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Ref #: W155234 Department: Finance City: Watford State/Province: Hertfordshire Location: United Kingdom Company Description Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
Position Overview

The candidate will join the team in charge of all the accounting aspects of Sales, Cost of Sales and Inventory-related elements for EMEA. In addition to that, the team is responsible for supervising the standard cost setting process and for multiple forecasts (P&L and BS) and reporting related to its areas of expertise.

The candidate’s primary responsibilities will be to perform accounting functions and analyses for certain areas/divisions of the Company’s Inventory Accounting. Additionally, the candidate will be responsible for providing accounting assistance in support of all facets of the closing and reporting process, streamlining procedures, and assisting in the ongoing review of the SOX internal control process, as well as provide support and all required documentation for internal and external audits for the Inventory Accounting area.

The candidate will contribute to the development of continuous process improvement initiatives and best practices through leverage of technology and effective collaboration/communication

Key Interfaces

• Internal and external auditors
• Finance teams including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory control, sales audit, tax, treasury, Corporate offices in the U.S.
• Supply chain and logistics / central warehouse
• Customer service team
• LRD Project team in Europe

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Day-to-day

• Analyze and prepare journal entries and accruals related to Inventory Accounting Monthly Close
• Prepare monthly detailed reconciliations and account analysis
• Analyze sales reconciliation and investigate discrepancies
• Review sales and margin and analyze manual postings
• Continuous review of PPV (price purchase variance). Understanding trend of actuals and to use for monthly forecasting.
• Implement control checkpoints prior to the Close to proactively flag major system-driven discrepancies and ensure correction is carried out within the period
• Maintain and review documented procedures and ensure compliance with SOX requirements
• Support of internal and external audits
• Identify process improvement and efficiency enhancement opportunities and support these
• Assist with ad-hoc assignments and special projects as and when required by management

Costing

• Prepare and communicate weekly status on Costing progress to relevant stakeholders
• Ensure Master Data is properly updated in SAP to enable costing on a timely manner
• Perform the recurring controls and checks necessary to ensure the costing process is properly executed
• Liaise with relevant parties to tackle urgent costing needs to enable transactions (Sales, Returns, Stock movements between stores, etc.) to be recorded timely in SAP

Other

• Identify and drive process improvement and efficiency enhancement opportunities
• Perform ad-hoc analysis in support of new businesses/initiatives (new store opening, eCom country opening, sourcing initiatives, inventory liquidation, etc.)
• Assist with ad-hoc assignments and special projects as and when required by management.
• Maintain and review documented procedures and ensure compliance with SOX requirements

Key Performance Indicators

• Accurate, efficient and timely close for inventory areas
• Compliance with the Company’s policies, procedures, internal controls and SOX requirements
• No post audit adjustments in US/Local GAAP
• Effective communication and strong relationships with internal and external customers
• Successful transition of activities from Geneva

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Results orientated, flexible, resourceful, and self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple deliverables
• Advanced analytical skills/”out of the box” thinking to logically question and proactively flag potential issues
• Can-do and problem-solving attitude
• Strong time-management skills, and ability to adhere to tight deadlines
• Strong customer service to the business and senior management
• Excellent communication and organizational skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to work independently, to deliver under pressure in a complex/matrix-type environment
• High system proficiency (multiple systems handling),
• Excel and SAP proficiency
• 3 full strategic cycles in audit, finance and/or accounting
• Retail or multi-unit industries experience a plus