Head- Financial Reporting and Technical Accounting USA

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.

Basic Job Functions:

This position is responsible for the company’s SEC filings, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over financial reporting, accounting/finance policy manual, strategic transaction support, and stock administration programs, while helping to support financial close and management reporting activities. The candidate must have exceptional working knowledge of and extensive experience with SEC regulations and reporting, internal controls, financial statement audits, and technical U.S. GAAP matters. Such knowledge and experience enable the candidate to lead the accounting review of strategic transactions while advising executive management and, as necessary, the board of directors on the financial implications of such matters. The candidate provides enterprise leadership for internal controls, partnering across the organization to address evolving risks and compliance requirements. The candidate serves as a strategic leader within the finance organization who is expected to lead continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging the benefits of information systems, automation, and artificial intelligence, while ensuring appropriate governance and controls over technology-enabled processes. The candidate manages senior members of the corporate accounting team including Managers and Senior Managers of Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting and multiple members of the shared-service accounting team who also participate in financial reporting, internal control, transaction support, and stock administration activities.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance/accounting (required).

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or other related fields (preferred).

• CPA (required).

• 12+ years of combined experience working for a public company and/or a public accounting firm (preferably Big Four) with relevant experience in financial reporting, technical accounting, and internal control matters.

• Experience leading and developing a high performing team, including other people leaders.

• Experience working with global organizations facing complex macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges and an ability to understand the financial effects of such matters.

• Strong business acumen with an ability to articulate and communicate business and accounting issues at all levels within the organization, including executive management, boards of directors, and external auditors.

• Ability to effectively collaborate with business functions across the organization to drive strategic initiatives, implement process improvements, and address complex issues.

• Ability to thoroughly understand financial and non-financial systems to implement cross-functional business solutions, including automation and artificial intelligence initiatives.

• Experience assessing risks and control implications associated with strategic initiatives, business processes, and system changes, including automation, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.

• Strong working knowledge of SEC rules and regulations, SOX / 404 compliance, U.S. GAAP, XBRL, and other financial matters.

• Deep understanding of stock administration and an ability to work cross-functionally with the HR function and executives on compensation related matters.

• Experience with publicly traded companies within the following industries: renewable energy, manufacturing, and/or technology (preferred).

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including a high degree of proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence and managing human-AI hybrid workflows.

• Working knowledge of Workiva (preferred).

Required Skills/Competencies:

• A strong enterprise mindset and ability to identify end-to-end solutions across the organization, rather than working in individual departmental silos.

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to build relationships and influence positive business outcomes.

• Sound professional judgment with the ability to proactively identify emerging risks and lead mitigation strategies.

• Deep business partnering skills that extend well beyond the finance function.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to clearly and concisely articulate financial and accounting matters to executive management.

• System and process oriented with an ability to leverage artificial intelligence capabilities.

• Can perform under tight deadlines.

• Highly motivated, accountable, and results oriented.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Establish leading practices for timely and accurate filing of Forms 10-Q, 10-K, 8-K, Proxy Statements, and other required SEC filings.

• Chair the company’s disclosure committee and address complex reporting and disclosure matters with executive management

• Oversee the company’s worldwide U.S. GAAP accounting policies, including the implementation of new accounting standards.

• Monitor and communicate developments in U.S. GAAP, SEC rules and regulations, and relevant disclosure requirements and an ability to effectively communicate such changes to executive stakeholders.

• Oversee the accounting review of technical and complex transactions, including potential transactions, and proactively collaborate with business partners to enhance enterprise value and mitigate risks.

• Own the enterprise financial reporting risk assessment, including internal control scoping, identification of emerging risks, evaluation of control implications of automation and artificial intelligence initiatives, and implementation of mitigation strategies to maintain an effective control environment.

• Closely collaborate with business partners to strategically design and implement the company’s internal control programs and procedures while effectively addressing any identified deficiencies.

• Ensure stock administration programs operate effectively and align with best practices.

• Serve as a global financial leader supporting financial close and management reporting activities.

• Lead Managers and Senior Managers of Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting and multiple members of the shared-service accounting team.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Job description subject to change at any time.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will report to Global Controller and CAO.

• This position will have direct reports.

Travel:

• 5% - 10%

Estimated Salary Range:

• $190,300 - $276,000 annually

US Physical Requirements:

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodation that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.