Lead - Lease Business Processes and Lease Accounting

We are looking for a Lease Business Process and Lease Accounting Lead to join our Customer Finance Team responsible for lease activities.

You will be responsible for ensuring the correct accounting treatment of vendor leasing transactions in accordance with the relevant accounting standards. You will act as a finance leasing expert within the organisation, providing guidance to stakeholders on matters including lease classification and maintaining an appropriate level of internal control and compliance, including JSOX, with internal and external regulations. As a Lead, you are responsible for the design and implementation of cradle-to-grave lease processes aimed at optimising effectiveness and efficiency.

Responsibilities

As a Lead, your responsibilities include:

1. Lease Accounting, Business Rules and Processes

• Maintain strong knowledge of US GAAP / IFRS rules for lease accounting.
• Monitor and ensure NSO adherence to US GAAP / IFRS and EMEA Customer Finance guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with Pan-European lease business processes and lease business rules.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete finance method approvals before customer signature.
• Update local systems with financing master data for default calculations.
• Monitor and advise on PLP approvals, including all non-standard conditions within credit approval processes.
• Support and guide NSO leasing-related project changes and business practices.
• Maintain and develop BAU leasing process requirements, execution, source systems, and BI reporting.
• Develop training materials and organize training for end-to-end lease processes and system developments.

2. Internal Lease

• Structure and monitor NSO financial transactions in line with internal regulations.
• Support and guide optimization of interest income lease, interim rent, fees, insurance, direct debit, and prolongation in Oracle / consolidated accounts.
• Monitor completeness of contract documentation at Clean Order stage, correct order processing, and timely contract activation (First Time Right), including accounting entries.
• Monitor and validate correct buy-out / buy-back invoicing, including early terminations, based on EMEA Lease Guidelines and exceptions.

3. External Lease

• Drive, support, and guide NSO implementation of Canon external finance programs with Preferred Lease Partners (PLP).
• Structure and monitor NSO financial transactions in line with internal regulations.
• Maximize lease-related income streams including interest income, interim rent, fees, insurance, direct debit, and prolongation.
• Ensure Finance Method approval, PLP contract confirmation before Clean Order, and Clean Order approval prior to submission.
• Ensure only complete finance lease contracts are forwarded to PLP for activation.
• Ensure timely contract activation by PLP and payment within Perfect Pay terms.
• Ensure timely payment of all Canon invoices by PLP.
• Monitor setup and governance of PLP Combined Billing contracts to ensure correct and timely service revenue collection via Pearlchain.
• Receive and store PLP reporting on the Customer Finance SharePoint and update portfolio and P&L results per PLP program.

4. Lease Reporting & Governance

P&L Activities:

• Validate PLP shared revenue calculations including residual value, interim rent, fees, insurance, and prolongation via governance processes.
• Reconcile PLP invoices with PLP reporting.
• Prepare quarterly lease P&L, incorporating NSO inputs on deviations requiring senior finance disclosure.

Balance Sheet:

• Support and monitor MEC processes ensuring best practices and proper reconciliation in EPM Cloud / ARCS tools.
• Diagnose and resolve monthly lease contract errors.
• Reconcile internal and external reporting with General Ledger entries.
• Produce monthly reports on lease-related balance sheet accounts, focusing on KPIs such as “To be Activated” and lease-related AR.
• Maintain up-to-date lease portfolio reporting in Power BI or equivalent tools.

5. Compliance

• Develop and optimize month-end procedures to ensure timely reporting delivery.
• Reconcile approximately 40+ balance sheet accounts monthly in compliance with US GAAP / IFRS / JSOX.
• Drive NSO Terms & Conditions maintenance to meet all compliance requirements.

6. Collaboration

• Support internal and external stakeholders to ensure smooth lease process execution and maximize lease penetration.
• Participate in ad hoc projects and continuously improve ways of working to drive efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining governance and control.
• Provide relevant information to sales teams and other stakeholders within NSOs.

Qualifications

We are also looking for someone with:

• University degree in Finance / Accounting or a related field or proven relevant experience
• Accounting qualification (CPA/RA or Post Master Controller) or proven significant accounting experience with excellent understanding of leasing and its accounting treatment in both US GAAP and IFRS
• Understanding of JSOX control framework
• Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to work autonomously; data mining experience would be a big plus
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, at all levels
• Excellent MS Office skills
• Oracle R12 / EPM Cloud hands-on experience would be a big plus
• Operational Asset Finance / Captive / Lease Banking / Cash Management / Funding experience would be a big plus
• Hands-on experience in reporting based on US GAAP / IFRS definitions
• Ability to influence decision-making within the business
• Active role in the financial training of non-financial personnel within the business
• Proficient English language in addition to native language; other EU languages are a plus

Additionally, we value these Canon Core Behaviours:

• Drive for results
• Focus on the customer
• Take ownership and accountability
• Act as a team player
• Show courage and conviction
• Be people-oriented
• Caring for self and others

Further information

• In addition to a competitive salary, you will be eligible for benefits in this role.
• 31 days holiday per year
• Pension plan
• Bicycle plan
• Full coverage of your public transport costs and partial car costs