IFRS 18 Financial Reporting Consultant (Freelance kan)

Role Summary

IFRS 18 Implementation assignment within financial reporting

For an organization in Hasselt, we are looking for reinforcement for a project regarding the preparation and implementation of IFRS 18. This new standard replaces IAS 1 and entails additional requirements for the presentation of the income statement, mandatory subtotals, Management-defined Performance Measures (MPMs) and additional explanations.

The standard applies from the 2027 financial year. As a result, the comparative figures for 2026 must also be prepared in accordance with IFRS 18. The assignment focuses on analysis, design, implementation and validation of the IFRS 18 requirements, with the aim of a timely and high-quality transition.

📋 Tasks and responsibilities

The assignment includes, among other things

• identify the impact of IFRS 18 on financial reporting;
• determine the necessary adjustments to reporting, processes and systems;
• assess the impact on management KPIs, APMs and MPMs;
• developing an IFRS 18-compliant reporting structure;
• provide training and support materials for involved stakeholders;
• facilitating workshops during the start-up and completion of the project;
• supervise a successful dry run before the first mandatory application of IFRS 18;

identify improvement opportunities and support the implementation of changes.

The work is being carried out in phases.

Phase 1: Impact analysis and project start-up

Period: October 2026

Activities

• kick-off with Finance, Reporting and other relevant stakeholders;
• analysis of current IFRS reporting;
• inventory of existing KPIs, APMs and MPMs;
• assessment of the current presentation of the income statement;
• performing a fit-gap analysis;
• creation of an impact heat map;

identification of policy choices and points of interest.

Deliverables

• impact analysis IFRS 18;
• gap analysis;
• inventory of MPMs;
• decision log;

project roadmap.

Phase 2: Design and elaboration

Period: October 2026 - November 2026

Activities

• developing the new P&L structure;
• mapping of the current reporting lines to the IFRS 18 categories of operating, investing and financing;
• assessing aggregation and disaggregation in financial reporting;
• assessing the grouping and naming of items;
• assessing the presentation of operational costs by nature and/or function;
• reviewing the processing and explanation of items presented as "other";
• analysis of the impact on the cash flow statement;
• developing MPM reconciliations;
• including relevant IFRS 20 points in the elaboration;
• drafting technical position papers;

defining reporting requirements and controls.

Deliverables

• new IFRS 18 income statement;
• mapping document;
• technical position papers;
• concept explanations;

MPM documentation.

Phase 3: Implementation and training

Period: November 2026 - December 2026

Activities

• translating the new reporting requirements into reporting templates;
• adjusting reporting processes;
• training Finance and Reporting employees;
• organizing workshops with management;

coordinate with the external auditor.

Deliverables

• training materials;
• process documentation;
• updated reporting models;

auditor feedback report.

Phase 4: Dry run and validation

Period: December 2026 - January 2027

Activities

• simulating IFRS 18 reporting based on available data for 2026;
• drawing up test reports;
• validating the mappings;
• validating the MPM disclosures;
• solving outstanding issues;

final coordination with the external auditor.

Deliverables

dry run report;

list of outstanding points;

go-live readiness assessment.

Phase 5: Go-live support

Period: 2027

Deliverables

support with the first IFRS 18 reporting;

lessons learned report;

improvement plan for future reporting cycles.

• Expected results
• After completion of the project, the following results are expected:
• an IFRS 18-compliant income statement;
• documented accounting views;
• a detailed MPM governance;
• adjusted reporting processes;
• trained employees;
• a validated dry run;

a controlled transition to IFRS 18 from 2027.

Responsibilities

Activities

• support in the preparation of the first IFRS 18 annual accounts;
• advice on interpretation questions;
• support during audit work;

evaluation of areas for improvement after the first reporting cycle.

Requirements

• You have strong expertise in financial management.
• You have thorough experience with financial reporting and financial processes.
• You have demonstrable experience with the implementation of new accounting standards or changes to existing IFRS standards.
• You can demonstrate relevant IFRS experience from a role within financial reporting.
• During an interview you can convincingly explain what experience you have with IFRS 18 implementations within large companies.
• You are able to identify improvement opportunities and support organizations in change processes.
• You work smoothly with Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel.

💼 Offer

You will be part of a growing SME with room for initiative and personal development. We ensure that you end up in a challenging but pleasant working environment with great colleagues. Together with you, we will draw up a career plan, with attention and budget for additional training/certifications. You can count on a motivating salary, supplemented with fringe benefits, including a company car (or alternative compensation).

(Freelance is also possible)