Associate Operational Controller

At Nielsen, we believe that career growth is a partnership. You ultimately own, fuel and set the journey. By joining our team of nearly 14,000 associates, you will become part of a community that will help you to succeed. We champion you because when you succeed, we do too. Embark on a new initiative, explore a fresh approach, and take license to think big, so we can all continuously improve. We enable your best to power our future. 

Support all aspects of local controlling and accounting in the local market. Assist with

the coordination of activities between Operational Controlling, Revenue Controlling and Business Finance. Perform local accounting activities specific to the respective market. Support the local core finance processes.

Responsibilities

• Support the local controllership function and lead the local Operational Controlling team; provide financial oversight on the local business
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and accounting standards.
• Ensure adequate performance and reporting on the following :

o US-GAAP accounting/closing, accruals, and account reconciliations

o Financial closing and consolidation

o Procure-to-pay functions (invoice & payment processing, T&E, etc)

o Intercompany transactions and reconciliation

• Ensure compliance with all relevant global, regional or local policies, procedures and guidelines
• Support change locally with regard to standardization and simplification initiatives as governed by the Global or Regional COE core teams or by Finance leadership
• Assist in producing monthly closing dashboard, and quarterly and year-end reporting packs in accordance with corporate requirements for the local market
• Support Operational Controller to maintain internal controls and SOX documentation and ensure effective control environment through active coordination with the Group Controller and the Global and Regional COE core teams
• Support the Operational Controller during local internal audit and compliance review assignments, including any SOX or distributed audits
• Maintenance of local statutory accounts and ensure ongoing compliance to local regulation for the local legal entities
• Assist in the statutory and tax accounting and audit processes and act as the single point of contact for external auditors and/or tax and statutory authorities or consultants

Measurement

• Leadership: Curious, Collaborative, Inclusive, Proactive, Accountable, Committed
• Financial: Global COE and Internal Control metrics, Internal and External Audit observations, Adherence to closing deadlines
• Values: Open, Connected, Useful, Personal

Networks

• Internal:
• Link in with FP&A and Consolidation teams on closing schedule, accounting services, and consolidated accounts
• Work with Operational and Group Controller on compliance and governance
• Work with peer group in Operational Controlling on local controlling, accounting and payment activities
• Work with the Revenue Controlling functions primarily on revenue related activities as well during the closing process
• Other transverse functions (facilities, HR, internal audit, etc) for accrual input, etc
• External:
• Shared Service Centre (if outsourced)
• External Audit or Consultants

Education & Training

• Chartered Accountant or CPA
• Local or international Accounting qualification (CA,CPA, ACCA, ACMA, or other) preferred
• Fluency in English and local language mandatory; third regional language preferred

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in accounting or financial
• controlling External audit or public accounting experience preferred
• Knowledge and experience with local statutory requirements and statutory audits (Local GAAP, statutory financial statements, tax calculations, VAT returns) preferred
• Knowledge and experience with US-GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) preferred
• Experience with ERP systems (preferably SAP) preferred
• IT-PC literate (Google for Work, Microsoft Office)
• Strong communication skills, team player, leadership traits