Accounting Analyst, Suwanee, GA

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. All of our employees share a common set of values - Integrity, Intensity, Innovation and Involvement. Our ability to grow year after year is driven by our ability to attract, develop and retain world-class people who will thrive in our environment and share in our desire to improve mankind by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. If you share in our values and if you're looking for an employer who is strongly committed to developing talent and rewarding achievement, come grow with us at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Job Description Accounting Analyst, Suwanee, GA  POSITION DATA JOB TITLE: Accounting AnalystJOB CODE: DEPARTMENT:AdministrationDATE:August, 2008LOCATION:Suwanee, GA (Atlanta metro area)REPORTS TO:Regional ControllerGRADE: FLSA:Exempt  POSITION SUMMARY Primary responsibilities will be to: (i) assist Regional Controller with month-end and quarter-end accounting close, as well as annual and quarterly budgets; (ii) handle day-today accounting and reporting activities; (iii) follow-up on Letters of Credit transactions; (iv) act as liaison between Credit & Collections Dept. in Pittsburgh and the local Customer Service Reps. to expedite resolution of collection issues that involve customer service claims.   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (i) Assist Regional Controller with month-end and quarter-end accounting close, as well as annual and quarterly budgets. 1. Process monthly and quarterly Journal Entries, including expense reclassifications and booking of periodic expenses as well as one-time charges.2. Create and/or run monthly and quarterly queries to retrieve operational and financial data that is required to complete the periodic accounting close.3. Use above information to prepare electronic files used to upload month-end and quarter-end information to the Corporate consolidation system.4. Prepare monthly Intercompany receivable/payable balance confirmations and submit to sister entities around the world.  Work together with corporate team if off-line invoices need to be processed.  Run month-end reports and confirm settlement of charges.5. Prepare all reconciliations (A/P, A/R, Inventory, Fixed Assets, Intercompany balances, etc).  Prepare Internal Control checklists for each close and submit to Corporate.6. Prepare quarter-end information packages required by Corporate and submit.7. Organize and file all documents (electronic and hard-copy) related to month-end and quarter-end accounting closings.8. Improve upon current processes and develop new ones to ensure timely submission of all deliverables to Corporate. (ii) Handle day-to-day accounting and reporting activities:9. Receive, audit, book (when necessary), and submit for payment all invoices from service providers.  Follow-up on payments.  Respond to eventual service providers’ inquiries regarding payments.10.  Process monthly payment of consulting fees to the BU sales consultants based overseas.11.  Receive, audit, and process on-time payment of T&E (expense) reports from overseas’ sales consultants.12.  Organize and file all documents (electronic and hard-copy) related to expenses.13.  Respond to any information request from the BU managers (Sales Mgrs, Ops. Customer Service Mgr, Controller and Gral. Mgr).  These requests will usually require the creation of queries to mine data from the database. (iii) Manage Letter of Credit transactions:14.  Review Letters of Credit received form customers and, together with Customer Service, identify any issues with LC that require amendments.  15.  Forward LCs to our third party LC processing company (“TT”) for their review and feedback.16.  Build database with all outstanding LCs and their key dates.  This dB should be shared with Customer Service, the warehouse team, all managers, and the Corporate Treasury Dept.  Implement system of “flags/alarms” to remind all parties when key LC dates are approaching, especially “latest dates of shipment”, and avoid LC discrepancies.17.  While fulfilling an LC order, do regular follow-up with Customer Service to make sure LC terms are being followed at all times and no further amendments are required.18.  Work together with Customer Service to put together all the documentation required by TT to bank the docs and collect payment on the LC.19.  Build dB of bank charges and TT charges incurred.20.  File all LC documentation once order is completed and payment is received. (iv) Act as liaison between Credit & Collections Dept. in Pittsburgh and the local Customer Service Reps. to expedite resolution of collection issues that involve customer service claims:21.  Review collection issues with Controller and BU Collections Dept. (based in Pittsburgh) on a biweekly basis.  Decide on key accounts to address and timeline.22.  Research issues together with Customer Service Reps. in charge of problem accounts.  Work out course of action to resolve situation in each case and discuss with Collections Dept. and BU Management.23.  Contact customers when needed (together with Collections Dept. and/or Customer Service Dept.) to agree on resolution steps and document.24.  Assist with processing of Credit Card billings when needed.  SKILLS AND ABILITIES Hard Skills:-  Basic accounting knowledge.-  Software skills required:o MS Excel – Advancedo MS Access and other MS Office software – Basico Accounting software:  Oracle Financials R11, Oracle Discoverer, Hyperion – PreferredSoft Skills:-  Initiative and creativity to drive change with hands-on approach and focus on results.  Understanding of the value of metrics and processes.-  Excellent organizational skills, analytical skills and attention to detail.-  Excellent communication skills.  Ability to summarize information and present it in an effective way to other members of the management team at the BU level.-  Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to successfully interact with other parties (customers, suppliers, service providers, management, peers) in international setting w/cultural differences.-  Flexibility to adapt to changing situations and varied challenges. Ability to work in unstructured environment on his/her own and handle various responsibilities.  Comfortable with ambiguity. -  Unquestionable personal and business ethics and integrity.  QUALIFICATIONS -  Experience working as member of Accounting Dept.  Preferred minimum of 3 (three) years work experience.-  Bachelors’ degree in accounting related field preferred. -  Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Education: BachelorsJob Level: Experienced