Financial Accountant

About the role

• Contribute to the timely, accurate and high-quality delivery of Brennan SL financial reporting, management reporting, tax and compliance obligations, while also supporting process improvement and automation initiatives contributing towards the organisations financial strategy and serving as a key point of all financial accounting.
• Support month-end close, maintain balance sheet governance, manage vendors and payment processing, support the annual audit and statutory reporting, and prepare tax and compliance obligations.
• Contribute to a proactive finance culture with a strong focus on financial control, process discipline, risk management, compliance, continuous improvement and automation.
• Provide reliable sound short-, medium- and long-term strategies to sustain the viability of the company.

Role Responsibilities:

Financial Accounting

• Gather and monitor financial data (e.g. sales revenues and liabilities).
• Weekly processing of vendor payments and sending for authorisation.
• Bank reconciliation
• Prepare monthly, statements (balance sheets and P & L Statement for Head office).
• Prepare Annual Financial statement for year-end external audit.
• Manage tax payments.
• Monitor and report on accounting discrepancies.
• Analyse financial trends.
• Perform month-end and year-end close processes including,
• Adhering to the month-end close timetable and completing assigned deliverables within agreed deadlines.
• Preparing and posting journal entries that are accurate, complete and appropriately supported.
• Computing of exchange gain/loss working each month.
• Maintain and reconcile balance sheet accounts, ensuring appropriate documentation, supporting evidence and clear audit trails are retained.
• Monitor the accuracy of general ledger and subsidiary ledger balances, ensuring transactions are recorded in accordance with relevant accounting policies.
• Prepare audit schedules and support the year-end audit process, including responding to auditor queries in a timely and professional manner.
• Support the preparation of statutory financial statements in accordance with relevant accounting policies, financial reporting standards and Group reporting requirements.
Budgeting

• Prepare annual budgets for the local entity to be consolidated with group budget and liaising with relevant stake holders .
• Prepare analysis of variances to prior month, budget and forecast, including value-add commentary that explains key drivers and supports decision-making.

Tax and other compliance

• Assist with preparation of tax and compliance obligations, including:
• Monthly or quarterly VAT/SVAT/WHT tax returns submission on due date.
• Filing of Local annual income tax returns after liaising with the company tax consultants.
• Transfer pricing disclosure liaising with Transfer pricing consultant.
• Prepare tax return work papers and supporting documentation for external tax advisors and service providers.
• Following up on tax refunds with the department of Inland Revenue Sri-Lanka.
• Support the completion and lodgement of other compliance requirements as required, ensuring deadlines are met and records are appropriately maintained.
• Manage tax payments and ensure ICT/WHT are paid on time with no penalty.
Leases

• Ensure right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are accurately recorded, reconciled and accounted for in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

Ad hoc projects/tasks as required

• Prepare ad hoc analysis to support Finance leadership, business decision-making and operational requirements.
• Attend essential training to maintain required qualifications, technical knowledge and role-specific capabilities.
• Carry out other reasonable duties and participate in special projects that improve the effectiveness, efficiency and scalability of finance processes.

Key Competencies And Qualifications Required

• BSc degree in Accounting, Finance or relevant field.
• CA, CPA or ACCA qualified, or working towards completion of a recognised professional accounting qualification.
• Minimum of 3-4 years’ relevant financial accounting experience, ideally within a group or multi-entity environment.
• Practical experience across month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, audit and statutory reporting.
• Working knowledge of a major ERP or accounting system and strong Microsoft Excel capability.
• Proven work experience as a Financial Accountant or similar role.
• In-depth understanding of business bookkeeping procedures.
• Solid knowledge of accounting regulations.
• Coverage during Sydney business hours Required to start to work at IST 5.30 AM.
• Results-driven, with a strong focus on delivering accurate, timely and high-quality outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet strict deadlines and respond effectively to changing workflow demands and have time management abilities.
• Strong attention to detail, with a high degree of accuracy and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on streamlining finance activities and improving process efficiency.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise work effectively to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Uses initiative to identify issues, solve problems and escalate matters appropriately.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel skills.
• The following Competencies and Experience would be an advantage in this role:
• Demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate and implement process improvements.
• Comfortable with change and the ambiguity that creates.
• Previous experience improving finance processes, systems or reporting outputs.
• Demonstrates an openness to learning and using AI and digital tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and productivity in financial processes.
Brennan is an equal opportunity employer.
Orion City 752-5, Dr. Danister De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 09