Title: General Accountant
Location:
Lyon, FR
Mission
The role of the General Accountant is to ensure operational excellence and accuracy in the
subsidiary’s financial processes. You will be responsible for executing complex accounting
operations, participating in month-end closing procedures, preparing financial reports for local
management, and supporting the Western Europe Finance Manager, while ensuring compliance
with applicable accounting and tax standards and internal controls.
This position focuses on supporting financial operations, compliance, and accuracy in the
following areas:
• Supplier and Customer Supervision: Review, provisions, follow-ups, and reporting of
unpaid invoices not covered by Coface.
• Technical Accounting Management: Support various accounting areas including
purchasing, inventory, and fixed assets; ensure compliance with depreciation policies;
monitor and control expense reports; integrate and check payroll entries; prepare bank
entries, etc.
• Prepare Social and Tax Declarations: DAS2, TVS, DEB, DES, training report, CVAE, etc.
• Monthly and Annual Closing: Assist the Finance Manager during local month-end
closing procedures, ensuring timely and accurate submission of financial data to the
group. Includes accrual entries, prepaid expenses, invoice issuance, and balance sheet
review.
• Budget and Budgetary Control: Assist the Finance Manager in the budgeting process,
monitor expenses and revenues against the established budget, prepare marketing
expense reports for Western Europe, and explain key financial performance drivers.
• Compliance and Audit Coordination: Support the Western Europe Finance Manager
during internal and external audits; prepare required documents and annexes.
• Process Efficiency: Identify and support improvements to financial processes and
internal controls to increase efficiency, reduce risks, and ensure compliance with group
policies. Assist the Finance Manager in drafting and updating procedures.
Education / Required Knowledge
• Degree in Accounting or Finance (BTS, DECF, Bachelor’s or Master’s).
Professional Experience
• At least 5 years of experience in financial accounting, preferably in a multinational
environment.
Other Specialized Skills
• Strong technical accounting knowledge: principles and French accounting/tax standards;
IFRS knowledge is a plus.
The role of the General Accountant is to ensure operational excellence and accuracy in the
subsidiary’s financial processes. You will be responsible for executing complex accounting
operations, participating in month-end closing procedures, preparing financial reports for local
management, and supporting the Western Europe Finance Manager, while ensuring compliance
with applicable accounting and tax standards and internal controls.
This position focuses on supporting financial operations, compliance, and accuracy in the
following areas:
• Supplier and Customer Supervision: Review, provisions, follow-ups, and reporting of
unpaid invoices not covered by Coface.
• Technical Accounting Management: Support various accounting areas including
purchasing, inventory, and fixed assets; ensure compliance with depreciation policies;
monitor and control expense reports; integrate and check payroll entries; prepare bank
entries, etc.
• Prepare Social and Tax Declarations: DAS2, TVS, DEB, DES, training report, CVAE, etc.
• Monthly and Annual Closing: Assist the Finance Manager during local month-end
closing procedures, ensuring timely and accurate submission of financial data to the
group. Includes accrual entries, prepaid expenses, invoice issuance, and balance sheet
review.
• Budget and Budgetary Control: Assist the Finance Manager in the budgeting process,
monitor expenses and revenues against the established budget, prepare marketing
expense reports for Western Europe, and explain key financial performance drivers.
• Compliance and Audit Coordination: Support the Western Europe Finance Manager
during internal and external audits; prepare required documents and annexes.
• Process Efficiency: Identify and support improvements to financial processes and
internal controls to increase efficiency, reduce risks, and ensure compliance with group
policies. Assist the Finance Manager in drafting and updating procedures.
Education / Required Knowledge
• Degree in Accounting or Finance (BTS, DECF, Bachelor’s or Master’s).
Professional Experience
• At least 5 years of experience in financial accounting, preferably in a multinational
environment.
Other Specialized Skills
• Strong technical accounting knowledge: principles and French accounting/tax standards;
IFRS knowledge is a plus.
• Proven experience contributing significantly to full month-end and year-end closing
cycles.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (complex formulas, pivot tables).
• Hands-on experience with a major ERP (e.g., SAP FICO).
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze financial data, detect anomalies, and present results
clearly and concisely.
• Compliance mindset: meticulous attention to detail and strong commitment to
maintaining financial integrity and regulatory compliance.
• Communication: ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to
collaborate within the group and with external professionals (clients, suppliers, auditors,
advisors).
• Independence: proven ability to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks autonomously.
• Languages: fluent in French and English; German is a plus.
cycles.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (complex formulas, pivot tables).
• Hands-on experience with a major ERP (e.g., SAP FICO).
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze financial data, detect anomalies, and present results
clearly and concisely.
• Compliance mindset: meticulous attention to detail and strong commitment to
maintaining financial integrity and regulatory compliance.
• Communication: ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to
collaborate within the group and with external professionals (clients, suppliers, auditors,
advisors).
• Independence: proven ability to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks autonomously.
• Languages: fluent in French and English; German is a plus.
Ready for your next career move?
We look forward to receiving your application!
Interested in this position but don’t meet every requirement? We’d still love to hear from you – please send us your cover letter and resume!
Your recruiting contact:
Ann Van der Voort | SMA France S.A.S.
∗ SMA is committed to equal opportunity and diversity – regardless of gender, age, origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.