Senior Accounting Manager - job 17 of 20

The Senior Accounting Manager at Visa has a diverse range of responsibilities that includes overseeing month-end financial close processes, reconciliation of accounts, and reviewing US GAAP consolidated financial statements. They lead a team of accounting professionals, ensuring compliance with company policies and maintaining internal controls. Additionally, they will collaborate with various internal departments to develop financial reporting packages and support process optimization initiatives.

For the Senior Accounting Manager role at Visa, candidates should ideally hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, with several years of relevant experience in corporate accounting. Strong knowledge of US GAAP, stock-based compensation, SOX compliance, and equity accounting is essential. Leadership skills and experience in mentoring a team are highly valued, along with an ability to work cross-functionally within the organization.

Visa is committed to fostering career development for the Senior Accounting Manager through opportunities for mentorship, collaboration with experienced leadership, and involvement in cross-functional projects. The culture encourages continuous learning, and individuals are empowered to take on challenging assignments that promote personal and professional growth within the company.

The work environment for the Senior Accounting Manager at Visa is hybrid, allowing flexibility between remote and office work. Employees are generally expected to be in the office three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, fostering a collaborative atmosphere while also allowing for productive remote work. This setup supports both work-life balance and team dynamics.

A Senior Accounting Manager at Visa may lead key projects such as global process standardization, improvements to month-end close processes, and the implementation of new accounting systems. They will also address financial-related risk areas and participate in various special projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and compliance with internal controls.

In your response, highlight your specific experiences applying US GAAP in previous roles. Discuss particular accounting scenarios where you utilized GAAP principles, emphasizing your understanding and ability to oversee compliance and accurate financial reporting.

A good answer would include your strategy for organization and prioritization. Share techniques you use to manage timelines, such as establishing deadlines for specific tasks, collaborating with team members, and using accounting software for tracking progress during the month-end close.

When answering this, provide an example of a specific accounting challenge you faced. Detail your analysis process, the steps you took to resolve the issue, and the outcome, highlighting how your actions improved accuracy or compliance.

In your answer, discuss your mentoring approach, focusing on tailored feedback, encouraging continuous learning, and fostering a supportive work environment. Also, consider outlining examples of professional development opportunities you would offer team members.

Share your techniques for managing stress during high-pressure situations, such as effective time management, focusing on critical tasks first, and maintaining open communication with team members for support.

Discuss your familiarity with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and share examples from your previous roles where you supported or led efforts to ensure compliance with excellent internal controls, showcasing your thorough understanding of the regulatory landscape.

You should emphasize your communication skills and how you build relationships across departments. Give examples of how you've effectively collaborated with teams like HR, Tax, or Treasury on joint projects to achieve common financial goals.

Provide a specific example where you've identified inefficiencies in accounting processes and how you proposed and executed improvements, including the impact of those changes on the overall workflow and team productivity.

Mention specific accounting software and tools you've used in past roles, explaining how you've leveraged them to improve efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting. Be prepared to discuss how you've transitioned to new systems if applicable.

Describe your methods for ensuring accuracy, such as peer reviews, reconciliations, and checklists. Highlight any specific experiences where your attention to detail contributed to the successful completion of audits or reports.