Associate Director of Statutory & Accounting

JOB SUMMARY

Provides strong financial accounting and timely reporting for UK, Ireland and France. This includes ensuring all statutory requirements for the UK, Irish and French region are met. Direct management of the UK financial accounting function covering intercompany and fixed asset monthly accounting.

Involves high level of interaction with senior executives, understanding of MVCI’s business, and strong relationships with Europe and US counterparts.  Drives process improvement initiatives in all areas, safeguard company assets and maintain a strong environment of financial control. 

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Engaging in Strategic Planning and Decision Making

• Thinks creatively and practically to develop and execute and implement new business plans
• Creates the annual operating budget for France statutory department.
• Compiles information, analyzes and monitors actual spend against budgeted and forecast spend for France statutory department.
• Partners with the business to provide strategic statutory advice on new initiatives and review existing business arrangements to ensure audit and tax compliance.
• Undertakes review of internal control procedures in all areas of the enabling processes. Designs and implements policies and procedures to improve internal controls, to ensure that the accuracy and integrity of financially reported results are maintained.

Leading Finance & Accounting Teams

• Utilizes interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.
• Communicates the strategic goals, the focus and the owner priorities to subordinates in a clear and precise manner.
• Leverages strong functional leadership and communication skills to influence the executive team, the region’s strategies and to lead own team.
• Oversees internal, external and regulatory audit processes.
• Provides excellent leadership by assigning team members and other departments managers' clear accountability backed by appropriate authority.
• Conducts annual performance appraisals with direct reports according to Standard Operating Procedures.

Anticipating and Delivering on the Needs of Key Stakeholders

• Understands and meets the needs of key business partners
• Advises the European Leadership Team on existing and evolving operating/financial issues.
• Communicates financial concepts in a clear and persuasive manner that is easy to understand and drives desired behaviors.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the sources and uses of cash within the region and consolidates the region’s cash flow needs.
• Facilitates critique meetings to review information with business partners.

Developing and Maintaining Finance and Accounting Goals

• Ensures Profits and Losses are documented accurately.
• Monitors all taxes that apply, ensuring that taxes are current, collected and/or accrued.
• Submits reports in a timely manner, ensuring delivery deadlines.
• Develops and supports achievement of performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc.
• Reviews audit issues to ensure accuracy.

Managing Projects and Policies

• Generates and provides accurate and timely results in the form of reports, presentations, etc.
• Reconciles balance sheet to ensure account balances are supported by appropriate documentation in accordance with SOPs.
• Ensures that the P&L is accurate (e.g., costs are properly matched to revenue, costs are recorded in the proper accounts).
• Ensures compliance with management contract and reporting requirements.
• Ensures compliance with standard and local operating procedures (SOPs and LSOPs).
• Ensures compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities

• Ensures team members are cross-trained to support successful daily operations.
• Ensures property policies are administered fairly and consistently.
• Ensures new hires participate in the department’s orientation program.
• Ensures new hires receive the appropriate new hire training to successfully perform their job.
• Creates appropriate development plans which develop team members based on their individual strengths, development needs, career aspirations and abilities.
• Conduct performance review process for associates (including LPP, career plan form, development plans, associate information form, mid-year check-ins, 90-day check ins for new associates, etc.)
• Participates in hiring activities as appropriate.

SITE SPECIFIC TASK LIST

Essential Job Functions

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Ensures accurate account reconciliations are completed on a timely basis
• Ensures correct accounting for inter-company agreements between subsidiaries
• Manages the financial accounting function for the London Regional Office (including Intercompany Repayments and Recharges)
• Liaises with the Trustees for MVCI Europe Ltd’s PCO trust on queries, account preparation and bonding levels
• Review intercompany billings from UK to Europe (including reviewing journals and invoices)
• Manages the accounting for Fixed Assets for the UK entities ensuring IFRS compliance.

Audit, tax and Compliance UK, Ireland and France

• Responsible for the completion of all UK and Irish audits and managing the French audits and the preparation of financial statements under UK, Irish and French GAAP for those entities, working closely with UK, Irish and French audit firms.
• Responsible for accurate and timely reporting of VAT and any withholding taxes for all UK, Irish and French entities
• Manages the preparation of quarterly Corporation Tax forecasts and calculates the Corporation Tax Payment on Accounts.
• Responsible for providing information for UK, Irish and French corporation tax and other statutory taxes, liaising closely with US Global tax to provide detailed responses to tax questions from local tax authorities.
• Manages external tax investigations for Corporation tax and indirect taxes (VAT, WHT) in UK, Ireland and France.
• First point of contact on financial reporting and tax requirements of the group from both Internal and External sources and takes the lead role in any investigations.
• Engages in various complex fiscal related projects. Co-ordinates with Global Tax and tax specialists as required.
• Responsible for providing information to fulfil transfer pricing reporting requirements
• Responsible for ensuring any financial reporting changes are incorporated correctly into the Financial Statements including any non financial reporting information related to Environmental, Social and Governance reporting regulations.

Management Accounting and Reporting

• Maintains a strong environment of financial control for relevant UK, Ireland and France units.
• Continually improves processes and identifies areas of inefficiency in the accounting function
• Responsible for the UK and France statutory units including month end processes, forecasts and budgets and reporting thereon.

Systems Accounting

• Assists with the implementation of various systems projects including new processes and automation of existing processes to ensure scalable, repeatable processes exist

Strategy

• Provides finance perspective on new initiatives and strategies including feedback on accounting treatment under local and US GAAP
• Provides input for tax and VAT strategic initiatives.

Other Job Functions

• Perform all tasks in a timely manner ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned by management.
• Comply with MVWC policies and procedures.
• Be proactive and have a flexible approach to work, meeting the needs of the team and the business at all times.
• Maintain an attitude and commitment to provide excellent service to all customers and associates.  Respond sensitively to the needs and feelings of others, regardless of status or position; accept interpersonal differences and maintain a constructive rapport with all associates and customers.
• Maintain a working knowledge of all MVWC product lines.
• Maintain computer systems knowledge (PeopleSoft, Cognos, Excel, Email, Word etc)
• Work with all MVWC colleagues as a team, supporting the needs within that team and those of the business at all times.

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

Education and Experience

• Recognised accounting qualification required (ACA, ACCA, CPA preferred)
• Sound working knowledge in field of Finance and Accounting: with experience in financial accounting, account preparation, managing audits and statutory filings.
• Experience of working within an International company
• Proven Managerial skills in a multi-site environment
• Excellent communication and documentation skills

Management Competencies

Leadership

• Professional Demeanor - Exhibiting behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; making a good first impression and representing Marriott Vacation Club International in alignment with its values.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; obtaining and comparing information from different sources to draw conclusions, develop and evaluate alternatives and solutions, solve problems, and choose a course of action.
• Communication - Conveying information and ideas to others in a convincing and engaging manner through a variety of methods. Strong public presentation skills.
• Adaptability - Maintaining performance level under pressure or when experiencing changes or challenges in the workplace. 

Managing Execution

• Planning and Organizing - Gathering information and resources required to set a plan of action for self and/or others; prioritizing and arranging work requirements to accomplish goals and ensure work is completed.
• Driving for Results - Setting high standards of performance for self and/or others; assuming responsibility for work objectives; initiating, focusing, and monitoring the efforts of self and/or others toward the accomplishment goals; proactively taking action and going beyond what is required
• Building and Contributing to Teams - Leading and participating as a member of a team to move toward the completion of common goals while fostering cohesion and collaboration among team members.

Building Relationships

• Coworker Relationships - Interacting with others in a way that builds openness, trust, and confidence in the pursuit of organizational goals and lasting relationships. 
• Customer Relationships - Developing and sustaining relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with Marriott's Spirit to Serve.
• Fostering Inclusion - Supporting associates with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; leveraging personal differences to achieve objectives; and promoting a work environment where all associates are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

• Talent Management - Providing guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.
• Organizational Capability - Evaluating and adapting the structure of organizational units, jobs, and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.

Learning and Applying Personal Expertise

• Applied Learning - Seeking and making the most of learning opportunities to improve performance of self and/or others.
• Technical Acumen - Understanding and utilizing professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges
• Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of P&L statements, operating budgets, forecasting and scheduling, and the reporting of financial data.
• Auditing and Reconciliation - The ability to recognize, research, and resolve discrepancies in financial data, and create flow charts on main accounting and control cycles (A/R, AP, Cash) to facilitate understanding of key control points.
• General Finance and Accounting - The ability to perform bookkeeping procedures, proficiently use financial systems technology, and accurately complete general ledger entries; knowledge of database structures in order to obtain financial queries; establish Cash flow statements and cash flow forecast with a good understanding the financials flows and the working capital needs.
• Analysis - The ability to create and maintain spreadsheets as well as analyze and summarize financial data using appropriate financial software.
• Accounting Knowledge - Knowledge of general accounting principles and current company accounting policies and procedures. This includes general accounting and financial reporting, auditing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
• Accounting and Internal Control Knowledge - Knowledge of local Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (local GAAP), Marriott International Policies (MIP), and International Standard Operating Procedures (ISOPs).
• Legal - Ability to read and understand basic contract elements, e.g. royalty fees, management agreement, terms, priorities and profit distribution.
• Auditing Skills - The ability to perform auditing procedures, including the ability to recognize, research, and resolve discrepancies in financial data.
• Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable - Knowledge of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes, including knowledge of subledger reconciliation and controls.
• Business Acumen - Understanding and utilizing business information (e.g., data used in the Balanced Scorecard related to Associate Engagement, Guest Satisfaction, and Property Financial Performance) to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach business and administrative challenges
• Applied Business Knowledge - Evaluates market conditions, organizational objectives, and important aspects of the business to accurately diagnose market opportunities and threats; anticipates opportunities and threats, identify issues, and develop strategies and plans. Aligning individual and team actions with strategies and plans to drive business results.
• Management of Capital Resources - Determines the appropriate allocation of money used to accomplish work goals, and submits expenses according to guidelines; appropriately utilizes and maintains equipment, facilities, and materials needed to perform work activities.
• Administration and Management - Understands and applies the business and management information involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.
• Basic Computer Skills - Using basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture.