Freelance Financial Accountant (Interim) – Retail Group
Location: Near Paris, France (on-site 4 days/week, 1 day remote)
Start Date: End of March / Early April (urgent)
Duration:Â 5+ months
Language Requirement: Fluent French (mandatory)
Context
A large international retail group is seeking an experienced Freelance Financial Accountant to provide interim cover within its finance team due to unexpected sick leave potentially transitioning into maternity leave.
The assignment will begin with immediate short-term support during the March month-end closing, with a strong likelihood of extension depending on internal staffing developments.
Role Overview
This is a highly operational accounting role, requiring someone hands-on, autonomous, and comfortable working in a complex systems environment.
The contractor will take ownership of key accounting activities related to financial operations and ensure continuity during a critical reporting period.
Key Responsibilities
Execute and support monthly closing activities (peak workload during first 10–12 working days of the month)
Perform detailed account reconciliations and controls
Review and validate journal entries generated by multiple upstream systems
Post manual journal entries, including accruals and adjustments
Investigate and resolve accounting discrepancies, particularly across treasury and system-generated flows
Monitor and ensure completeness of entries within SAP S/4HANA
Handle invoice receipt accounting and accruals
Work closely with internal teams (e.g., treasury, AP/P2P) to resolve issues and ensure data integrity
Complete reporting packages and closing deliverables within tight deadlines
Systems & Environment
SAP S/4HANA (core accounting system)
Treasury and cash management tools (e.g., internal systems connected to SAP)
Complex IT ecosystem with multiple data flows requiring validation and reconciliation
Profile Requirements
Minimum 4+ years’ experience in financial accounting
Strong hands-on accounting expertise (general ledger, accruals, closing)
Experience working in complex, system-driven environments
Solid knowledge of SAP (ideally S/4HANA)
Ability to quickly understand and navigate interconnected financial systems
Proven ability to work independently and proactively
Strong problem-solving skills, particularly in identifying and resolving data inconsistencies
Fluent in French and able to work in a French-speaking environment
Must be based in France and able to commute to the office regularly
Additional Information
Immediate availability is highly preferred
Prior experience in retail, treasury-related accounting, or large multinational environments is a plus
Flexibility may be required depending on business needs and team availability