Chief Accountant

Line of Service Internal Firm Services Industry/Sector Not Applicable Specialism IFS - Finance Management Level Manager Job Description & Summary Make an impact that goes beyond the numbers At PwC, you will be part of a purpose-driven and inclusive environment where people work together to solve important problems and create meaningful, lasting value. We believe strong leadership combines ambition with care, performance with integrity, and expertise with curiosity. You will have the opportunity to take ownership, challenge established ways of working and help shape how Finance supports our organisation. You will work alongside talented colleagues who value different perspectives, continuous learning and collaboration. About our Finance department Our internal Finance department supports the business with reliable financial information, strong financial governance and insightful decision-making. As Chief Accountant , you will take ownership of our accounting function, covering General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets and Intercompany. You will lead and develop the accounting team, including both our General Ledger and Accounts Payable professionals, working across our local and offshore organisation . You will combine strong technical accounting expertise with people leadership and a genuinely hands-on approach . You will operate in an international PwC environment, combining the requirements and ways of working of a global organisation with strong ownership of our local Belgian GAAP and statutory accounting requirements. You will join us at an important moment in our Finance transformation. With our SAP S/4HANA implementation underway and go-live planned for 1 July 2027 , you will play a key role in getting the accounting function successfully through implementation, go-live and stabilisation. At the same time, you will strengthen the capabilities and structure of the team and help us build simpler, more controlled and increasingly automated accounting processes. What your day will look like No two days will be exactly the same. In this role, you will: Take end-to-end ownership of accounting and ensure accurate, complete and timely financial accounting, closing and reporting. Safeguard balance-sheet integrity and oversee key accounting activities across GL, AP, AR, Fixed Assets, Intercompany, VAT/statutory accounting and relevant treasury activities. Ensure compliance with Belgian GAAP and maintain a strong internal-control environment, continuously improving controls as processes become increasingly automated. Maintain a robust internal control environment and ensure compliance with Belgian GAAP, tax and regulatory requirements. Coordinate statutory accounting requirements and support interactions with auditors and relevant internal and external stakeholders. Act as the accounting expert for complex or non-routine matters, exercise sound professional judgement and identify and escalate accounting, financial and operational risks where appropriate. Lead, coach and develop the accounting team, including the General Ledger and Accounts Payable teams, while remaining hands-on yourself , stepping into the detail to analyse reconciliations, investigate issues, review postings or support critical closing activities when required. Bring structure through clear responsibilities, priorities, processes and ways of working, while building greater ownership and problem-solving capabilities within the team. Play an active role in the SAP S/4HANA implementation , including process design, testing, data migration and validation, issue resolution, cutover and post-go-live stabilisation. Continuously identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate manual accounting activities, reconciliations, reporting and controls, and actively drive these improvements through to implementation. Leveraging on technologies such as Power Automate, Power Query, advanced Excel/macros and AI. Build sustainable knowledge within the team through coaching, documentation, cross-training and knowledge sharing, reducing dependency on individual team members. What we will expect from you You combine strong accounting expertise with the confidence and leadership capabilities needed to steer a critical Finance function. You have at least 10 years of professional experience in accounting, with deep knowledge of Belgian GAAP and Belgian statutory accounting requirements. You have demonstrated experience leading teams and taking ownership of complex accounting activities, financial close, controls and reporting. You have strong hands-on SAP experience. SAP S/4HANA experience is strongly preferred. Experience with an S/4HANA or significant ERP/Finance transformation is strongly preferred, and you are comfortable contributing hands-on throughout implementation, testing, cutover and stabilisation. You are a player-coach : able to lead, challenge and develop a team while remaining willing and able to get into the accounting detail yourself. You create trust, encourage open dialogue and build an environment where different perspectives and skills can thrive. You actively share knowledge, develop others and create an environment of ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement. You bring structure and clear accountability and can provide direction when priorities compete or circumstances change. You communicate complex financial matters clearly and confidently, adapting your message to different audiences and stakeholders. You actively challenge manual ways of working and have experience or a strong affinity with automation, data and AI-enabled Finance processes. You are comfortable working in English in a professional environment. Knowledge of Dutch or French is an asset in the Belgian context. What you can expect from us You will join a collaborative and ambitious environment where your expertise matters and your perspective is valued. You can expect: Meaningful impact , with ownership of a critical Finance function at an important moment in its transformation. Leadership and autonomy , combined with the opportunity to remain close to the accounting and make tangible improvements. A major transformation opportunity , helping shape how accounting will operate in the new S/4HANA environment. Learning and growth , through challenging responsibilities, collaboration and continued development of your leadership, technical and digital expertise. An inclusive workplace , where different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences are respected. Flexibility and connection , supporting effective collaboration while recognizing the importance of sustainable and balanced ways of working. A future-focused environment , where technology, automation, AI and new ideas are encouraged to continuously improve how we work. Life at PwC At PwC, our ambition is not simply to respond to change but to help shape what comes next. We work together with integrity, care and curiosity, bringing different perspectives together to create meaningful outcomes. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process based on skills, experience and potential. If you are an experienced accounting leader who combines technical depth with a hands-on mindset, enjoys developing people and wants to help take our accounting function through S/4HANA and into a more automated future, we would be happy to hear from you. Education (if blank, degree and/or field of study not specified) Degrees/Field of Study required: Degrees/Field of Study preferred: Certifications (if blank, certifications not specified) Required Skills Optional Skills Accepting Feedback, Accepting Feedback, Accounting Policies, Accounting Practices, Active Listening, AI Fluency, AI-Human Collaboration, Analytical Thinking, Balance Sheet Analysis, Budgetary Management, Cash Flow Analysis, Coaching and Feedback, Communication, Creativity, Digital Tooling, Embracing Change, Emotional Regulation, Empathy, Escalation Management, Financial Budgeting, Financial Close Process, Financial Data Mining, Financial Forecasting, Financial Management, Financial Policy {+ 17 more} Desired Languages (If blank, desired languages not specified) Travel Requirements 0% Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No Government Clearance Required? No Job Posting End Date