Internal Controls & Risk Manager – Francophone West & Central Africa

• Responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring an effective internal control system for operations, accounting, tax accounting and financial reporting processes, including financial systems and applications.
• Supporting advising, maintaining and improving the SGS risk and control framework in business processes within SGS globally.
• Participating in process improvement projects but also ensure that risks and controls are properly addressed in process change management (Ex: Global Procurement Policy redesign, Revenue recognition rules strengthening ...).
• Providing guidance and training to group affiliates, promoting best practices and ensure efficient use of common ERP platforms across the network.
• Liaise and coordinate with all stakeholders to ensure group Internal Controls of Financial Reporting (ICOFR) objectives.

• Monitoring of the adequacy of the level of internal financial controls at affiliate level.
• Manages and drives improvement in the internal control environment to ensure compliance to the internal control systems and processes by the local Finance teams in the affiliates
• Ensures accounting controls are implemented and maintained by affiliates
• Support Affiliates in implementing Minimum Controls Standards (MCS) corrective measures.
• Put in place a written procedures manual for each affiliate;
• Ensure internal audit findings are corrected in line with timeline agreed in internal audit report and ensure internal control environment amended to address all internal control points
• Assist FMs during external audits: calendar and activities management. Ensure preparation, supply of documents and response to avoid audit overruns
• Monthly review of the Balance Sheets reconciliations, including bank reconciliations, IFRS15 and IFRS 9 and escalate any risks to RFC, relevant Managing Directors and Regional Managing Director;
• Review and validate the reconciliations of submodules data and external data to GL accounts: inventories, AP, AR, fixed assets, payroll, WHT, governmental fees, etc..
• Review the SOD per affiliates once per quarter;
• Review the implementation of EEMEA region Level Of Authorities (LOA) rules as well as the Group Financial Manual (GFM) in the affiliates
• Review of reconciliation between Group reporting and statutory local reporting at year-end: equity reconciliations
• Procurement activities: regular review of the tender process.
• Assist the Francophone West and Central Africa Regional Financial Controller on Ad'hoc controls project basis .
• Ensures affiliates client's payment conditions are in line with Group Policy and watches over their implementation.
• Reviews affiliates requests for annual inventory write-offs for obsolescence/ time expired items
• Conduct risk assessment of departments/business segments;
• Conduct audit testing of potential risk areas and identify reportable issues;
• Deliver adequate and timely reporting on the internal control framework and control deficiencies to ensure appropriate communication, documentation, escalation to stakeholders (FDs, RFC, MDs): monthly

• University degree in audit, finance, management, or equivalent.
• 7 to 10 years of experience in audit (ideally with a Big 4 firm) and in a corporate environment.
• Finance Manager experience is required.
• Technical knowledge and experience in related field and in using management methods and tools.
• Able to work independently and to coordinate several activities simultaneously.
• Able to coordinate and motivate a “virtual” team towards a common goal, even in case of Remote Project Management.
• Business minded with related technical know-how. Competitive and profit-driven; re-invents competitive advantage.
• Experience in cross-functional management or regional coordination.
• A professional certification such as CIA, CFE, or equivalent is a plus.
• Able to interact with all levels of management.
• Good communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Acts quickly and decisively; able to make tough calls.
• Works well under pressure, challenges status quo.
• Fluent English and French.
• Good command of MS office/Hyperion/Oracle ERP.
• Must be able to travel domestically and regionally.
• Applies judgment and acts according to the SGS standards of ethics and integrity.
• High availability for frequent travel within the region.

SGS