For our Italian headquarters based in Cinisello Balsamo (MI) we are seeking a Principal Accountant to join our Finance team and act as a key accounting reference point in a fast growing, international, project driven organization.
This role is designed for an experienced accounting professional who combines strong technical expertise with a pragmatic, solution oriented and adaptable mindset, and who is motivated to actively contribute to building structured and scalable accounting processes in an evolving environment.
The Principal Accountant plays a central role in ensuring high quality financial data, robust accounting practices, and consistency of financial information across the organization. In addition to core accounting responsibilities, the role progressively contributes to project accounting and long term contract revenue recognition.
The position reports directly to the Head of Finance Italy and works in close collaboration with Project Execution, HR/payroll providers, IT, and external advisors.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as an accounting reference point for general ledger activities, including journal entries, accruals, provisions, and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Coordinate and continuously improve month‑end, quarter‑end, and year‑end closing processes, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of financial data.
- Prepare, review, and analyse statutory and internal financial reporting, with a focus on overall coherence and data integrity rather than purely transactional checks.
- Actively contribute to the design, documentation, and continuous improvement of accounting processes, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and fit for a growing organization.
- Perform high‑level data validation by analysing end‑to‑end financial flows across systems, identifying inconsistencies or weaknesses, and proposing corrective and preventive actions.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and applicable accounting standards.
- Progressively support and take ownership of project accounting activities, including:
- cost tracking and allocation,
- monitoring project margins and financial performance,
- Percentage of Completion (POC) calculations,
- appropriate revenue recognition for long‑term and complex contracts.
- Maintain a close and continuous exchange with Project Execution to ensure a shared, reliable understanding of project financial results.
- Maintain a solid operational understanding and knowledge of payroll and tax processes, currently managed outside the core accounting team.
- Support payroll‑ and tax‑related reconciliation activities and ensure correct accounting treatment of related costs and balances.
- Support internal and external audits, providing accounting documentation and explanations as required.
- Operate effectively in a changing environment, demonstrating adaptability, flexibility, and resilience as systems, processes, and organizational structures evolve.
- Proactively identify issues, inefficiencies, or risks and address them with a solution‑oriented mindset, proposing pragmatic and sustainable solutions.
General Accounting & Financial Close
Process Structuring & Data Validation
Project Accounting
Payroll, Tax & Audit Support (Light Scope)
Adaptability & Problem Solving
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, or a related field.
- >10 years of professional experience in general accounting, audit, or similar roles, preferably in dynamic, international, or project‑based environments.
- Strong, hands‑on command of accounting principles and financial reporting, with the ability to interpret, challenge, and clearly explain financial data.
- Proven experience acting as a trusted accounting reference point, contributing to process structuring and data quality.
- Operational knowledge and understanding of payroll and tax matters, including interaction with external providers and advisors.
- Advanced Excel skills and solid experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAGE, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, combining attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture.
- Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively in a cross‑functional and international environment.
- Fluent English (minimum B2 level), written and spoken. Knowledge of German is a plus.
What we are looking for
- A professional comfortable with change, growth, and evolving structures.
- Someone who takes ownership and demonstrates a constructive, pragmatic, and solution‑oriented attitude.
- A profile combining technical rigor, adaptability, and sound professional judgment.
- A reliable accounting counterpart who contributes to clarity, structure, and continuous improvement.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Economics or related field
- More than 10 years of professional experience in general accounting or audit
- Strong command of accounting principles and financial reporting
- Operational knowledge of payroll and tax matters
- Advanced Excel skills
- Experience with ERP systems (SAGE, SAP, Oracle)
- Fluent in English (minimum B2 level)
Zeeco, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Zeeco, Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by Zeeco, Inc..
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits, including a company 401(k) match, are portrayed as a strong part of the package. The match structure is seen as competitive and reliably supports long-term savings.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is viewed as solid and competitive within the overall package, contributing positively to total compensation. Coverage breadth is considered serviceable for many, reinforcing a generally positive perception.
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Pay Growth & Progression — Annual increases are described as consistent, enabling steady pay progression over time. This cadence supports a perception of ongoing earnings growth even when base pay starts average.
Zeeco, Inc. Insights
What We Do
Since 1979, Zeeco is the trusted worldwide source for the design and manufacturing of combustion and environmental solutions for the refining, petrochemical, production, power and pharmaceutical industries. Beginning as a small operation, Zeeco focused on the ideas of expertise, innovation, and reliability that today are the company’s foundation of success. ZEECO® product lines include next generation ultra-low emission burners, gas and liquid flaring systems and hazardous and non-hazardous waste incineration. Zeeco has supplied some of the world’s largest combustion systems. These include the largest enclosed ground flare, acid gas thermal oxidizer, enclosed flare and elevated flare. We also have developed the industry’s best performing ultra-low NOx burner. From refining, onshore/offshore production, power, well testing, petrochemical, gas processing and LNG industries, Zeeco has the experience and technical expertise to design the right combustion solution for your application. Our Combustion Research and Test Facility was the first in the world to become ISO 9001-2000 certified, and our staff strives to stay ahead of rapidly changing emissions requirements. With over three decades of industry experience, we have developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in engineering, reliability, and integrity.
