Supervisor-Accounting Job at Westlake Chemical in Houston

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

Plant Controlling Supervisory Accountant is responsible for all plant accounting functions with a strong emphasis on inventory control as well as variance analysis. The position interfaces daily with the Operations Manager(s) and production staff to support continuous improvement and execute business strategy. He/she will ensure that accounting controls are maintained and that the plants' financial objectives are understood by the operations staff. The supervisor also interacts with Corporate Headquarters functions including Accounting, Supply Chain & Logistics and IT personnel. Applies principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepare financial reports by performing the following duties.

ACCOUNTING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Responsible for the accounting for one or more manufacturing plants, including complete ownership of the P&L, Manufacturing Statement and Balance Sheet accounts.
• Coordinate and support activities across locations and departments.
• Manage multiple deadlines and respond quickly to management requests.
• Execute month-end, quarter-end, and annual close duties, including accruals and reviewing financial information to ensure the financials are accurately and timely reported. Prepare and post journal entries and reconcile accounts.
• Ensure adherence to and effectiveness of internal control in own area of responsibility. Maintain general and supporting sub-ledgers and prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations, for assigned locations and accounts.
• On a monthly basis, analyze variances with balance sheet accounts and income/expense reports (manufacturing statements), to identify any potential issues prior to close and report on unusual spending. Understand root cause and drive for corrective action. Preparation of monthly variance analysis and reporting packages for various Management teams.
• On a monthly basis, analyze the Inventory Change P&L Accounts. Identify, explain, and report on manufacturing variances from standards.
• Prepare and distribute daily, monthly, and quarterly reports, including the monthly reporting packages including variance analysis.
• Preparation of monthly forecasts and assist in preparation of annual operating expense and capital budgets.
• Assist with preparation of approvals for capital expenditures (AFE), including development of payback financial calculations. Review AFE's for compliance, financial integrity, and accuracy, as well as supervise the tracking of the AFE through the approval process.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ensure goods receipts are properly accrued and matched with vendor invoices, so that outstanding items are cleared timely (GRIR process). Ensure vendor invoices are properly processed by plant and purchasing personnel by coordinating and leading resolution efforts.
• Process AP/AR intercompany transactions between companies and balance monthly with counterparts.
• Operate as the key financial accountant for assigned plant, providing overall control of the balance sheet and P&L for assigned plant. Coordinate and communicate with plant staff regarding corporate objectives, guidelines, procedures and policies and ensure compliance with same.
• Assist plant management with the cost savings/profit improvement programs. Establish the savings tracking models. Verify financial information on the cost savings/profit improvement plans to ensure accuracy.
• Process credit memos and return goods authorizations (RGA) for assigned plant.
• Share best practices with other team members. Occasionally, serving as a back-up when individuals are on vacation or absent.
• Research and application of technical US GAAP requirements. Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate internal and external audit needs.
• Perform additional ad-hock analysis and reporting, as requested. Other duties and analysis as assigned by Manager.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversight and supervision of one or more accountants.
• Assisting staff members in the preparation of monthly and quarterly accounting reports.
• Maintains the system of internal controls over accounting team tasks.
• Assists with recruiting accounting staff and conducts performance evaluations.
• Provides training and onboarding for new hires and identifies training opportunities for current staff.
• Works with management team and collaborates with others to achieve division objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Knowledge of cost accounting principles, financial statement preparation and analysis is required. Skills necessary analytically to review/analyze accounting and financial data, substantiate financial statement balances as well as prepare financial statement account reconciliation.
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Exhibits clear and concise written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively at all organizational levels and across functional areas.
• Skill at identifying, measuring, evaluating and improving, if needed, the effectiveness of accounting, managerial, financial and operational controls.
• Thorough attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent problems resolution and decision-making skills.
• Sound planning and organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple concurrent assignments.
• Maintains professionalism and reacts well under pressure.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Demonstrated leadership as part of a cross-functional management team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel.
• Knowledge of SAP and BPC accounting systems preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting with three plus years of progressive accounting experience in public accounting or 5 years in industry is required.
• CPA, CMA, or Master's 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.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here.You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.