Job Description
ECS is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant with 5–10 years of professional experience to join our team in Zürich, Switzerland. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in managing and overseeing financial operations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations, and contributing to the financial health of the organization. Proficiency in QuickBooks is preferred but not required. Please submit all applications in English.
Primary Responsibilities
1. Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records in compliance with the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO).
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with Swiss GAAP
- accrual based accounting including;
- Reconcile bank statements, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, fixed assets and other balance sheet items. Maintains and balances subsidiary accounts by verifying, allocating, posting, and reconciling transactions and resolving discrepencies to ensure general ledger account information is accurate, consistent, traceable, and auditable.
2. Tax Compliance & VAT Management
- Assist with corporate income tax filings at Confederation (Swiss term for our Federal) and cantonal levels (Zurich).
- Ensure accurate VAT recording and timely reporting, and payments.
- Assist with tax optimization strategies while remaining compliant with Swiss tax regulations.
3. Payroll & Social Security Contributions
- Process monthly payroll, ensuring compliance with Swiss labor laws and pension fund (BVG) regulations.
- Process payroll related journal entries
- Manage employee benefits, including accident insurance (UVG) and other statutory deductions.
4. Audit & Compliance
- Ensure the company is prepared for limited statutory examination, if applicable.
- Maintain financial records for a minimum of 10 years, as per Swiss law. -Support external auditors and legal compliance efforts.
5. Cash Flow & Expense Management
- Monitor company cash flow, ensuring liquidity and financial stability.
- Review and process business expenses, ensuring proper documentation and compliance.
6. Business Support
- Provide financial insights to management for strategic planning and decision-making.
- Stay updated on Swiss tax and financial regulations to provide accurate advice.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
- 5-10 years of experience in accounting, preferably in a Swiss startup or international environment.
- Strong knowledge of Swiss GAAP, IFRS, and Swiss tax laws.
- Familiarity with Swiss VAT (MwSt) and payroll processing.
- Experience with audit preparation and liaising with external auditors.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in accounting software but Quickbooks is a plus.
- Strong skills in Excel, financial modeling, and reporting tools.
- Knowledge of Swiss e-banking systems for payment processing.
- Strong communication skills in English