Sr. Principal, Cost Accountant

Collaboration drives Nordson’s success as a market leader in Industrial Precision Solutions and Advanced Technology. Our employees thrive in an environment where we help each other reach our personal best and enable our company to continuously improve and grow, and our customers to succeed. You will find Nordson employees sharing our success by giving back in the communities around the world where we live and work.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for overseeing all cost accounting controls across Nordson, with a particular focus on SAP processes/controls.
• Travel to key sites/divisions to understand existing processes/controls, identify best practices and continuous improvement opportunities, and facilitate embedment of the practices into the organization.
• Partner with the local division cost accounting teams to ensure inventory reserves/standard cost revals/capitalized variances are appropriate and done in compliance with established Nordson policies.
• Establish a global cycle count/physical inventory cadence and controls.
• Organize and lead the annual SAP standard cost roll across the company. Document and standardize the process, including how best to determine and establish the various standards to be used by part.
• Support new ERP implementation launches (particularly SAP S4 Hana), including setting up proper standard costs and related controls. This includes traveling to the sites and partnering with them during implementation meetings.
• In conjunction with IT support, develop SAP reports/processes designed to help analyze and interpret different manufacturing variances (PPV, POV, etc.).
• Support the Segment leaders in reviewing the various site Plant P&L submissions and identifying trends/areas of concern/required actions.
• Lead the effort of establishing, monitoring, and enforcing an effective internal controls environment with regards to cost accounting. Develops and takes necessary actions to support SOX compliance effort. Liaises with the local finance directors around the world.
• Train and coach Nordson’s cost accounting employees around the world on cost accounting best practices. This includes how to analyze manufacturing variances and lead effective meetings with Operations to take action on the variances.
• Assumes other special activities and responsibilities as required.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting.
• Master’s in Business Administration and/or CA/CPA/CMA preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in manufacturing finance and accounting, including exposure to manufacturing operations, standard cost setting, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Ability to receive assignments in form of objectives with goals and process to meet goals outlined.
• Able to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule forms.
• Knowledge of Accounting software, Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.
• Solid accounting background and strong demonstrated communication skills.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Strong initiative, leadership, thinking and problem solving, financial analysis and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a matrixed organization while keeping a clear understanding of the objectives and financial commitments of the businesses.
• Superior technical financial skills, balanced with sound business judgment, including the ability to balance financial and operational factors, analyze complex business problems and develop appropriate solutions.
• Strong MS Excel skills required.
• SAP experience highly preferred.
• Sarbanes-Oxley experience a plus.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms; requires close vision ability. Noise level is usually moderate.

Travel Required 

 Up to 50%

Working Environment and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Nordson Corporation provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. No person is to be discriminated against in any aspect of the employment relationship due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment drug screening and background/criminal check, consistent with applicable laws.Third party recruiters and agencies should not contact employees of Nordson or its subsidiaries directly. Any resumes sent to a hiring manager or submitted to Nordson employees are considered unsolicited and property of Nordson. Nordson will not pay a placement fee unless the agency or recruiter has a signed contract with Nordson’s Human Resources department in advance of submitting a candidate for consideration. Verbal and written approvals will not be considered a valid contract for service.