller to develop and maintain the Monthly Overhead Reporting in Qlikview.

• Working with the Regional Financial Controller to prepare and maintain site-by-site and network level P&Ls in Qlikview including monthly allocation of month end accruals and ensuring that team members tag all margin postings by profit centre and by material.

Property, Plant and Equipment

• Overseeing the maintenance of a detailed fixed asset register for the business.

• Ensuring that assets are capitalised in a timely manner and depreciated appropriately.

• Accounting for repairs/maintenance/upgrades.

Taxation

• In conjunction with our tax advisors, ensuring that VAT, Excise Duty, Corporation Tax and other tax returns are prepared and filed within the relevant deadlines.

Property Management

• Ensuring that the property master data, as managed by CBRE, is accurately reflected in SAP & Innervision database is kept up to date.

General

• Support the Regional Financial Controller and Finance Director on ad hoc projects as and when required.

• Co-ordination with other managers within the business for cross-cover, and for co-ordination of any tasks that impact on the financial reporting function.

• Support and develop good working relationships with the French operations teams.

• Interaction with external/internal parties including customers, auditors and DCC Group Compliance teams.

• Keep up to date on relevant accounting issues that may impact on this business.

• Perform role in line with all DCC Group HSE and other corporate policies.

• Cross train with other members of the Finance Team to ensure adequate holiday / leave cover can be maintained and ensure that all major team tasks are always managed.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a fast-paced environment

Experience

• Proven ability to work as part of a team.

• Proficient with Microsoft products.

• Experience of SAP an advantage.

Essential Competencies

• Excellent attention to detail, with an ability and willingness to work in the detail and take a hands-on approach.

• Positive, can-do attitude, displaying a high level of commitment and motivation.

• Highly organised with the ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities.

• Demonstrates articulate and professional communication style.

• Demonstrates high levels of personal and professional standards.

• Possesses strong financial acumen.

• Ability to build strong business relationships.

• Demonstrates a desire to grow and undertake additional responsibility.

Other Requirements:

• Willing to travel on business trips when required

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or that may be required to do either now or in the future.

Certas Energy Retail Europe is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

About Certas Energy Retail Europe & DCC plc

Certas Energy Retail Europe is a Central Operations hub supporting DCC-owned businesses across 5 European countries. Our team is based in Drogheda and remotely provides Finance, Pricing, IT and Supply functions for a network of over 1,100 retail forecourts, a bulk business, and an aviation business. Our mission is to operate as a high-level and efficient business partner to make cleaner transport possible for all.

Certas Energy Retail Europe is part of the mobility division of DCC plc. DCC plc is a customer-focused energy business, specialising in the sales, marketing, and distribution of secure, cleaner, and competitive energy solutions to commercial, industrial, domestic, and transport customers. Headquartered in Dublin, DCC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100.