Where you’ll fit in & what our team goals are…
The Columbia Threadneedle Investments asset management group is the global brand under which legal entities are registered world-wide.
The primary purposes of your role is to initially lead the integration of the currently-outsourced German Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate Property
business, and bring in-house to operate under the same in-house processes as other companies. Once the integration is completed you will be responsible for the preparation and/or review of the annual Statutory Accounts, Regulatory and Statistical Reporting in addition to managing the preparation of Financial Board Packs for the German entity as well as other EU based companies. You will also aid in providing technical accounting assistance to the Columbia Threadneedle Investments (EMEA and APAC) Finance Controllership function in relation to business changes and developments specifically linked to developments within Germany. A detailed understanding of German GAAP is therefore essential.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL HAVE…

• Business fluent in written and spoken German and English
• Comprehensive understanding and application of German accounting practice (HGB)
• Sound communication skills and an ability to work closely with colleagues in other countries/regions
• Proven post-qualified experience
• Analytical problem-solving abilities
• Proactive
• Team spirit
• Working independently and reliably

A working understanding of:

• Corporate tax rules and regulations
• German VAT framework
• IFRS and Lux GAAP and ability to investigate and understand other GAAP treatments
• Experience in working with DATEV

Initial Tasks – Integration of German accounting and reporting:

• Develop and execute a plan for insourcing all functions:
• Accounts payable via our AP system (noting local reporting requirements).
• Personal expenses via our expenses management software (noting local reporting requirements).
• Revenue via our AR system, including performance fees / carried interest.
• Payroll direct to our Accounting Software.
• Bring corporate bank account under full control of Treasury.
• Develop month end accounting process to ensure correct recording of revenue, accruals, leases etc under: German GAAP IFRS US GAAP
• Ensure readiness for calculation of performance fee shares, carried interest shares and profit shares.
• Liaise with our Tax team to ensure tax reporting within the GL is aligned with all reporting requirements
• Manage reporting to the relevant tax authority
• Experience with DATEV is a must
• Aligning processes with standard processes utilised by our reporting team
• Ensure access to 10 years of historical records.
• Agree transition with German Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate Property team.
• Liaise with our Revenue team to ensure they are aware of requirements and have a process to deliver as needed.
• Understand future invoicing / invoice reporting requirements coming out of EU Making Tax Digital project

The main requirements of the role relate to Statutory and Regulatory Reporting:

• Preparation of the Statutory and Regulatory reports to ensure high quality reports are submitted to the auditors / regulatory authorities.
• Demonstrating proper accounting control and that a profit and loss and balance sheet can be drawn up without reliance on other providers
• Ensuring appropriate accounting policies and procedures that promote a true and fair view of the financial situation are maintained in a procedure manual
• To be responsible for ensuring the number and content of Financial Regulatory reports is kept up to date, this also includes any surveys issued by local bodies
• To liaise directly with the auditors and to challenge and resolve auditor queries, via working closely with the UK & local teams where necessary.
• To liaise with the German Bundeskasse for filing annual reports

The purpose of this role also covers:

• Providing Controllership support to the Treasury Capital team for any internal risk-based assessments.
• Oversight of local Balance Sheet reconciliations produced by other functions / regions, ensuring information presented is accurately highlighting ageing items
• To work with the global team to clear aged items.
• Provide technical guidance where necessary.
• Review of Entity revenues, expenses and profitability trend to highlight any areas of concern.
• To be the primary point of contact for the business, manage queries where appropriate or steer to correct business contacts in order to resolve.
• Preparation of reports for Board Meetings
• Quarterly financial updates
• Other papers as necessary
• Co-ordination with Tax, Treasury and LFO on any matters arising from business operations / developments.
• Other project work related to the European entities.
• Ensuring that project work and developments always result in the best business outcome
• Ensuring the Controllership responsibilities linked project work and developments are being considered and can appropriately be managed.
• Being responsible for ensuring the Controllership standards are upheld.
• Work with UK based Controllership team to ensure processes are continually challenged for efficiency and control.
• Evolution should take place when needed and opportunities to leverage new software to benefit processes should be considered