Position Summary
Provide financial planning and analysis support for a manufacturing organization. Key member of North America finance team whose role includes both understanding and communicating the key drivers of variances to budget, forecast and trends, as well as performing cost accounting functions for the manufacturing plant. Responsible for driving the annual budget and monthly plan processes, ensuring inventory is properly costed, and completing critical manufacturing related journal entries during month-end financial close. Hybrid role, located in Chicago.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Work directly with manufacturing and sales teams to prepare monthly plans and annual budget
- Analyze actual versus forecasted and budgeted financial results and provide explanations of sales, margin, and expense variances from budget, plan, and prior periods
- Maintain cost accounting records and ensure all materials are costed using the correct methodology, and assist in the proper costing of new products
- Analyze production volumes, costs, and absorption to determine appropriate activity rates
- Work directly with manufacturing leadership team to prepare monthly plans and annual budget
- Support annual financial audit and external JSOX testing, and perform internal JSOX testing
- Prepare monthly inventory and overhead related journal entries
- Complete general ledger account reconciliations
- Assist in finance team oversight of annual physical inventory at Georgia plant
- Ad hoc analysis, any other duties assigned by Regional Controller
- Assist in finance team oversight of annual physical inventory at Georgia plant
Education/Qualifications
- B.S. in Accounting or Finance or equivalent education is required
- 3 – 5 years in accounting and/or financial reporting experience required
- Cost accounting experience in manufacturing environment strongly preferred
- Have good understanding of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
- CPA or equivalent is preferred
- Microsoft Office with strong Word, Excel and Power Point skills.
- SAP experience preferred
- Strong accounting technical knowledge
- Highly organized with the ability to complete multi-tasks in a timely manner
- Possess a high level of integrity and positive working attitude
Working Conditions
- Ability to work and communicate in both an office headquarters and a manufacturing environment
- Occasional travel is required within the US
Language Skills
- The ability to communicate effectively in English (read, write and speak) is required in order to interact with multiple levels of the organization.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to successfully complete complex arithmetic calculations as consistent with required education level
Reasoning Ability
- Must be capable of thinking through complex issues analytically
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly to a wide-range of customers
- Ability to define problems, identify solutions and follow through to completion
- Ability to work independently
- Demonstrated leadership skills
Other Skills
- This person must be ambitious, energetic, diligent, tenacious, and self-motivated
- Must have strong organizational and problem-solving skills
Physical Demands
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
- General office working environment with travel required to global offices, Manufacturing sites, and Laboratories, to address staff, conduct work for the business, to attend business meetings, etc.
Compensation And Benefits
Lawter prides itself on helping team members thrive in their work and life. As a result, Lawter is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful time off and paid holidays, parental leave, 401(k) with a match, a range of choices for highly subsidized health, dental, & vision coverage, and short/long-term disability.
Lawter is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For this position, the base salary pay range is $85,000 to $95,000. In addition, individuals may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. Actual compensation will depend upon an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.
EEO and Accommodations
Lawter is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Lawter will also consider qualified applications with criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Lawter welcomes and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available for candidates during all aspects of the selection process. Please advise the HR team if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.