Commercial Accountant

About us

Scott Sports is a global active lifestyle brand and a recognised leader in cycling, running, winter sports, motorsports and outdoor performance products, with headquarters in Switzerland and operations spanning the globe.

In Australia and New Zealand, Scott operates through Sheppard Cycles, a business with a proud heritage as the distributor of Scott products throughout the region. Since becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Scott Sports SA in 2016, the business has continued to evolve and is now undertaking a significant transformation.

As we transition from a traditional multi-brand distributor to a focused Scott Group business, we are simplifying our brand portfolio, strengthening our operating model and building the foundations for the next phase of sustainable growth across Australia and New Zealand.

This creates an exciting opportunity for a capable and commercially minded accountant to strengthen financial reporting, provide practical business insight and help shape the future of the New Zealand finance function.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Finance Director ANZ, this is an opportunity to take end-to-end ownership of accounting and commercial finance support for the New Zealand business during a period of significant organisational change and transformation.

You will own month-end close, management accounts, general ledger and balance sheet integrity, financial reporting, analysis, tax compliance, annual financial statements, fixed assets, cash flow inputs, audit support, banking administration, budgeting and forecasting.

Success in this role will be measured not only through accurate and timely reporting, but also through your ability to interpret performance, improve processes and controls, enhance data quality and provide clear commercial insight to finance and non-finance stakeholders.

You will work closely with Department Managers, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, auditors and advisers to support better decisions across pricing, margin, inventory, cost control and business performance.

Why this role is different

This is more than a traditional financial accounting role.

As Sheppard Cycles continues its evolution into a dedicated Scott Group subsidiary, you will have the opportunity to influence how accounting, reporting and commercial finance support operate in the future.

You will be joining at a time when the business is:

• Streamlining its brand portfolio and operating model

• Strengthening financial controls, reporting discipline and data quality

• Improving budgeting, forecasting and business performance insight

• Enhancing SAP, reporting files, reconciliations and financial models

• Building a culture focused on accountability, performance and continuous improvement

For the right person, this is an opportunity to make a visible contribution to the New Zealand business while broadening their commercial finance, transformation and stakeholder partnering experience.

What you’ll be responsible for

Month-end close & management accounts

• Complete New Zealand month-end close activities for wholesale and retail business units, including journals, accruals, prepayments, variance analysis, management accounts and supporting schedules

• Deliver accurate outputs in line with agreed reporting deadlines and provide clear commentary on business performance

General ledger & balance sheet integrity

• Maintain accurate general ledger reconciliations, balance sheet schedules and supporting documentation

• Investigate and resolve reconciling items promptly, ensuring financial records are complete, traceable and ready for review

Financial reporting & commercial analysis

• Prepare financial reports, KPI analysis, variance commentary and commercial accounting insights

• Support informed decisions across pricing, margin, cost control, inventory, freight and operational performance

• Manage quarterly close requirements, including rebates, tax, FBT, bad debts, inventory provisions, dealer claims, IFRS journals, SAP clearing and quarter-end reporting packs

Tax, statutory reporting & audit

• Prepare GST, RWT and FBT returns and ensure they are filed on time

• Support income tax preparation through accurate schedules, reconciliations and supporting information

• Prepare draft annual financial statements and coordinate audit schedules, disclosures, responses and review timelines

Budgeting, forecasting & cash flow dupport

• Prepare accurate inputs for annual budgets, forecast updates and cash flow reporting

• Review assumptions, analyse variances and provide clear commentary for the Finance Director and business stakeholders

Accounts payable, fixed assets & banking

• Review and approve weekly payment runs, ensuring accuracy, supporting documentation and adherence to approval controls

• Maintain fixed asset records, depreciation and asset movement schedules, capital expenditure tracking and banking administration

Systems, controls & process improvement

• Improve accounting processes, controls, documentation, SAP data, reporting files, reconciliation schedules and financial models

• Create outputs that are accurate, efficient, traceable and easy to review

• Complete ad hoc finance tasks and analysis to support the Finance Director and wider business

What success looks like

Within your first 12-24 months, you will:

• Deliver month-end, management accounts, financial reports and KPI packs accurately, on time and with clear commentary

• Maintain strong general ledger and balance sheet integrity, with reconciliations completed and issues resolved promptly

• Complete GST, RWT, FBT, annual financial statement and audit requirements within agreed deadlines

• Improve the accuracy and usefulness of budgets, forecasts, cash flow inputs and commercial reporting

• Provide practical analysis that supports stronger pricing, margin, inventory, cost control and business decisions

• Strengthen finance processes, controls, documentation, SAP data and reporting efficiency

About you

You are a hands-on and commercially minded accountant who combines technical capability with curiosity, ownership and the confidence to partner across the business.

You will ideally bring:

• Strong accounting experience across month-end, journals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations and management reporting

• An analytical mindset and the ability to identify trends, investigate variances and explain financial performance clearly

• Sound knowledge of GST, RWT, FBT, income tax support, annual financial statements, audit requirements, internal controls and accounting standards

• Commercial judgement and the confidence to support budgets, forecasts, cash flow, pricing, margin, cost control and inventory discussions

• Advanced Excel skills and practical SAP experience across reporting, journals, reconciliations, fixed assets and data analysis

• Strong attention to detail and ownership of working papers, schedules and supporting documentation.

• Clear, professional communication with finance and non-finance stakeholders

• A tertiary accounting qualification, with CA or CPA qualification, or progress toward qualification, preferred

Experience within wholesale distribution, sporting goods, consumer products, retail, FMCG or another multi-channel environment will be highly regarded.

Why join us?

Join a globally recognised performance brand: Work for one of the most respected names in cycling, outdoor and sporting goods, backed by a successful global organisation headquartered in Switzerland

Be part of a business transformation: Play a meaningful finance role in helping shape the next chapter of Sheppard Cycles as it transitions to a dedicated Scott Group subsidiary

Own the New Zealand finance outcomes: Take meaningful responsibility for accounting, reporting, compliance and commercial insight across the New Zealand business

Build and improve: Strengthen reporting, controls, systems, data and financial models rather than simply maintaining existing processes

Partner with the business: Work closely with leaders across Finance, Sales, Supply Chain and other functions to improve performance and decision-making

Flexible working environment: Enjoy a hybrid working model, a collaborative ANZ team and support from the Finance Director and wider business

Apply now

If you are an accountant who enjoys combining technical ownership with commercial analysis, process improvement and business partnership, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience in:

• Month-end close and management reporting

• General ledger and balance sheet reconciliations

• Tax, statutory reporting and audit support

• Commercial analysis, budgeting and forecasting

• SAP, Excel and finance process improvement

Join us and help shape the future of Scott in New Zealand.