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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Financial Reporter

💰 $75,000 - $120,000

FinanceAccountingReportingAnalysis

🎯 Role Definition

As a Financial Reporter, you will be the cornerstone of our financial integrity, responsible for orchestrating the end-to-end reporting process. You will meticulously prepare, analyze, and present financial data to both internal leadership and external stakeholders. This position requires a deep understanding of accounting principles (GAAP/IFRS), a keen eye for detail, and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights. You will be instrumental in managing the month-end close, quarterly reviews, annual audits, and SEC filings, ensuring full compliance and transparency. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact our financial narrative and support the company's continued growth and success.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Staff Accountant / Senior Accountant
  • Financial Analyst
  • Public Accountant (Audit/Assurance)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Financial Reporter / Senior Manager, External Reporting
  • Accounting Manager
  • Assistant Controller / Controller

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Financial Analyst (FP&A)
  • Internal Audit Manager
  • Technical Accounting Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Spearhead the preparation and distribution of timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows, in strict accordance with U.S. GAAP and/or IFRS.
  • Manage the critical month-end and quarter-end financial close processes, ensuring all journal entries are recorded, balance sheet accounts are reconciled, and all supporting documentation is meticulously maintained.
  • Conduct comprehensive variance analysis of financial results against budget, forecast, and prior-period performance, delivering insightful written commentary to explain key drivers and trends to senior management.
  • Play a key role in the preparation and review of SEC filings, including Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to all regulatory disclosure requirements.
  • Collaborate directly with external and internal auditors, acting as a primary point of contact to facilitate audit requests, provide detailed explanations, and ensure a smooth and efficient audit process.
  • Research, interpret, and document complex technical accounting issues, assessing the impact of new accounting standards (ASUs) and guiding the company on proper implementation and disclosure.
  • Ensure the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulations by documenting, testing, and remediating control deficiencies.
  • Drive the consolidation of financial results from multiple global subsidiaries and business units, managing intercompany transactions and complex foreign currency translations.
  • Develop and maintain sophisticated financial models to support robust forecasting, strategic planning, and ad-hoc analytical projects requested by executive leadership.
  • Partner cross-functionally with departments such as FP&A, Treasury, Tax, and Legal to ensure cohesive and accurate financial data integration and reporting across the organization.
  • Lead initiatives to improve and automate financial reporting processes, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, reduce manual effort, and improve the quality of financial data.
  • Maintain the integrity and structure of the general ledger and financial reporting systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), ensuring data accuracy and appropriate hierarchy.
  • Prepare and assemble comprehensive reporting packages and presentation materials for the Board of Directors, Audit Committee, and executive leadership meetings.
  • Analyze and review significant contracts, such as leases and revenue arrangements, to determine the correct accounting treatment under ASC 606 and ASC 842.
  • Support merger and acquisition activities by participating in due diligence and leading the financial reporting integration of newly acquired entities.
  • Manage the reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs) and non-financial metrics, including ESG data, for integrated corporate reports and investor communications.
  • Oversee the calculation and reporting of complex financial metrics such as earnings per share (EPS) and segment reporting disclosures.
  • Author and maintain the company's official financial policies and procedures manual to ensure consistency, clarity, and compliance across the accounting function.
  • Act as a subject matter expert on financial reporting matters, providing guidance and training to junior staff and other departments on accounting principles and policies.
  • Coordinate with the investor relations team to ensure that financial information communicated externally is consistent with SEC filings and internal reports.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the FP&A team with data and analysis for budgeting and forecasting cycles.
  • Assist in special projects, such as system implementations or process re-engineering, as assigned by the Controller or CFO.
  • Develop and deliver training on new accounting pronouncements and reporting procedures to the broader finance and accounting team.
  • Contribute to the preparation of statutory financial statements for various legal entities in different jurisdictions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • U.S. GAAP & IFRS Expertise: Deep, practical knowledge of accounting principles and the ability to research and apply technical accounting guidance.
  • SEC Reporting: Proven experience with the preparation and filing of Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, including disclosure checklist completion.
  • Advanced Excel Proficiency: Mastery of complex functions, including pivot tables, lookups, index-match, and financial modeling for data analysis and reporting.
  • ERP System Fluency: Hands-on experience with large-scale ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics 365.
  • Financial Consolidation Tools: Proficiency with reporting and consolidation software like Hyperion Financial Management (HFM), Workiva, or BlackLine.
  • SOX Compliance: Strong understanding of internal control frameworks and experience with designing, documenting, and testing controls.
  • Data Analysis: Ability to query, manipulate, and analyze large datasets to uncover trends, anomalies, and insights.
  • Technical Accounting Research: Skill in using accounting research tools (e.g., Checkpoint, Accounting Research Manager) to resolve complex accounting issues.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A commitment to accuracy and precision in all aspects of financial reporting, leaving no room for error.
  • Strong Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to dissect complex financial information, identify underlying issues, and propose viable solutions.
  • Effective Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex accounting concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
  • Time Management & Deadline-Driven: Proven ability to manage competing priorities and consistently meet tight deadlines, especially during quarter-end and year-end close.
  • High Integrity & Professionalism: A strong ethical compass and commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.
  • Collaborative Team Player: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong professional relationships.
  • Proactive & Self-Motivated: A continuous improvement mindset with the initiative to identify and implement process enhancements independently.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in Accounting or Finance.
  • Active CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license or equivalent professional certification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA) is highly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business Administration with an Accounting concentration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 4-8 years of progressive experience in financial reporting and/or public accounting.

Preferred: A combination of experience from a "Big 4" or large regional public accounting firm and a role within the financial reporting team of a publicly traded company is ideal.