SME - Lease Accounting

The SME Lease Accounting is accountable for technical judgement and policy guidance across lease accounting under IFRS 16 / ASC 842, acting as a quality checkpoint between lease preparation and tower-level close governance. 

This role ensures that: 

• Lease master data, ROU asset & lease liability accounting, remeasurements/modifications, and tool-to-GL reconciliations are  

• Complete  

• Accurate  

• Independently supported  

• SOX / IPE compliant  

The role owns resolution of non-standard and complex lease cases, ensures consistent interpretation of SOP 10.3.x, and drives disciplined ageing closure, evidence sufficiency, and exception resolution. 

 

🎯 Role Purpose 

To ensure accurate, compliant, and defensible lease accounting outcomes by: 

• Acting as the technical SME for lease accounting and policy interpretation  

• Resolving complex lease scenarios and judgement-heavy cases  

• Driving cross-tower alignment and audit readiness  

• Strengthening controls, governance, and consistency across entities  

 

🔑 Key Responsibilities 

1. Technical Accounting & Policy Interpretation 

• Own interpretation and application of IFRS 16 / ASC 842 standards  

• Provide guidance on:  

• Lease classification and recognition  

• ROU asset and lease liability accounting  

• Discount rates and assumptions  

• Ensure consistent application of lease accounting policies across entities  

 

2. Complex Case Resolution & Judgement 

• Resolve non-standard and complex lease accounting scenarios, including:  

• Lease modifications and remeasurements  

• Contract interpretation issues  

• System or accounting discrepancies  

• Provide defensible accounting conclusions with documented rationale and evidence  

 

3. Certification & Control Gatekeeping 

• Certify lease accounting outputs, including:  

• ROU asset and liability balances  

• Amortization and interest postings  

• Lease tool-to-GL reconciliations  

• Ensure:  

• Compliance with SOX / IPE standards  

• Adherence to maker-checker discipline  

• Audit-ready documentation prior to close  

 

4. Exception Handling & Close Governance 

• Drive exception resolution and break management  

• Perform and enforce:  

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)  

• Ageing closure discipline  

• Ensure timely escalation of:  

• High-risk items  

• Systemic issues  

• Support close governance and risk management  

 

5. Cross-Tower Alignment & Integration 

• Collaborate with:  

• Fixed Assets (FA)  

• IDSW  

• Intercompany (IC)  

• Ensure consistency in:  

• Accounting treatment  

• Data flows and integration  

• Resolve cross-functional dependencies impacting lease accounting  

 

6. Controls, Compliance & Audit Readiness 

• Ensure compliance with:  

• SOX / ICFR controls  

• IPE evidence standards  

• Maintain audit-ready documentation, approvals, and evidence trails  

• Support internal and external audits, including:  

• Lease accounting validation  

• Policy interpretation discussions  

 

7. Documentation & Technical Positioning 

• Prepare technical accounting memos and judgement documentation  

• Ensure traceability of:  

• Accounting decisions  

• Approvals  

• Supporting evidence  

• Maintain consistency across:  

• Regions  

• Entities  

• Reporting outputs  

 

8. Continuous Improvement & Standardization 

• Reduce repeat issues through:  

• Standardized policy interpretations  

• Preventive guidance  

• Clear escalation frameworks  

• Improve:  

• Documentation quality  

• Process consistency  

• Control effectiveness  

 

9. Stakeholder Collaboration 

• Work with:  

• Lease Tower Lead / Reviewer  

• Controllers / Regional Finance teams  

• Real Estate / Contract owners  

• Compliance & Controls teams  

• Fin-Tech / Systems teams  

• Cross-tower SMEs (FA, IDSW, IC)  

• Provide technical guidance and resolution support

Function: General Business
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level