Financial Control Accountant

Freshfields; Brussel; Sur place; EUR 50 000 - 80 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Freshfields in Brussel is looking for a finance professional with a Belgian accounting qualification and a minimum of 5 years’ experience. You'll oversee month-end closes, statutory submissions, and partner with local management for budgeting.

The ideal candidate will have strong skills in Belgian accounting, excellent language commands, and the ability to work within a dynamic team environment. Your collaborative mindset will help drive continuous improvement and strategic financial analysis.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in finance.
• Experience of Belgian VAT and Corporate Income Tax.
• Proven track record in both local bookkeeping and compliance.

Responsabilités

• Process transactions and provide first level control and analysis.
• Ensure accurate month end close and prepare general ledger journals.
• Support local office with budgeting and forecasting.

Connaissances

Belgian accounting qualification

Experience with Belgian statutory accounting

Excellent command of French

Excellent command of Dutch

Full English proficiency

Ability to engage with senior stakeholders

Highly organised and detail oriented

Collaborative mindset

Experience in professional services or legal sector

Knowledge in designing financial reporting tools

Formation

Qualified accountant

Outils

Thomson Reuters Elite 3E

IntApp suite

Description du poste

The Global Finance function ensures robust financial control across our global operations, whilst partnering with the firm as a valued commercial advisor, influencing strategic decision making and driving long term profitable growth for the firm

We achieve our vision with all our people working collaboratively with a shared culture and identifying themselves as part of one inclusive Global Finance team.

As part of the Global Finance Control team, you will have the following key areas of responsibility:

• Processing transactions and providing first level control and analysis via reconciliations and month end close adherence
• Working collaboratively with the shared services AP and Record to Report teams to deliver local and management accounts within 3E and ensuring that balances are fully reconciled
• Acts as the primary finance point of contact for the local office, partnering closely with the Finance Manager, Office Managing Partner and COO for budgeting/forecasting, cost analysis and control
• Delivering all locally required governmental and statutory submissions and declarations (such as tax returns or governmental surveys) accurately and as per the required deadlines.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• Accurate and timely month end close
• Preparation of general ledger journals including accruals, prepayments and provisions
• Balance sheet reconciliation for allocated GL accounts, supporting wider team to ensure accuracy of postings and compliance with firm policy and controls framework
• Fixed Asset accounting, ensuring assets are recognised, depreciated and written off appropriately
• Creation, reconciliation and submission of all statutory, regulatory and compliance obligations, ensuring that all submissions can be supported and we are able to promptly answer all queries from the authorities and auditors.
• Ensure that any changes to local statutory and regulatory frameworks are highlighted in good time and, where required, accounting processes amended to ensure compliance
• To support office/regional managing partner(s), COO and local business service teams with budgeting/forecasting and variance analysis, as well as ad-hoc financial analysis for locally specific requirements. Ensure all risks and opportunities are flagged promptly.
• Support delivery of Finance projects as required and champion continuous improvement to support the delivery of the firm and function strategy

Key requirements

• Belgian accounting qualification, with a minimum of 5 years’ relevant professional experience.
• Qualified accountant (or equivalent relevant professional experience).
• Strong experience with Belgian statutory accounting and local bookkeeping requirements.
• Language requirements : Excellent command of French or Dutch (equivalent to native), with full English proficiency and good working knowledge in the other national language.
• Ability to engage confidently with senior non finance stakeholders, translating financial insight in a business context.
• Highly organised and detail oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative mindset, embracing change, development and continuous learning
• Experience within professional services or the legal sector
• Exposure to legal finance systems, ideally Thomson Reuters Elite 3E and the IntApp suite.
• Experience of Belgian VAT and Corporate Income Tax
• Knowledge in designing and developing financial reporting tools and dashboards to support decision making