Greenwood Associates Inc. Looking for Director of Accounting and Finance at Niles, IL Full Time

The Director of Finance and Accounting plays a key leadership role in the overall management of Greenwood and its co-managed affiliates Chicago Processed Fruit Group and Florida Bulk Sales. The Director has primary responsibility for managing all financial-related functions, including financial analysis, planning, and strategy; financial and managerial accounting; internal controls and risk management; and treasury. This individual provides strategic leadership and vision to guide senior and executive management to improve business performance and financial discipline to maximize value, minimize risk, and help make better decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that the proper financial and organizational structure and operational and internal controls and systems are in place to accommodate the growth objectives of the organization while maintaining financial strength and stability
• Develop and deliver accurate, insightful financial analysis and modeling to support decision making, including ROIC, spending, and benefit analysis and tracking for capital projects, investments, and other business initiatives, M&A support, etc.
• Oversee full P&L activities for three operating entities, conducting revenue and expense trend analysis and benchmarking to prepare a budget an annual budget and monthly forecasts too promote fiscal responsibility and budget adherence throughout the organization
• Analyze and generate cost optimization recommendations across all aspects of supply chain activity; including inventory optimization, contract negotiation, working capital carrying cost, yields, logistics, etc.
• Provide commentary on monthly financial results from both a P&L and metrics basis to executive and management teams; challenge business units to deliver improved financial performance
• Collaborate with Production, Procurement, Sales, New Product Development, and other departments to improve operations and profitability
• Establish and manage efficient financial control, cost control, cash flow management, and pricing analysis and strategy, optimizing end-to-end processes, workflows, standards, and controls
• Provide analytical support for decision making on capital structure, financial risk management, and operational financing
• Manage capital markets activities, capital and debt structure, short term and long-term financing, and debt covenant compliance
• Maintain outstanding banking relationships and strategic alliances with vendors and business partners
• Work closely with Human Resources in the development of staffing plans and budgets, and to review and maintain group medical coverage and other employee benefit and insurance programs
• Oversee all managerial and financial accounting functions, taking responsibility for a cohesive and accurate result across all areas of the business
• Recruit, develop, retain, and lead a high performing finance and accounting team to deliver financial management, oversight, and leadership across all functional areas of the business
• Provide direct reports with appropriate training, coaching, and motivation that enable their success and establish a positive working environment
• Conduct employee performance reviews to evaluate performance, provide feedback, and ensure that staff meet service expectations and high performers are challenged with additional responsibility
• Oversee the preparation and timely filing of all local, state and federal tax returns

Requirements

Knowledge and Experience:

• 10+ years Financial Planning and Analysis experience, including full P&L financial responsibility, development of strategies and budgets, ideally in food and beverage manufacturing, food ingredient custom blending and co-packing, agricultural commodity trade, or global B2B distribution
• Proven experience scaling manufacturing and/or food and beverage distribution businesses
• Deep knowledge and understanding of corporate finance and accounting principles, with ability to interpret complex data sets and distill insights into a meaningful format for leadership
• An entrepreneurial focus, with the ability to lead and manage through growth and change while working to harmonize and strengthen policies and practices across the organization
• Demonstrated success in implementing internal controls, budgets, and forecasting systems in a project environment with the ability to analyze results against plan
• Accomplished leader and manager of people with the ability to attract, develop, and retain a strong team

Key Skills And Abilities

• Intelligent, articulate, and highly organized, with the ability to relate and present to people at all levels of an organization
• Comfortable working across functions, business divisions, and geographies in a matrix organization
• Results-oriented with a desire to lead change through to fruition
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions though exceptional research, analysis, problem solving, strategic thinking, and business advisory skills
• A hands-on approach, with strong time and task management and ability to prioritize and work to tight deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong computer skills using Microsoft Office, Excel, and ERP, and other business software systems

Responsibilities are not limited to those listed, and employee may be required to perform additional functions. This job description is not intended and shall not be construed as creating a contract of employment. The company may, at its discretion, revise this job description or job title at any time.