Job Details

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs. Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting.  From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.

Reporting Line : Finance Operations Lead EASA and South Africa

Location : Zambia

Role Purpose

• To secure a solid bedrock for finance activities in the country.
• Manage local Finance activities and coordinate Finance services with European Finance Operation Centre (EFO) and Global Finance Operation Centre (GFO) and outside service provider.
• Take accountability for accountability and responsibility over indirect tax activities and ad-hoc country regulatory reporting requirements.
• Actively participate in group reporting requirements, including Tax reporting
• Deliver high quality set of accounting data to facilitate group, statutory and tax reporting (including audits).
• Ensure and drive compliance with Companies policies (including the Direct Business Compliance Framework) and laws relating to legal entity.
• Continuously monitor emerging internal control risks and update existing controls and processes to respond to these risks.
• Detect and report to appropriate Syngenta management any violation or deviation from standards and practices including the code of conduct, laws, and other misconduct.
• Note role will support multiple countries based on need within AME.

Accountabilities

• Lead the accounting operations process, which include: Fixed assets, Payables, Treasury and Transactions processing on ERP system (If required), payment preparation (If required).
• Active involvement in month end closing , Treasury activities and year end processes/Activities , including reconciling balance sheet ledgers (None SAP environment).
• Be the escalation point for Accounts payables activities supported by GFO
• Prepare and analyze Ledger Accounting, Statutory Accounting and Reporting and Tax Reporting and collaborate effectively with both Business Facing Finance and outsourcing company.
• Prepare and Record relevant journal entries in local entity books (Non-SAP environment).
• Uses best practices and knowledge to improve processes/services
• May direct and check work of more junior team members or EFO/GFO
• Timely delivery of relevant management reports and /or services to ensure accurate recording of all business transactions in ERP system according to the IFRS rules for group reporting and local GAAP rules for statutory reporting.
• Ensure the Basic controls are performed on a timely manner.
• Support the preparation of statutory, tax reports, returns in accordance with local GAAP, Tax regulations and Group standards (Including related audits)
• Ensure all company records are up to date in accordance with local regulatory requirements Support continuous improvement and efficiency in relevant processes and Service Excellence.
• Expected to deliver quality result in fast changing business environment.
• Active communication with other departments.
• Cooperation with auditors.
• Building and maintaining strong relationship with stakeholders.
• Manage timely feedback according to Syngenta standard on finance personnel, 3rd party provider and European Finance Operation Team.
• Support the finance operation project activities and ensure completed in a timely manner.
• Support BoD processes.

Knowledge, Experience & Capabilities

Critical Knowledge

• BSc/MSc degree in the field of Accounting/Finance/ or Similar.
• Good knowledge of statutory accounting and awareness of tax laws.
• 2+ years of professional experience in total preferably in multinational companies.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, S4Hana experience is a plus).
• Ability to effectively work in a cross-functional matrix organization.
• Good knowledge of IFRS, Generally Accepted Accounting Policies and tax concepts is a plus.
• Awareness of end-to-end processes and internal controls.
• Ability to efficiently prioritize tasks.
• Knowledge of relevant Syngenta policies and procedures.

Critical Experience

• Conducts efficient analyses, identifies key themes and address the root causes.
• Consistently makes progress even in highly ambiguous circumstances.
• Tackles tough challenges or problems quickly and directly.
• Administrative Writing Skills.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

• Builds good relationship with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Sense of ownership and personal commitment to the work.
• Agile working mindset.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Strong awareness of Accounting with specialization in IFRS, Statutory Accounting and Direct Tax concepts, GAAP knowledge
• Strong and effective communication in relation to key stakeholders (3rd party supplier, country finance teams, auditors, group consolidation team)
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks
• Promote a continuous improvement mind-set
• Openness to new digital solutions and appliance of it
• Good understanding of business end to end processes and internal controls
• Good working knowledge of IFRS (and local Generally Accepted Accounting Policies)
• Knowledge of relevant Syngenta policies and procedures (eg Reporting, capital process, Group Treasury policies, transfer pricing manual etc).
• Good understanding of internal control framework
• Strong communication and relation with key stakeholders

The support to group of countries (Ways of working and scope of work will be reviewed continuously and communicated as needed).