Accountant I

H.B. Fuller is a leading global adhesives provider focusing on perfecting adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemicals across all industries throughout the world. While our products are virtually invisible, they play a vital role in ensuring the quality of modern life and we are committed to connecting what matters to solve some of the world's biggest adhesion challenges.

Costing and cost analysis

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• Standard Cost Development: maintain, coordinate, develop, and streamline processes for calculation of standard costs. Interact with ERP system, feeding budget information and parameter assumptions to system for rolling up unit costs.
• Projected Costs: for a given product line, lead the cross-functional process of validating projected unit costs for new products and estimates.
• Period Close Manufacturing Analysis: Leverage ERP system to calculate, review, and correct actual unit cost variances from standards. Utilize and develop delivery tools for variances for RM price and usage, labor and overhead, efficiency and spending and volume. Design and develop tools to deliver data and information to financial analysts, plants and business units. 
• Analyse costs on a regular basis, identify and correct discrepancies.
• Perform Process Order analysis and identify costs loaded on inventory
• Month end Inventory valuation, overheads absorption workings, cost runs etc.
• Liaison with R& D team and provide costs for new products based on data maintained in the current system.
• Provide cost inputs to commercial team as and when required.
• Manage “Received not invoiced” report follow-up and resolution with operations / sourcing of aged items and Manufacturing orders closure timely.
• Partner with plants to improve data integrity, analysis and build understanding of cost, margin, and value creating opportunities.
• Utilize and understand the ERP system(s) and other relevant systems / databases

Controlling, Planning & Analysis, Insight

• Leveraging standard monthly reporting packs, ensure deep monthly operations and supply performance analysis and insight. Review with relevant site and regional management, ensure appropriate follow actions defined and implemented.
• Proactively support month end close, with early warnings of issues or exceptions to trends, ensuring timely and compliant delivery.
• Partner Production and Supply Management to prepare local forecasts and budgets
• Provide expertise and analytical oversight to support Global Finance Services and FP&A to execute and continuously improve accounting, reporting, compliance processes (e.g. Manufacturing costs booked to right ledger, values & provisions, accruals, PO process etc.)
• Build collaboration and confidence in Finance and Operations that the information is accurate, timely and consistent – and generated efficiently.

Inventory management & variance analysis / control

• In collaboration with global costing function, support financial control processes for:
  • Excess & obsolete inventory, Rework, Inventory counts, Inventory valuation (Raw Materials, Finished Goods and Work in Progress), Purchase price and Inventory variances
• Provide analysis, insight & define/implement appropriate mitigations: maintain accurate book inventory, increase transparency, collaborate with S&OP and align to production cost analysis
• Partner with Finance Services, Costing and other support functions as appropriate

Production and supply chain cost control & productivity planning

• Drive transparency, process effectiveness & ensure clear accountabilities: control process, improved accounting & compliance, identify cost drivers.
• Focus on key cost items with the objective of cost reduction by technology / production line, cost category and actions to deliver.
• Transparent, accurate analysis and benchmarking: monthly review of actual expenses vs budget. For costs above budget establish mitigating actions or obtain appropriate approval for the overspend

Local GAAP and SOX compliance

• Support finance manager in accounting for inventories as per local GAAP and successfully closing audit as per local laws
• Compliance with SOX controls pertaining to costing, inventory valuation
• Support on internal audits.

EMPLOYEES SUPERVISED

Directly: none initially. Indirectly: close collaboration with and where appropriate coordination of supporting services (finance, supply chain, purchasing and operations) will be required and more prevalent in this role than direct supervisory responsibility.

At H.B. Fuller, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to providing all applicants and employees with equal employment opportunity. We subscribe to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) policy of employing and promoting individuals based on their merits, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship status, or any other protected classification.