Chief accoutant west & central africa - 6 months

A family-owned company, bioMérieux has grown to become a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics. For more than 60 years and across the world, we have imagined and developed innovative diagnostics solutions to improve public health. Today, our teams are spread across 46 countries and serve 160 countries with the support of a large distribution network. Come and join a family-owned global company with a long-term vision, and a human-centered culture.

We are looking for a Chief Accountant, West & Central Africa to join our Finance, Procurement & Information Systems function on a six-month fixed-term contract.

Reporting to the Financial Operations Lead, you will ensure the accuracy, reliability and compliance of accounting, tax and payroll-related operations in accordance with OHADA accounting standards, Group policies and procedures, and applicable local legal and regulatory requirements.

As a key Finance partner, you will safeguard the integrity of financial data recorded in SAP, contribute to monthly, quarterly and annual closing activities, and ensure compliance with tax, social security and other statutory obligations. You will work closely with Finance and HR teams, external service providers, auditors and the relevant authorities.

This position is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

What will your responsibilities be?

• General accounting and financial closing: ensure the complete, accurate and timely recording of transactions; perform monthly, quarterly and annual closing activities; analyse balance sheet and profit and loss reconciliations; substantiate accounts; and prepare financial statements in accordance with OHADA standards and Group policies.
• Tax management and compliance: review and validate periodic tax returns—including VAT, corporate income tax, business licence tax and other applicable taxes—monitor regulatory developments, identify tax risks, and support inspections, audits and interactions with external advisers and authorities.
• Payroll, social charges and statutory compliance: review payroll-related contributions, taxes and accounting entries; monitor filings with the CNPS and other relevant bodies; and ensure consistency between payroll, accounting records, tax returns and social security declarations.
• SAP and OHADA compliance: contribute to mapping SAP accounts to the OHADA Chart of Accounts, monitor the use of general ledger accounts, cost centres and accounting dimensions, correct inconsistent postings and promote sound coding practices.
• Internal control and audit: ensure compliance with Group policies, prepare supporting documentation, participate in internal and external audits, identify control weaknesses and oversee corrective actions and the follow-up of recommendations.
• Financial reporting and analysis: contribute to accurate and timely reporting, analyse variances, prepare financial reviews and closing packages, support budgeting and forecasting, and provide ad hoc analysis to Management.
• Continuous improvement and collaboration: identify opportunities for optimisation and automation, support Finance transformation initiatives, and foster a culture of accuracy, compliance, accountability and continuous improvement.

Who are you?

You hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in accounting, finance, audit, management control or another related field. A professional qualification in accounting, audit, tax or finance would be an advantage. You have at least five years of experience in general accounting, taxation and financial compliance, ideally gained within a multinational company, an international environment or an audit firm. You have strong knowledge and practical experience of OHADA accounting standards, together with financial closing, account reconciliation, statutory reporting and tax compliance processes. You have a good understanding of local tax regulations, social security contributions, payroll-related obligations and statutory filings. Experience in payroll accounting and social security compliance is highly desirable. You are proficient in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems. Experience with SAP, particularly account mapping against the OHADA Chart of Accounts, would be an advantage. You demonstrate strong analytical, problem-solving and professional judgement skills, with a high degree of rigour, autonomy and attention to detail. Organised, proactive and results-oriented, you can prioritise effectively, work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines while maintaining integrity and confidentiality. You communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and enjoy working cross-functionally in an international environment. You are fluent in French; fluency in English would be a strong advantage.

Why join us?

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in ensuring the reliability of our financial operations and compliance with statutory obligations within a dynamic, international environment. You will gain broad exposure to accounting, taxation, payroll, SAP, financial reporting, internal controls and audit activities while working with local, regional and Group stakeholders. You will contribute directly to the continuous improvement and transformation of our Finance processes.

We offer a competitive compensation package aligned with our internal salary structure and the market. Joining bioMérieux also means becoming part of an environment that values talent development, continuous learning, cross-functional projects and international collaboration.

If you would like to apply your expertise to strengthen financial reliability and contribute to improving public health, this opportunity is for you!

bioMérieux welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, union membership, religion, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any unlawful criterion under applicable law. We are committed to treating all applicants fairly and avoiding discrimination.