Accounting Supervisor

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

The Supervisory Accountant is responsible for the financial reporting for their assigned plant functions with a strong emphasis on inventory accounting, internal controls, and variance analysis. This position assists the Accounting Manager with various accounting duties, including leadership of the Houston based team.  The supervisor assists with coordination and communication between the Houston accounting personnel and operations and commercial management.  The supervisor is responsible for monitoring plant costs, preparation of annual budgets, and monthly and quarterly reviews. Other major responsibilities include direct supervision of specific accounting staff, and support process improvement or new business initiatives.  This position helps ensure compliance with Westlake Accounting Policies and the Delegation of Authority.

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 financial ccounts. 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.  Lastly, coordinate with operations personnel to ensure timely and accurate closer of production work orders.
• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with 8 + years of relevant experience in industry is required, preferably with experience in the chemical industry.
• 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.
• 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

WORK ENVIRONMENT

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 including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

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.