Accounting Associate presso Cat

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Perform various routine accounting tasks in support of an operating unit.

Responsibilities:
From the outset, the Sr. Shared Services Accountant will be expected to be a contributing performer, performing assigned accounting work that supports business processes. Main areas of responsibility include:
•    Manual and automatic processing of Accounts Payable in accordance with internal policies and guidelines.
•    Automatic and manual payment process, plus bank statements booking.
•    Support month end closing activities and extensive knowledge of the GL account reconciliation process.
•    Prepare advanced monthly reports and assist with KPIs preparation.
•    Conduct regular reviews and ensure understanding and adherence of policies and procedures.
•    Lead projects and assist with process improvements, identify areas of standardization with other entities.
•    Provide on the job training and guidance to new colleagues and internal customers.
•    Be able to act as deputy in another member of the team absence.
The most significant challenges in the position include preventing double payments, uncorrected liabilities, unmatched payments resulting in open entries, and country specific processes.
Requirements:
•    Requires a degree in accounting or related finance field.
•    Preferred min. 2 years of experience in the shared services related AP accounting role.
•    Fluent English language, other languages are advantageous.
•    Intermediate accounting knowledge.
•    He/she will demonstrate good communication skills.
•    The Shared Services Accountant needs to demonstrate a technical understanding in his respective accounting area and the ability to independently handle accounting issues.
•    Also has the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy, analytical and basic project management skills to be able to manage projects and/or processes in the accounting area.
Skill Descriptors:
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights.
•    Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs.
•    Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
•    Learn from mistakes and apply lessons learned.
•    Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out error-free.
Analytical Thinking: 
Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Basic Understanding: 
•    Names specific tools or techniques that can be used to support the analytical thinking process.
•    Describes specific software applications or products used for business analytics.
•    Gives examples of how analytical thinking has been used to resolve problems.
•    Help others research and learn more about business analytics tools and applications.
Effective Communications:
Understanding effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Level Working Knowledge: 
•    Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
•    Listens to feedback without defensiveness and use it for own communication effectiveness.
•    Make oral presentations and write reports needed for your own work.
•    Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
•    Look for and consider non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.
Managing Multiple Priorities: 
Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.

Level Basic Understanding: 
•    Explains basic concepts of time and priority management.
•    Seeks guidance in detecting and addressing priority conflicts.
•    States own business priorities.
•    Describes team or unit priorities.

Problem Solving: 
Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Working Knowledge: 
•    Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
•    Examine a specific problem and understand the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
•    Develop alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
•    Help to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decisions on resolution.
•    Use fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems
Accounting:
Knowledge of accounting methods, processes, and tools; ability to maintain and prepare financial statements and reports using accounting methods and processes.

Level Working Knowledge: 
•    Utilizes cost monitoring practices, techniques and considerations.
•    Works with financial transactions and related documentation within the organization.
•    Participate in accounting practices of classifying and recording financial data.
•    Maintains existing charts of accounts.
•    Follows regulations for entering and reporting the financial content in major accounting systems.
Financial Reporting: 
Knowledge of processes, methods, and tools of financial reporting; ability to create and maintain accurate and thorough financial reports.

Level Basic Understanding: 
•    Describes basic methods for financial report writing.
•    Identifies basic financial report-writing tools.
•    Clarifies the purpose and value of accurate financial reports.
•    Utilizes the major financial reports used by the organization.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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