Prinicipal Financial Analyst

Principal Financial Analyst

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

We are seeking a Principal Financial Analyst to support both Ascend-owned and Guest-owned units within our Pensacola manufacturing site. The Analyst will play a critical role in operating decisions through their analysis and partnership with the area operations team members. They will be expected to provide financial analysis, cost modelling, and project review support.

The Principal Financial Analyst is also responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the group's production and usage records and cost reporting. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, enjoy a challenging work environment and the opportunity to exercise initiative, be self-motivated, and demonstrate an aptitude and skill to proactively find solutions. They will provide key information on historical trends, forecasts and related analysis at the micro and macro level in support of business decisions and be able to communicate complex concepts in a concise way.

Targeted Outcomes/12 Month Success Benchmark

• Become a highly engaged and effective business partner across the Utilities, Maintenance, and Services organizations.
• Develop an understanding of plant spending plans, allocation basis, creation of product standard costs, and impact of cost savings initiatives.
• Achieve Greenbelt certification based on successful completion of data driven improvement projects.
• Actively support the development of standard work, process documentation and continuous improvement within the department.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering

• Act as business partner to the site leadership team to help drive business improvements by communicating key results, issues, and challenges.
• Evaluate capital and productivity projects, helping to prioritize opportunities.
• Prepare impactful cost information reporting for use by business partners in managing their business, enabling them to make strategic decisions with accurate information.
• Identify and assess key value drivers, risks, and opportunities in order to maximize operating levels.
• Create cross-functional collaboration and support key ideas and initiatives by liaising with various cross functional roles, such as Corporate Accounting, Procurement, Commercial, Guests, and other financial functions on behalf of the plant and / or business partners.

Business Performance Management

• Analyze performance and financials on a weekly, monthly, annual, and ad hoc basis.
• Identify risks and opportunities in achieving annual targets.
• Generate scorecards that drive improved performance.
• Become Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various financial and business areas.
• Support department-wide improvement initiatives, including the development of standard work, process documentation, and cross-training activities.
• Use various information systems such as SAP, BW and Microsoft Office Suite to extract needed data and turn it into analyzed information, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Financial Cost Analysis, Forecasting and Budgeting
• Complete monthly closing activities, which include making journal entries, allocating usages and costs, performing variance analysis, reconciling accounts, and preparing Guest reporting and billings.
• Coordinate with unit leaders to prepare a monthly operations forecast (cost, production, and usages).
• Support the company's annual planning and LRP (i.e., Long Range Plan) processes by coordinating with unit and site leaders to prepare assigned portions of the manufacturing site's annual budget.
• Support and deliver key projects / initiatives with robust analysis, insight and creative problem solving.
• Advise site leadership team and operations on financial impact of decisions and recommend best course of action based on knowledge and analysis.
• Provide analytical expertise to assist in tracking cost reduction activities and capacity expansion / rationalization projects.

Reports To:

Pensacola Controller

Location:

Pensacola, FL- Hybrid Schedule

Required Experience

• BS / BA in Accounting or Finance; will consider Business degree with related experience.
• CPA or MBA a plus.
• History in building performance relationships and cross-functional partnerships.
• Ability to assimilate disparate information to develop detailed analysis and options.
• Advanced knowledge and user of Excel functions, lookups, pivot tables, etc.
• SAP experience preferred; experience with other ERP platforms will be considered.
• 5 - 7 years in business, accounting, financial planning with data analysis (Manufacturing industry preferred).

Required Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and work in a collaborative manner with diverse cross-functional and cross-business teams.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an aptitude for systems and process optimization.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments while maintaining attention to detail.
• Self-driven and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and willing to get involved in projects outside of comfort level; willingness to involve others in the solution process.
• Proven problem-solving skills, able to break a problem down into component parts and resolve issues.
• Results-oriented, able to keep stakeholders engaged in progress towards completion of tasks and remain focused on results.
• Demonstrated ability to impact and influence others both inside and outside of the function achieve the best solution.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that it is possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn't only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You'll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry.