Sr Accountant

Job Location: Memphis, TN

Pay Level: 1A

Summary:

The Hershey Company Memphis plant is a non-Union plant producing products such as Ice Breakers Mints, Ice Breakers Gum, and Good & Plenty candy, in a high-speed complex environment.

The Senior Accountant's primary focus will be to understand and anticipate variance issues on the production lines and be the Line Performance Reporting (LPR) expert and champion for the plant. The Senior Accountant will also lead management of inventories including performing physical counts of bulk and rework inventory, production analysis, and standard cost development. The Senior Accountant will be actively involved in providing support for the accuracy of data in LPR. The Senior Accountant also leads the SOX Compliance process including gathering and maintaining supporting documentation as well as coordinating the annual control testing.

The ability to work independently with many different Plant disciplines is a critical component of success as is the ability to ensure accuracy of reports and analysis under tight time deadlines. Additionally, being able to multi-task and working on projects with little direction is required.

Responsibilities:

Plant Performance Reporting:

• Support the Senior Plant Controller in developing, analyzing, and reporting of performance, budgets and outlooks, and financial controls.
• Assist in performing plant analytics and analysis of anomalies and variances to enable the plant to address issues and improve performance.
• Assume responsibility for utilizing data analysis created above to determine causes of performance shortfalls. Issue performance reports that highlight performance shortfalls to applicable Plant users.
• Work with Manufacturing and Plant Management to determine causes for significant long- and short-term performance shortfalls on Key Performance Indicators and focus efforts on overcoming any shortfalls.
• Use outlooks and various performance analysis statistics. These statistics will include line mix and production pounds. Use this analysis to assist in various outlook submissions to Corporate Finance.
• Reporting to Corporate Finance.
• Assist plant in delving more deeply into financial concerns or controls as required.

Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance:

• Facilitate the development of the Memphis Plant's SOX compliance reporting and annual testing of SOX process effectiveness. This includes performing the SOX tests assigned as well as those assigned to the Plant Controller when necessary.

Inventory Control:

• Manage the plant raw materials, packaging, work-in-process, and rework inventories while ensuring the presence of an adequate system of internal accounting controls. This includes assisting with physical inventories, analyzing physical adjustments, controlling obsolescence, and resolving goods movement, and workflow errors. Ensure compliance with the Hershey Manufacturing Inventory Control Policy.

Fixed Asset Control:

• Coordinate the annual fixed asset inventory process and facilitate the prompt disposition of fixed asset additions, deletions, and transfers in accordance with established procedures.

Annual Budget and Standards Revision

• Assist in the annual plan process by coordinating the establishment of new product standards, direct labor and variable overhead rates, and common overhead budgets. In addition, this position will provide support through data input and assurance of earnings/expense balancing in SAP.
• Linking of budget package, which provides summary of relevant profit plan details, to supporting detail. Provide to Management for review.
• Completion of other budget analysis as necessary.
• Complete special projects as assigned and provide additional accounting support as required.
• Back up for Senior Plant Controller.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Advanced SAP
• Advanced Spreadsheet Skills - Excel
• Advanced Accounting Systems & Practices
• Advanced Analytical Ability and good interpersonal skills.
• Periodic Flexible Work Hours (Physical Inventories, Month-end Close, Budgeting)

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required (B. S. in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration preferred but not required) or applicable work experience.
• Advanced degree and/or certification (CPA, CMA, MBA) is preferred but not required
• Minimum 3 years of related accounting experience
• Manufacturing accounting experience is a plus

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