Chief Accountant

Maison Birks; Montreal; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Maison Birks, a luxurious jewelry store, seeks a Chief Accountant to manage all accounting operations. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Finance, you will be responsible for finance processes including monthly closes and financial statements. We value accuracy and a detail-oriented approach in a fast-paced environment. A commitment to excellence and the ability to work collaboratively with teams are crucial.

Benefits

Flexible and hybrid schedule

Comprehensive benefits package

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Discount Program

Birks University: Accessibility to a variety of trainings

Qualifications

• CPA completed or in progress preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years pertinent experience, 2 years in retail.
• Proficient in MS Office and bilingual in French and English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee month-end close and preparation of financial statements.
• Perform monthly budget-to-actual variance analysis.
• Prepare audit files and assist with external financial reporting.

Skills

Accounting Cycle

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Detail-oriented

US GAAP Knowledge

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

MS Office Proficiency

Bilingual

Education

Bachelor of Commerce with major in Accounting

Job description

Established since 1879, Birks is a luxury jewelry store whose reputation is built on quality, exclusivity, unique design, and excellence in service. We pride ourselves in offering meaningful experiences and in building intimate relationships with each one of our clients.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Finance, the Chief Accountant is responsible for the overall accounting process including the month-end close, preparation of monthly journal entries, consolidation and monthly Financial Statements. He/she communicates the results of the month-end, performs variance analysis and monthly account reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of accounting operations and overall responsibility for the timely month-end close process.
• Preparation of internal financial statements including balance sheet, P&L and cash-flow statement.
• Responsible for the chart of accounts, cost centers, proper and timely handling of various transactions and data in the general ledger and overall integrity of the financial module.
• Responsible to perform monthly journal entries such as prepaids, ROU Asset/Liability entries, payroll, foreign exchange translation, depreciation, accruals and various provisions in line with internal accounting policies.
• Prepares and analyzes monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with US GAAP.
• Performs monthly budget-to-actual variance analysis and presents financial results to management and liaisons with various departments to resolve discrepancies.
• Responsible for fixed assets ledger, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and analysis of capitalized costs.
• Prepares the audit files for various external auditors and assists with coordination of the audits.
• Assists with the preparation of the external financial public reporting including preparation of the notes to the financial statements.
• Assists with the preparation of the external package for lenders.
• Ensures all balance sheet account reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis with supporting documentation.
• Main liaison with the payroll - prepares, reconciles and posts the payroll journal entries; prepares monthly compensation report for variance analysis, and all related payroll account reconciliations.
• Provides financial analysis and insights to support business decisions and strategic planning
  
  

Knowledge And Skills Required

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Commerce, with a major in Accounting (CPA completed or in progress, preferred)
  
  

Experience

• Minimum of 5-7 years of pertinent experience in a similar role; 2 years in the retail industry, preferred
  
  

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of the full accounting cycle and month-end close process
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy
• Good knowledge of US GAAP accounting standards and public financial reporting requirements, including tax regulations
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to adhere to tight deadlines and multitask; highly organized; proactive
• Team spirited and collaborative
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Professional Business acumen
• Bilingual: French and English (spoken/written)
• Please note that due to the nature of the responsibilities of the position, a proficient level of English is required, in particular to communicate on a regular basis with employees and managers outside of Quebec. *
  
  

At Birks, you will find a management team that truly cares about your professional growth. You will be empowered to be yourself, in order to offer excellent customer service and to create an experience that will build long-lasting client relationships.

In return for your commitment to excellence, we offer…

• Comprehensive benefits package Flexible and hybrid schedule for most head office positions
• Various paid time off programs
• Tele-medicine
• Employee Assistance Program
• Birks University: Accessibility to a variety of trainings
• Employee Discount Program
  
  

Come join us at Birks, and let your true self shine! Are you the gem we are looking for?