Chief Accountant

Line of ServiceInternal Firm ServicesIndustry/SectorNot ApplicableSpecialismIFS
- FinanceManagement LevelManagerJob Description & SummaryMake an impact that goes beyond the numbersAt 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 departmentOur 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 likeNo 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 youYou 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