Fixed Asset Accountant

About Sims Sims Metal (Sims) is a global leader in metal recycling. With facilities across the globe, Sims plays an intrinsic role in the circular economy by making resources available for future use. As responsible corporate citizens, we continuously seek new ways to broaden our participation in the environmental sector, ensuring that our future is as bright, safe, and secure as at any time in our long history. About the role This role oversees the GPO Fixed Assets and Lease Accounting activities globally across Sims. This person is the "subject matter expert" and business partner for all fixed asset and lease asset accounting activities across Sims Globally. The role requires strategic stakeholder engagement, a customer-focused and technology-enabled approach, and oversight of high-quality delivery through the Global Shared Services team.
Own and design global end-to-end fixed asset and lease accounting processes.
Drive standardization, governance, and compliance across regions.
Ensure accurate and timely month-end fixed asset and lease reporting.
Partner with Shared Services to deliver quality outcomes and continuous improvement.
Lead automation and process improvement initiatives.
Develop dashboards and insights to support finance and business decision-making.
Collaborate with Finance, Procurement, Tax, Treasury, IT, and regional teams globally.
Support system enhancements and process transformation projects.
Focus on end-to-end strategic process design, cross-functional stakeholder engagement and management, ensuring a customer centric process ensuring standardization across regions
leveraging technology for efficiency and overseeing quality outcomes delivered through the Global Shared Services team in Chennai. Ensure that the offshore capability center delivers the following services including but not limited to:
Ensure capitalization, modifications and disposals of fixed assets & leased assets are completed within month-end timelines
Maintain depreciation and amortization rates and ensure consistency with group policy
Report movements in fixed assets & leases to Corporate timely each month
Complete monthly reconciliation reviews
Oversee fixed asset acquisition processing
Complete the annual fixed asset impairment review process
Develop and maintain fixed asset dashboards and reporting to support management decision-making
Monitor and analyze capital expenditure trends, providing insights to FP&A and business stakeholders
Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process documentation for Chennai team Process Ownership, Governance & Standardization
End-to-End Design: Define and own the end-to-end process for fixed assets (capitalization, depreciation, retirement) and lease accounting (IFRS 16/ASC 842 compliance).
Global Standardization: Harmonize policies and procedures across all regions and business units to eliminate fragmented, local practices.
Policy Enforcement: Develop, maintain, and ensure compliance with global fixed asset policies and lease accounting standards.
System Ownership: Act as the business owner for ERP modules
Ensure compliance with AASB 16 (Leases) and IAS 16 (Property, Plant & Equipment) Continuous Improvement & Analytics:
KPI Management: Define, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure efficiency and accuracy (e.g., time-to-close, asset capitalization speed, lease data accuracy).
Process Transformation: Drive continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean/Six Sigma) to automate processes, reduce manual efforts, and enhance efficiency.
Audit Compliance: Ensure all asset and lease data complies with SOx, internal controls, and external audit requirements Knowledge Transfer & Quality Assurance:
Conduct regular quality reviews of work completed by shared services team, providing feedback and coaching
Escalation point for complex or non-standard fixed asset accounting queries Stakeholder Partnership:
Collaborate with Procurement on asset acquisition process alignment
Support Treasury/Finance on lease vs. buy analysis
Work closely with ROM’s, Finance Controllers, Tax, Treasury, Procurement, and IT to align processes with strategic goals.
Change Management: Lead the implementation of new technologies, system upgrades, and process changes across the organization.
Training & Capability Building: Educate regional finance teams on standard processes and new accounting standards Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) Quality & Compliance:
Fixed asset register accuracy rate (target: 99%+)
Lease Accounting and Register (accuracy and on time)
Audit findings related to fixed assets (target: zero material findings)
Reconciliation completion rate within policy timelines (target: 100%)
Capitalization threshold compliance rate Timeliness :
Monthly close deliverables completed on time (target: 100%)
Average days to process capital acquisitions
Quarterly impairment review completed by deadline Stakeholder & Business Partner:
Internal stakeholder satisfaction score (if we plan to do stakeholder feedback for GSS)
Query resolution time for business partner enquiries
Chennai team quality score / rework rate Continuous Improvement:
Process improvement initiatives implemented per year
Reduction in manual processing steps or cycle time improvements Experience/Qualifications
5+ years’ experience in fixed asset accounting or Record-to-Report environments.
CA / CPA qualified (or working towards).
Strong working knowledge of IFRS 16 (Leases) and IAS 16 (Property, Plant & Equipment).
Experience leading or working with shared services or offshore teams.
Working knowledge of external financial reporting.
Demonstrated experience in using automation tools as they apply to fixed assets and lease accounting Technical Skills
Advanced Excel including ability to build pivots (and financial modelling?)
ERP systems (SAP, AX) Fixed Asset Modules
Lease accounting software
Data analysis and visualization tools
Use of Automation tools Equal Opportunity Employer SIMS LIMITED IS PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE VALUE THE DIVERSITY OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING AN INCLUSIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE CAN CONTRIBUTE, ADVANCE ON MERIT, AND REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SIMS LIMITED IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. THE COMPANY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ABOUT RACE, SEX, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CITIZENSHIP STATUS, DISABILITY, AGE, MARITAL OR FAMILIAL STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, VETERAN STATUS, HOUSING STATUS, SOURCE OF INCOME, OR ANY OTHER STATUS PROTECTED BY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS. THIS APPLIES TO ANY EMPLOYMENT DECISION, INCLUDING RECRUITING, HIRING, PLACEMENT, PROMOTION, TERMINATION, LAYOFF, RECALL, TRANSFER, LEAVES OF ABSENCE, COMPENSATION, AND TRAINING. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WITH A DISABILITY IN NEED OF A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION MAY REQUEST SUCH WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL OR DISCRIMINATION. To find out more about Sims, please visit www.simsltd.com