This position is responsible for providing financial support to the Brazil and Latin America North (LAN) world area. The position includes time critical closing responsibilities and is responsible for responding to questions and issues as they arise during the closing process. The role also includes ensuring an adequate control environment by completing balance sheet reconciliations on a timely basis, supporting balances with appropriate detail, pursuing adjustments and resolution of open items and providing responses to questions and issues as they arise during the month. The successful candidate will play a key role in evaluating processes, assessing alternative approaches, and helping lead the implementation of best practices and procedures.

 

The role is responsible for the accuracy of financial statements, and will act as a liaison between the finance teams within Brazil and LAN and various individuals within the US Finance organization on closing, balance sheet, and reporting issues.

 

Primary responsibilities of this role include:

·         Perform the monthly financial closing for Brazil and LAN. This will require on-going interaction with local area contacts to exchange information, resolve closing issues, and properly account for all transactions.

·         Perform monthly closing journal entries and ensure the integrity of SAP and ARC results.

·         Perform ongoing monthly account reconciliations - Including remediation of open items, ensuring compliance of support documentation and proper classification of balances to ensure financial integrity. This will require on-going interaction with the entire Brazil and LAN Finance Team, Audit, and External Reporting in order to resolve issues, and properly account for all transactions.

·         Responsible for developing optimal procedures for the closing and balance sheet reconciliation processes and continually identify and implement improvements to the processes. Provide guidance and recommendations on system related issues to maximize the effectiveness of processes.

·         Act as the primary interface between the consolidations team in St. Louis and the appropriate local area finance individuals to resolve closing issues and ensure accurate results.

·         Responsible for internal and external audit requests, including Sarbanes-Oxley internal control activities for Brazil and LAN.

·         Coordinate Balance Sheet Reviews.

·         Coordinate and prepare yearly SEC packages.

·         Perform a variety of ad hoc analysis as needed

·         International travel as needed.

·         Reconcile balance sheet reconciliations. Act as control point to keep balance sheet detail clear of risk and unidentified items.

·         The position will require an energetic approach to problem solving and issue resolution and will provide a creative environment for someone eager to take on a new challenge.

 

Required Skills/Experience:

·         Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance

·         3 or more years experience in Finance/Accounting

·         Basic knowledge of US GAAP

·         Desire to conduct appropriate research on topics and be familiar with financial statements, general closing procedures, and internal controls

·         Excellent oral and written communication skills

·         Ability to effectively communicate with individuals located in other world areas as well as with individuals across various functions within St. Louis

·         Strong problem solving skills, as well as the ability to build relationships with customers and teammates to help build a strong financial support organization

·         Project management skills - able to plan/track/measure results of projects

·         Ability to identify process inefficiencies, offer recommendations for improvements, and implement solutions

·         Self-directed, organized, resourceful, and willing to tackle the challenges that arise in supporting a region from St. Louis- candidate is expected to help design the process, find improvements, make recommendations, and implement changes with an "act as owner" mentality

·         Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products

·         Ability to speak Portuguese or Spanish

 

Preferred Skills:

·         Experience with SAP and ARC