SUMMARY

This position serves as the senior finance leader for the Siding, Trim, and Windows and DaVinci business units (STW) providing robust financial leadership and analytical support to the STW business and operations heads.

The role is responsible for analytical decision support and analysis of the business, ensuring accurate accounting in accordance with US GAAP, ensuring compliance with internal operational controls and SOX controls, reporting and analysis of monthly results to Executive Management, providing accounting and finance support for business improvement and growth initiatives, and overseeing the monthly forecast and annual budget processes for the STW business unit.

ACCOUNTING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide in-depth analysis and communication of financial data and business intelligence to enhance the operations of the STW business.
• Serve as a strong business partner to both financial and business leadership to influence strategic decisions and drive performance in STW.
• Oversee STW accounting during the monthly close to ensure accurate closing in accordance with US GAAP and make decisions on accounting issues that arise during the close.
• Drive support for STW business and operations leaders in presenting, explaining and understanding monthly, quarterly and annual financial results.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls and reviews and STW SOX compliance, including documentation and testing of key controls.
• Coordinate and support internal and external audit requests for STW to ensure timetables are met; address potential issues and internal audit reports related to the business unit.
• Review monthly financial performance and forecasts consolidating results across all sites and providing insight into variances, trends and key drivers. Provide insight and criticality to business forecasts.
• Oversee and help coordinate the annual operating budget activities, assisting business and operations leadership in budgeting, business plan development and long-range planning, including plant-level budgets and standard costing updates where applicable.
• Drive support for STW business and operations heads in business development and M&A activities, including integration of operations, systems, policies and procedures, and internal reporting with the Westlake model.
• Work closely with the accounting, cost accounting and analysis teams in planning and completing process improvement initiatives to enhance accuracy, efficiency, controls, transparency and comparability across sites, including manufacturing cost analyses, standard cost updates, variance analysis, and benchmarking.
• Oversee the accounting and FP&A teams in preparation of the monthly forecast, SBU/segment-level reporting, review of each plant’s results prior to close, and review of key reserves and estimates, including inventory-related reserves and LCNRV assessments, consistent with Westlake policies.
• Coordinate with regional accounting leaders to ensure consistency in accounting treatment, reporting and controls across all STW locations.
• Assist the Segment CFO in assuring that accounting policies and practices are being consistently applied across the STW business, in alignment with Westlake standards; drive process improvements and standardization to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Work with and train staff as appropriate for their position and development needs, including coaching on cost accounting, standard cost methodologies, financial analysis techniques, and the use of SAP/BPC/JDE and related reporting tools.
• Provide support and oversight for high-risk accounting areas to ensure no material errors, including transactions related to sales revenues, costs, fixed assets, trade payables and inventory management.
• Strong leadership skills to guide a team of accounting and finance professionals across corporate and plant locations in a positive, collaborative and effective manner.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• B.S. Degree in Accounting, Finance or equivalent with ten plus years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in both public accounting and the private sector, preferably with a manufacturing company. 
• CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Knowledge of general financial and cost accounting, financial investment techniques, and financial statement preparation is required. 
• Must have knowledge of cost accounting in a manufacturing industry similar to the Housing & Infrastructure Products segment, as well as strong analytical capabilities.
• Ten years plus of Supervisory/Management experience.
• Knowledge of computerized accounting systems and proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel required.

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, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 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 up to 20% including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.