General Accountant

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance, and sustainability.

SGS is looking for a General Accountant to join our Finance team in Iraq. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in general accounting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and cash management, along with a good understanding of Iraq accounting practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate with the Shared Service Center accounting team on postings and corrections.
• Prepare monthly accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and other closing adjustments.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts, investigate discrepancies, and resolve outstanding items.
• Maintain fixed asset records, including additions, disposals, and periodic verification.
• Complete assigned closing activities within the reporting timetable and maintain supporting schedules.
• Submit all invoices to the Shared Service Center for timely booking, ensuring proper supporting documentation.
• Ensure correct account coding, cost allocation, and supporting documentation before submission for posting.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare weekly payment proposals based on due dates, cash availability, and business priorities.
• Prepare and submit a weekly cash report, including a supplier payment plan.
• Ensure all required documents and supporting records are in place before payment release.
• Monitor advances, deposits, and outstanding supplier balances through to settlement.
• Coordinate with business teams to ensure timely billing, supported by contracts, purchase orders, timesheets, and service acceptance documents.
• Submit receipts to the Shared Service Center team for posting.
• Maintain receivables aging reports and follow up with customers on overdue balances.
• Track unbilled revenue and outstanding billing documentation, escalating delays to the Finance Manager.
• Allocate customer receipts, reconcile customer accounts, and investigate unidentified payments.
• Report collection progress, disputed invoices, and potential recoverability concerns on a weekly basis.
• Monitor bank balances and transactions and prepare timely bank reconciliations.
• Prepare cash-flow forecasts covering expected collections, payroll, supplier payments, and other commitments.
• Prepare bank transfer documentation and coordinate with banks on payment processing and outstanding transactions.
• Maintain petty cash records and perform regular reconciliations and cash counts.
• Coordinate with HR to verify employee advances, deductions, and expense reimbursements.
• Prepare payroll accounting entries and reconcile related balances.
• Maintain schedules and supporting documents for applicable taxes, withholding obligations, social security, and statutory reporting.
• Maintain complete and organized accounting records and audit trails.
• Support internal and external audits and follow up on assigned findings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant accounting experience in Iraq and within a multinational or service-based business.
• Practical experience in month-end closing, reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management.
• Working knowledge of Iraqi accounting practices, banking procedures, and local compliance processes.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with accounting or ERP systems; familiarity with Odoo or SunSystems is an advantage.
• Professional working proficiency in Arabic and English; Kurdish is an advantage where relevant.
• Only candidates from Iraq will be considered.