Senior Accountant - Operations Accounting Job

The Senior Accountant - Operations is responsible to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the balance sheet and income statement for multiple businesses and their respective manufacturing plants. Responsible to ensure accurate and timely capitalization of projects and appropriate depreciation of those assets. Responsible for transverse analyses at the Arkema Inc. level for technical accounting adjustments such as LIFO tax analysis, Net Realizable Value calculation and Profit in Inventory.  

Key Activities

 Record to Report (50%)– Validate the accounting accuracy of the monthly income statement and balance sheet for multiple businesses.

• Control and justify P&L, BS accounts and AIS lines
  • Reviews monthly suspense GL accounts and clear open items,
  • Provide support and justification for all business and plant balance sheet accounts
  • Perform AIS controls at site/BU/company levels in close coordination with CdG site/BU and prepare and propose adjustments, in collaboration with BU Finance.
  • Prepare miscellaneous billings for submission based on analyses and requests from Financial Controllers
  • Provide requested information for the above items to Auditors.
• Check, approve & record manual entries upon request from site Controllers  and BU
  • Record manual journal entries requested by site Controllers for items such as monthly capex and expense accruals, long term provisions, prepaids and others. 
  • Challenge requests as appropriate and ensure adequate support and documentation for audit.

 Working Capital Control (30%)

• Ensure coherence of various SAP modules by reconciling inventory general ledger balances with the subledger.
• Analyze significant variances in inventory valuation evolution, alert Financial Controllers (Site & BU) & collect justification,
• Check and approve production cost absorption rate (budget preparation Y+1),
• Consider under/over production cost absorption on a regular basis in coordination with site Controllers; adjust as needed
• Review and challenge as appropriate the inventory and supplies reserves reviewed with site Controllers; post adjustments as agreed
• Analyze, record and report on various technical inventory accounting calculations such as Profit in Inventory, Net Realizable Value, and others
• Analyze and control A/R and A/P accounts, including review and adjustment of Bad Debt reserves and GR/IR clean up.

Fixed Assets (20%) - Responsible for fixed assets and all capital spending; work directly with project managers and in collaboration with site controllers at plants to ensure:

•  Accuracy of all accounting activities related to Fixed Assets from investment to capitalization, commissioning, depreciation, disposal and sale.
• In coordination with Engineering team and site controllers, define investment structure (WBS) and asset items to be capitalized.
• In coordination with Engineering team and site controllers, ensure the proper application of Arkema Capital Investment Policy rules.
• Validate and ensure correct data entry into project systems of project details provided by the engineering team: detailed asset breakdowns; object class, useful lives etc.
• Manage write offs, impairments and other postings related to fixed assets.
• Continuous follow up on CIP with Engineering team and project management to ensure timely commissioning.

Required Education/Qualifications/Work Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience
• In Depth knowledge of general accounting principles
• Experience in a manufacturing environment a plus
• Experience using SAP or other ERP system a plus
• Ability to create ad-hoc and moderately complex analyses
• Proficient with Excel - pivot tables/more complex functions
• Minimal travel (less than 10%).

Demonstrated Competencies

• Keep information confidential; engender trust and respect.
• Conduct work in accordance with all applicable rules and policies.
• Asking questions and working on understanding different audiences and communication/workstyles
• Delivers timely and accurate financial results with direct supervisor guidance.  
• Actively listens and responds by asking questions to understand and clarify information provided by manager/supervisor.  Displays curiosity to learn information in support of role.
• May primarily focus on the solution but is developing understanding root cause by asking questions to understand existing concepts and processes.
• Maintains high expectations for self & colleagues; accepts feedback and addresses performance issues with guidance from management
• Seeks to understand individual and team relationships and actively strives to learn from others.
• Strong understanding of accounting processes and related IT system flows, along with the ability to validate that the proper accounting was achieved. 
• Suggests opportunities to improve our current processes to achieve further efficiencies. May participate on a project team or lead one with supervisor oversight.
• Shares information appropriately; willingly connects with others outside area of direct responsibility to ensure success in role and Arkema's success