Manufacturing Accounting Lead

The Manufacturing Accounting Lead has a pivotal role within the finance team, responsible for overseeing plant accounting, financial reporting, and analysis. This position collaborates closely with the Finance Director to guide reporting processes, ensure accurate manufacturing and warehousing reporting, participate in strategic projects, and optimize ERP integration. The ideal candidate will bring strong project management skills, proficiency in ERP systems, a deep understanding of best practices in cost accounting, and a knack for data analytics and visualization to drive operational efficiency and support business growth.

Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for the plants.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Present financial reports to management, highlighting key insights and areas of improvement.

Cost Analysis and Control:

• Oversee and analyze plant costs, including production, inventory, and operational expenses.
• Develop cost control strategies to optimize plant efficiency and profitability.
• Conduct variance analysis and provide recommendations for cost reduction.

Budgeting, Forecasting:

• Assist in the development of annual budgets and forecasts for the plants to align consistency across the growing HBE network.
• Monitor performance against targets, identifying areas for improvement or corrective actions.
• Work with plant managers to understand financial implications of operational decisions. 

ERP Integration and Process Improvement:

• Support ERP integration projects, collaborating with IT and cross-functional teams.
• Continuously review and enhance plant accounting processes for efficiency and accuracy.

Data Optimization and Analysis:

• Utilize Tableau & Power BI to develop interactive dashboards and reports for financial and operational data.
• Optimize data structures and processes for improved reporting efficiency and accuracy.
• Perform advanced data analysis to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for optimization.

Process Improvement:

• Continuously review and enhance plant accounting processes for efficiency and accuracy.
• Implement best practices in accounting procedures and controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and drive operational excellence.

Inventory Management:

• Oversee inventory accounting, including valuation, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Coordinate with production and procurement teams to ensure accurate inventory records.
• Desing and Implement inventory controls to minimize losses and optimize working capital.
• Potentially assist with physical inventory validation alongside control owners.

Compliance and Audit:

• Guide compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Point of contact for internal and external audits, providing necessary documentation and explanations.
• Implement audit recommendations to strengthen internal controls.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead a team of plant accountants, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous learning within the team.
• Support career development and training initiatives for the accounting team members.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field. CPA or CMA certification preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Manufacturing accounting, with at least 2 years in a managerial role.
• Strong understanding and application of cost accounting principles, including activity-based costing and product cost controlling.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP & IFRS.
• Experience in a manufacturing or plant accounting environment highly preferred.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (such as SAP) and advanced MS Excel skills.
• Excellent data analytics, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and levels of the organization.
• Proven leadership and team management abilities.