Senior Accountant - Westlake Careers

SUMMARY

Responsible for the comprehensive accounting functions of specific manufacturing assets with a strong emphasis on inventory control and variance analysis. Duties include recording, reporting, analyzing and communicating financial activity and results. Senior accountants are expected to work fairly independently to become the financial and accounting expert in his/her area.

ACCOUNTING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responsible for the accounting of a specific manufacturing plant and distribution center including complete ownership of the P&L, Manufacturing Statement and Balance Sheet accounts.
• Partner with Supervisor-Accounting to execute month-end, quarter-end, and annual close duties, including accruals, product costing and reviewing financial information to ensure the financials are accurately and timely reported. Prepare and post journal entries and reconcile accounts.
• Preparation of monthly variance analysis and reporting packages for various Management teams.
• Responsible for monthly forecasting and annual budget preparation.
• Partner with Supervisor-Accounting to ensure accuracy of inventory. Assist with the periodic inventory verification process, ensuring that counts are being properly performed within corporate guidelines and that adjustments are timely posted. Perform month-end inventory revaluation procedures, establish slow moving/obsolete reserves, and handle overall costing of inventory. Ensure bills of materials and inventory costs are accurate. Investigate month-end count variances and help with root-cause corrective actions. Support inventory reporting.
• Assist with preparation analysis for capital expenditures (AFE), including development of payback financial calculations.
• Ensure accuracy of fixed assets. Assist with the periodic verification (count) of fixed assets, ensuring that counts are properly executed and adjustments timely posted. Support fixed asset disposals and transfers to ensure the accounting is correct.
• Assist with the hyper-care of the JDE ERP implementation to ensure the accuracy of the financial statements generated by the business.
• Coordinate and support activities across locations and departments.
• Manage multiple deadlines and respond quickly to management requests.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to and effectiveness of internal control in own area of responsibility.
• Facilitate internal and external audit needs.
• Research and application of technical US GAAP requirements.
• Other ad-hoc duties and analysis as assigned by Supervisor-Accounting.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of cost accounting principles, financial statement preparation and analysis is required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
• Thorough attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must be comfortable presenting to Management and communicating results across multiple levels within the organization.
• Ability to multi-task, meet tight deadlines, and perform self-review of work product for quality in a dynamic environment.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office including Excel. Knowledge of JDE and BPC accounting systems preferred.
• Bachelors Degree in Accounting with four to five years of related experience. Three plus years of progressive accounting experience in public accounting is required.
• CPA, CMA, or Masters degree preferred.
• Cost accounting experience is a plus.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment working with A/P, General Accounting, Payroll, Inventories, Fixed Assets, Cash Accounting, Financial Analysis & Reporting and Multi-plant and budgeting is also preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Flexibility in hours to meet deadlines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel up to 10% including air travel or auto travel.