Sr. Accountant, International

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Purpose of Job:

The Sr.  Accountant, International/Mexico supports the accounting and financial operations of Interstate Batteries’ international business, with primary responsibility for Mexico. This position performs and oversees the transactional accounting for the Mexico entity, including Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) as well as financial analysis, account reconciliations, and monthly close activities.

Job Components:

Mexico Tax and Invoicing Compliance

• Maintain working knowledge of Mexico accounting, tax, and invoicing requirements, including SAT (Mexico tax authority) regulations applicable to day-to-day accounting and transactional processes.
• Support compliance with SAT requirements related to CFDI (Mexico electronic invoice) electronic invoicing and supporting documentation for customer, vendor, and other business transactions.

Accounts Receivable and Customer Accounting

• Perform the day-to-day Accounts Receivable work for the Mexico entity, including customer invoicing, cash application, account reconciliation, collections, and resolution of customer account discrepancies.
• Own customer invoicing for the Mexico entity end to end, partnering with respective providers as applicable, and customer invoicing portals.
• Monitor AR aging and work with internal business partners and customers to resolve outstanding or disputed balances.
• Ensure customer transactions are appropriately supported and accurately recorded in the accounting system.
• Assist in developing and improving controls, documentation, and processes across the order-to-cash cycle.

Accounts Payable and Vendor Accounting

• Perform the day-to-day Accounts Payable work for the Mexico entity, including vendor setup, invoice processing, account coding, payment requests, vendor reconciliations, and resolution of invoice and payment discrepancies.
• Validate vendor invoices for Mexico tax compliance before payment, prepare payment requests for the outsourced provider, and maintain the Mexico payment records.  Payment release remains with Treasury or its designee.
• Partner with Procurement, Operations, Treasury, Trade Compliance, Tax, and other business partners to resolve issues that prevent timely and accurate invoice processing.
• Assist with AP aging, accrual completeness, vendor statement reconciliations, and other period-end AP activities.
• Assist in developing and improving controls, documentation, and processes across the procure-to-pay cycle.

General Ledger and Financial Close

• Partner with Corporate Accounting on monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities for Mexico and other entities.
• Assist with financial analysis and preparation of schedules and documentation supporting internal and external audits.

Mexico and International Accounting

• Partner with Tax and other subject matter experts regarding the appropriate accounting treatment and documentation of Mexico-related transactions.
• Support reconciliation between transactional activity, supporting documentation, subsidiary systems, and the General Ledger.

Systems and Cross-Functional Support

• Utilize SAP and related systems to research, process, reconcile, and analyze accounting transactions.
• Assist in resolving issues across accounting systems and processes and help identify root causes of recurring discrepancies.
• Adopt and help improve the automation and AI-assisted tools Finance uses for Mexico invoicing and reconciliation.
• Provide accounting guidance and training to team members and business partners as needed, including the Shared Services team members who provide backup for Mexico AP and AR.

Other Responsibilities

• Support special projects and analyses related to international operations as assigned.
• Travel to Mexico as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of accounting experience, preferably within a corporate, distribution, manufacturing, or multi-entity environment.
• Fluency in both Spanish and English required, including the ability to effectively communicate, interpret business and accounting terminology, and review documentation in both languages.
• Practical experience with Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable processes, including the ability and willingness to perform hands-on transactional accounting activities.
• General Ledger accounting experience, including journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and month-end close.
• Hands-on experience with Mexico accounting and tax compliance is preferred, including electronic invoicing (CFDI), VAT (IVA), and SAT requirements.
• Experience working with SAP is highly desired; experience supporting an SAP implementation is a plus.
• Experience working with a large and diversified organizational structure and chart of accounts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to research transactions, identify discrepancies, determine root causes, and recommend solutions.
• Familiarity with U.S. GAAP and fundamental accounting and internal control concepts.
• Ability to work effectively with internal business partners, external vendors, customers, and third-party service providers, including an outsourced accounting provider.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate accounting and process issues clearly to both Finance and non-Finance stakeholders.
• Effective time management skills with strong attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing responsibilities, and manage multiple tasks through completion within specified deadlines under minimal supervision.
• Flexibility to support evolving accounting processes associated with a growing international business

Scope Data:

• Serve as the primary accounting resource for Mexico-related AR, AP, close, reconciliation, and accounting matters.
• Partner with internal Finance, Tax, Treasury, Operations, Supply Chain, and other business functions.
• Interface professionally, in English and Spanish, with customers, vendors, external service providers, and other third parties.
• Assist with training and development of accounting personnel as appropriate.
• Exemplify Interstate’s Purpose and Values.

Work Environment:

• Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods of time.     
• Ability to sustain posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time.      
• Regularly required to use hands to grasp or handle and talk and hear.      
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Travel to Mexico as needed.

Note: We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Interstate Batteries provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Interstate Batteries complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Interstate Batteries expressly prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical), marital status, military status, veteran status, citizenship or any other characteristic protected under applicable local, state or federal law.