Senior Financial Accountant (Team Lead) - Full Time (37.5 Hours per week) in Kilmacanogue, Wicklow at Fragrances of Ireland Ltd

About Fragrances of Ireland Ltd

An opportunity to join a dynamic Irish SME that is distributing its products to over 5,000 independent gift retail store customers around the world. Based in our converted farmhouse and barn in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow we export to the USA, Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, and Australia, participate in over 25 B2B trade shows worldwide each year, and partner with over 130 independent multi-line sales representatives.

Our best-selling perfume brand ‘Inis the Energy of the Sea’ has achieved huge success in markets all around the world, from Europe to the US, Canada and most recently Australia. Consumers everywhere love Inis, the clean, fresh fragrance which makes you feel close to the sea, no matter where you are.

As we continue to expand into new markets and strengthen our existing operations, we are looking for a Senior Accountant to join our growing Finance team and contribute to our success.

We operate as a highly collaborative, friendly, and creative SME, where teamwork and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our company is committed to sustainability, including being the core funder of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and achieving Plastic Neutral Certification, ensuring we remove as much plastic from the world’s environment as we use each year. We are the sponsor of the Wicklow Senior Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association team, showing our local support too.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced, fully qualified accountant to join our Finance team. This is a hands-on role spanning multi-market tax and regulatory compliance, inventory management, accounts payable leadership, and cross-functional systems projects. The successful candidate will bring rigorous technical knowledge across a complex mix of jurisdictions alongside the commercial acumen and interpersonal skills to lead change and drive continuous improvement.

You will report to the Head of Operational Finance and work within a complex finance function, supporting senior management with financial insights and decision-making while helping to supervise, train and develop junior finance team members. This role presents a fantastic opportunity to gain international exposure, enhance technical expertise, and influence key business decisions in a fast-growing company.

What you'll do

Tax & Compliance Reporting

Own end-to-end tax and statutory compliance across all active trading jurisdictions including Ireland, UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia, ensuring timely, accurate filings and proactive management of regulatory change.

• Prepare and file Corporation Tax returns, VAT3 returns and Intrastat/VIES declarations
• Monitor customs and vat requirements across UK operations
• Oversee VAT compliance across EU member states, including OSS/IOSS registrations where applicable
• Support US Federal and State income tax compliance in coordination with external advisors.
• Manage sales tax nexus obligations across applicable states using automated compliance tools
• Manage GST/HST and QST filings; manage CRA correspondence
• Ensure adherence to customs regulations and reporting requirements

Inventory Management

Lead the finance function’s contribution to inventory control and treasury operations, working closely with supply chain, logistics and banking partners to ensure robust controls and optimal cash utilisation.

• Assist with regular stock reconciliations, working closely with the Production team to understand adjustments, pricing variances, and trends. Partner with our warehouse and supply chain teams to investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.
• Produce monthly inventory ageing, slow-moving and write-down reports
• Ensure correct accounting treatment for goods-in-transit, consignment stock and third-party warehousing
• Manage import duty and customs clearance documentation
• UK: Oversee GB customs declarations, including CDS submissions, postponed VAT accounting and rules of origin analysis
• US: Liaise with customs brokers on HTS classifications, ISF filings and CBP audit readiness; monitor Section 301 tariff impacts

Accounts Payable — Controls & Management

Drive best-practice AP processes and a strong internal control environment, ensuring the business pays accurately, on time and in full compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations.

• Own the AP control framework, including three-way match (PO / GRN / invoice), exception workflows and segregation of duties
• Design and monitor KPIs: DPO, invoice-to-pay cycle time, late payment rate and first-time match rate
• Act as primary escalation points for supplier disputes and high-value payment approvals
• Lead AP-related internal and external audit requests; implement findings and drive remediation

Finance Projects, Testing & Implementation

Take ownership of finance-led projects and actively contribute to cross-functional initiatives, from initial scoping through go-live and post-implementation review.

• Define project scope, objectives, resource plans and success criteria for finance transformation initiatives.
• Manage project timelines, communicating project status, risks and decisions to senior stakeholders
• Lead system implementation, undertaking testing & conduct post-implementation reviews.
• Champion automation and process improvement initiatives (e.g. AI-assisted invoice processing, automated reconciliations, real-time reporting)

People Leadership

Providing first line supervision, coaching and mentoring of Finance Team members. Assisting the Head of Operational Finance with all areas of people management and development. Ensuring the appropriate resourcing, workforce planning, employee training and development, performance and absence management of the Team whilst promoting a culture of high engagement, motivation and morale.

Qualifications and Experience

Technical Expertise

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA) with 3-5+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide insights.
• Proficiency in ERP systems; experience with SAP Business One is an advantage but not required.
• High-level proficiency in Excel and strong data analysis skills; confident working with large datasets.
• Track record of successfully delivering finance projects from scoping through to post-go-live.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with finance and non-finance teams, including senior management.
• Confidence in liaising with external auditors, tax authorities, and financial institutions.

People Development & Leadership

• Proven and demonstrable experience supervising, mentoring and supporting junior finance professionals.
• Commitment to fostering a learning culture within the finance team.
• Ability to lead process improvement initiatives and enhance team efficiencies.

Why Join Our Team?

This role offers the chance to be part of a high growth, internationally expanding business while working in a collaborative and supportive team environment. If you're a proactive and detail-oriented senior accountant looking to develop your career and make a real impact in a growing SME, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

• We have a hybrid working policy, so we allow some remote working. We have a standard minimum of 2 days in the office in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow.
• 20 Days Annual Leave
• Company pension scheme with company contribution
• Contribution to Gym membership
• Fully Paid Health Insurance (following completion of probation period)
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave (subject to service)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Employee Engagement Programme with Social Committee and frequent company events
• Free car parking