Sr. Mgr. Financial Planning & Analysis

Senior Finance Manager - California Area - Corrugated Segment

The Finance and Accounting organization is a mission and results driven team that operates with a strong sense of collaboration to support the business, while utilizing our technical expertise, as we manage processes to record, reconcile, and report all financial activity of the enterprise. We bring financial context into the picture when partnering with the lines of business, senior and executive management, and our board of directors.

The opportunity

The Sr. Finance Manager will, through fact-based analysis, provide insights, recommendations, analysis and drive improvements in operations, sales, and the overall profitability of the Area, Plants, and Division. Overall Finance responsibility for eight locations across California, with $700+ million of revenue.

This position is a business partner to the Area Operations Leader and Area Sales Leader, General Managers, and accountable for the bottom-line results in conjunction with Plants, Area and Region management. Will act as lead for financial Area team including developing talent, mentoring, and coaching Lead Financial Analysts, with diverse skillsets. This position will report to the Corrugated Packaging Finance Director for the West Region.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock

General Business Support Analysis

• Provide accurate and timely financial analysis, and support variances from budgets and forecasts from a business perspective and work with management on problems/issues as identified and participate in providing solutions.

• Provide profitability analysis to support Path to 10% Plant EBITDA

• Support weekly and monthly forecast updates from a business perspective, guiding Area management on changes in volume and operating earnings.

• Analyze trends in manufacturing, sales and other related areas to better understand and manage the business. Provide a fact-based understanding of the bottom-line benefit for all Area decisions and/or opportunities.

• Prepare ad hoc financial and business-related analysis and research as necessary, from and for an operations and business perspective.

Sales Support

• Work closely with Area and Region sales management to implement a monthly customer sales trend and attrition tracking report. Create root cause assessments for customer attrition and develop action plans to reduce attrition rate.

• Work with pricing and commercial team, to support corporate account and local account bids/analysis and strategy. Use the information to assist local management in improving operational and financial performance. Take an active role and ensure the successful transition of all won national and local bids / new business.

• Actively monitor the profitability of all customers, but in particular those with a negative contribution margin and/or profit. Work with management to develop action plans to address customer profitability and track progress against agreed-upon goals.

• Actively facilitate the price increase tracking process for price increase planning within the Area to ensure maximization of price increase efforts and enforcement of contractual terms and leveraging margin on transactional (non-contractual) customers. Provide accurate and timely information to Area and Division management on targeted/forecasted increases planned and actual implementation across the Area.

• Obtain a working knowledge of all available sales analytical tools. Educate and train local Area personnel in the use and understanding of the available tools to drive bottom-line results.

Operations and Manufacturing Support

• Provide analytical support for key manufacturing metrics including Performance Excellence, net waste, returns & allowances, machine performance, labor efficiency, capacity, headcount, safety, etc. Identify gaps and/or under-performance trends and engage the Area management team to develop solutions for operational and financial improvement.

• Identify fiber reduction and/or light-weighting opportunities and work with Area management to take action and track the associated savings from targeted customers.

• Work closely with the Warehouse Optimization team to identify warehouses for elimination, develop transition plans to address warehouse inventory and timelines to expedite the realization of savings from warehouse shutdown.

• Work with green belt leaders to establish savings targets during the define phase of Six Sigma projects. Collaborate with the Regional Manufacturing Manager and Six Sigma teams on kaizens and operational audits.

Strategy and Capital Support

• Lead the economic analysis of box plant footprint optimization cases within the Area. Actively participate in providing assistance to the shutdown teams as required to achieve agreed-upon transition timelines.

• Lead annual budget planning and implementation, along with quarterly forecast updates.

• Assist Area, Plant and Division management to implement the Run-To-Design initiative to improvement operating speed on corrugators and converting equipment to design specifications.

• Responsible for all Area capital project economic analysis and maintaining modeling consistency (i.e., a standardized approach to calculating financial performance). Responsible for driving a sense of urgency regarding the capital development and approval process with a specific emphasis on obtaining approval and expediting installation of all capital projects related to the Strategic Optimization initiative.

• Work closely with Area and Division management to develop and implement additional strategic profit improvement initiatives.

Accounting, Process and Regulatory Support:

• Ensure Accounting processes and controls are implemented and followed.

• Field contact for corporate and hub accounting.

• Sarbanes-Oxley and Smurfit Westrock policy and procedure compliance.

• Balance sheet, AR, AP, tax and other related inquires and requests.

• Assists in Inventory Reconciliation.

• Fixed Assets Audits.

• Internal and External Audit Support.

• Assist in resolution of remittance discrepancies.

• Contacts other departments and/or outside vendors/agencies to resolve A/P issues as needed.

Supervisory

• Lead for financial area team including developing talent, mentoring, and coaching Lead Financial Analysts.

• Direct, train, coach, and mentor employees while demonstrating Smurfit Westrock\u2019s core behaviors

• Responsible for performance evaluations & employee development plans are done effectively and on-time

Other Support / Responsibilities

• Establish working relationship and consistent communication with the Area/Plant General Manager and Regional Business Analyst.

• Build relationships with both internal and external customers.

• Become knowledgeable in various financial and operating systems in order to provide support and direction as the Area requires.

• Implement and administer procedures and best practices related to business support analytics.

What you need to succeed

• Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Accounting or Finance, MBA preferred

• Minimum six years of experience and a track record of success in finance or accounting

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Strong problem-solving skills, passion for improvement. Enjoy working in a team/collaborative environment

• Advanced skills in Excel and Hyperion SmartView. Experience JDE/SAP, QlikView and Alteryx a plus.

• Ability to work independently, balancing routine responsibilities with ad hoc requests

• Manage and develop a team of two employees and leading indirectly other finance leads across the regions

• Previous experience in manufacturing industry (corrugated/packaging), preferred but not required

• Ability to take ownership of business P&L along with Business leaders, directly influencing business results and driving changes or hard actions when necessary

• Salary Range for this role: $130,000 to $175,000 (Based on demonstrated experience). The position is also eligible for bonus.

What we offer

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence

• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities

• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential

• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward.

Smurfit Westrock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create and maintain a diverse workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Smurfit Westrock does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.