GL Accounting Manager

Ready to take the next step in your finance leadership career? Join Lotus Bakeries as GL Accounting Manager and play a key role in strengthening financial operations within a fast-growing international FMCG company. Based in Lembeke, this position offers a unique combination of leadership, strategic impact, and continuous improvement in a dynamic environment driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and passion.

Your responsibilities as GL Accounting Manager

The GL Accounting Manager will lead and strengthen the Record-to-Report (R2R) function within the Group Accounting Center. You will manage a General Ledger team of 9 people, focusing on coaching, performance management, talent development, and team growth.

You will ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting across all entities while driving standardization, automation, and operational excellence. As a key contact for local finance teams, Group Finance, auditors, and business stakeholders, you will actively support the company's continued growth and financial professionalization.

• Leadership & Team Management
• Lead, motivate, and develop the GL team within the Group Accounting Center.
• Build a high-performing, service-oriented accounting function.
• Drive talent development, career growth, and succession planning.
• Record-to-Report (R2R) Ownership
• Own and continuously improve the full R2R process, including journals, accruals, provisions, depreciation, payroll postings, and consolidation inputs.
• Partner with Group Finance to standardize accounting processes, procedures, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with closing calendars and reporting deadlines.
• General Ledger Closing & Reporting
• Manage accounting activities for smaller sales offices to gain hands-on process knowledge.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual closings across supported entities.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS and Belgian GAAP.
• Support tax reporting and compliance requirements.
• Internal Controls & Compliance
• Maintain strong internal controls, reconciliations, approval workflows, and control frameworks.
• Ensure audit readiness at all times.
• Coordinate external audits and support finance and tax audit requests.
• Process Improvement & Automation
• Identify and implement automation opportunities through SAP and RPA solutions.
• Improve data quality and reduce manual accounting activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with the GAC Project Manager.
• Stakeholder Management
• Act as the key contact between the Group Accounting Center, Group Finance, and local finance teams.
• Support tax, treasury, consolidation, and controlling teams with reliable financial data.
• Ensure excellent service delivery and communication across countries and business units.

About you

• You hold a Master's degree in Finance or Accounting.
• You bring strong people management experience and leadership capabilities.
• You demonstrate excellent communication and collaboration skills with a natural ability to influence stakeholders.
• You possess strong expertise in IFRS and Belgian GAAP.
• You have experience working with ERP systems; SAP knowledge is a strong advantage.
• You are highly proficient in Excel and KPI-driven reporting.
• You bring at least 8 to 10 years of experience within Audit (Big 4, BDO, or similar) or accounting roles in medium to large international companies.
• You are fluent in English; Dutch and French are considered strong assets.
• You recognize yourself in values such as team spirit, open dialogue, and passion.
• You are enthusiastic, eager to learn, and motivated to grow within an international environment.
• You are proactive, hands-on, and comfortable navigating a fast-changing FMCG environment.
• You are a finance professional with solid expertise in IFRS, tax, and asset accounting.