Accountant

Accountant

EMBL – European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Heidelberg, Germany

Organisation data: Finance
Job Number: HD02617
Contract Type: Staff Member
Advertised Grade-Grading: 4, 5 or 6; depending on experience and qualifications (monthly salary starting from 3.4-4.3k EUR after tax + other paid benefits)
Contract Duration-Length of Time (years/months): 3 years (renewable)
Closing date: 20 June 2024

About the team/job

EMBL is Europe’s life sciences laboratory – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with approx. 2 000 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome.

We are looking for an Accounts Officer to join us at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. In this role you will be part of the Accounting Unit and will report directly to the Head of Accounting. You will have a broad range of responsibilities concerning EMBL’s accounts payable, financial recordkeeping and controlling.

Your role

Responsibilities will include, but not be limited, to the following:

Accounts Payable

• posting and validating transactions in SAP and XFlow module;
• controlling and booking of vendor invoices with purchase orders for Heidelberg and all other sites;
• controlling and booking of credit card statements;
• travel and payroll related invoices reconciliation;
• monthly and quarterly reconciliation of vendor and other accounts.

Tax Claims

• Prepare and submit tax refund claims in a timely and accurate manner;
• Follow up on refunded amounts and reconciliation.

Controlling

• work in coordination with the Budget Office on the maintenance of the master data of the cost centres.

General Accounting

• assisting as required in period-close activities;
• recordkeeping and controlling of accrual and deferral transactions at year end;
• ensuring that all documentation on accounting procedures under her/his responsibilities are up to date;
• booking of the salary deductions, claim list and direct debits.

Other finance and administrative operations

• Assisting in ad hoc accounting projects;
• Participating in and supporting internal and external audits;
• Other finance and administrative duties as assigned.

You will work closely with the Finance, Purchasing and Scientific groups as well as external contacts like vendors, debtors and others. The applicant will be required to be flexible in delivering assigned tasks and willing to assist in various areas within the accounting department.

You have

Applicants should have 5+ years’ experience in accounting and reconciliations, and ideally you should possess a recognised professional qualification in accounting. As our ideal candidate you will have to demonstrate proven experience in accounts payables and receivables, accounts reconciliation and application of internal controls. You should possess a hands-on attitude and apply highly analytical and structured way of working. Experience with modern ERP systems is a prerequisite, preferably with SAP, as well as good knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel and Word. In addition to fluency in written and spoken English, a good working knowledge of German is highly desirable, while knowledge of French would be an advantage.

You might also have

Previous experience of working in an international organisation or an organisation engaged in research would be an advantage.

Why join us

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family friendly working environment. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme, medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial support for relocation and installation, including your family and the availability of an excellent child care facility on campus.

Enjoy lots of benefits

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover);
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays;
• Relocation package including installation grant (if required);
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely);
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances;
• Benefits for international applicants: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

What else you need to know

EMBL Administration units are responsible for supporting all parts of EMBL and for undertaking and delivering long-term strategic administrative planning. With more than 200 staff, in all support areas, ranging from caretakers and gardeners to senior management staff, EMBL Administration provides administrative support to approx. 2 000 members of personnel from in excess of 80 nations. The team is dedicated to maintaining high quality services to staff at all EMBL sites.

Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed up to 9 years in total, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply nevertheless.

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