Associate Director, Finance - Valent U.S.A., LLC

Valent U.S.A. LLC is currently searching for an Associate Director Finance to work with our Finance team. This position will be based at North American Innovation Center (NAIC) in San Ramon, California.

Valent U.S.A. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, engages in the development, registration, sales and marketing of integrated technological solutions for crop production and pest management that deliver value for our customers and stakeholders. A leading crop protection firm serving the agricultural and non-crop products markets in North America, Valent products help growers produce safe and abundant food and fiber crops, and horticultural professionals improve the quality of life for their customers. The corporate motto, Products That Work, From People Who Care®, describes the company's business philosophy. Valent seeks out and provides customers with innovative and effective solutions to their production challenges. Our vision is to be the best company delivering integrated solutions of biorational and traditional crop protection solutions to our customers. Valent is dedicated to creating a world that is healthier and more comfortable, and that has a sustainable abundance of quality, affordable food, helping crops to be the ultimate renewable resource.

General Description:

The Associate Director Finance, reporting to VP of Finance, contributes to Valent’s success by providing leadership and direction within the financial team. Activities supported within this role include: financial planning and analysis support for marketing programs, the Sales and Technology teams, as well as cost accounting for the Supply Chain team. The Associate Director Finance will interact at all levels of Management (President, COO, VPs, Directors and Managers), and is responsible for leading the team in supporting the strategic goals of the business, overseeing aspects of the monthly close, preparing monthly reports to senior management, providing analysis, and monitoring business performance of functional departments and brands.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to the Costing and Analysis staff to achieve team, departmental, and company results.
• Manages the preparation and presentation of monthly financial analysis to Senior Leadership Team and to the functional departments. Analyzes financial and operational results vs. Forecast/Budget, investigates significant variances, and communicates findings to senior leadership (e.g., COO, VP of functional department and VP of Global Finance).
• Manages the Cost Accounting team to provide the following:
  • Provides monthly and quarterly variances and gross margin analysis. Ability to provide meaningful and insightful comments on financial results to senior leadership and other constituents on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
  • Partner with Supply Chain and other cross-functional teams on cost optimization strategies. The analyses will include projects related to warehousing strategy, freight operations, raw and packaging sourcing, lean manufacturing related to overall toller manufacturing activities, and inventory level analyses. Develop key performance metrics, and track to ensure overall results.
  • Reconciles inventory reserves and related reserve accounts including maintaining models/analysis to support the Company’s accounting position(s).
  • Reviews cost structures for new and existing areas of the company.
  • Classifies excess and obsolete inventory(ies) for adequate reserves throughout the year.
  • Develops, documents, implements, and monitors cost accounting policies and procedures. Reviews, modifies and/or improves procedures and/or processes.
  • Maintains/improves cost accounting system to support determination of cost of goods sold (including PCOGS), inventory valuation and product line performance. Recommends and implements enhancements to the cost accounting function to provide long-term scalability.
  • Prices new services or products by developing unit costs and projecting expenses.
  • Prepares profitability analyses on products.
  • Collaborates with Director of Finance in the development / enhancement of the internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, JSOX and other requirements.
• Responsible for providing analysis and influencing key decisions relating to inventory, marketing accruals and operational spending. Provides guidance and/or recommendations to COO, VP of Marketing, VP of Sales, VP of Technology and VP of Finance.
• Primary contact person to external and internal auditors for Valent USA marketing plan accruals and inventory. This includes providing support and explanations.
• Provides recommendations and/or guidance to the business on financial impact of new programs and on policy exceptions (e.g., SWAPs, terms, etc.).
• Responsible for Marketing Program accrual, including: program review, 3rd party vendor process audit, true-up of accrual to payments, marketing reports, variance analysis.
• Responsible for implementation and maintenance of the business analytic platform with the 3rd party vendor. Coordinating enhancements and changes with sales team. Manages sales bonus calculations.
• Partners with the functional groups (e.g., Planning, Technology, Marketing, IT, etc.) in the organization during the planning and budgeting process by delivering key financial information and analysis. Interacts at all levels of the organization including the President, COO and VP of Planning.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams on major Company initiatives from the financial perspective, including but not limited to operational efficiency, cost savings opportunities, capital expenditure decisions, vendor selections and customer negotiations.

Skills:

• Detail oriented, with strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data, both written and oral to senior management.
• Advanced level proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with large ERP systems (SAP experience a plus).

Qualifications:

• BS degree in Accounting or Finance. Masters preferred.
• 10+ years of accounting/finance experience, including time managing cost accounting activities, budgeting, and financial planning and analysis.
• Ability to multi-task with proven follow through and adherence to changing priorities and deadlines
• Experience partnering with other teams to drive cost saving/process improvements in a medium to large company.
• Experience building and improving efficient and effective processes.
• CPA/CMA designations preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment (OFFICE Position)

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands include constant sitting, walking, standing, simple grasping and fine manipulation with hands; frequent bending at the neck and waist; and occasional squatting, climbing, kneeling, crawling, twisting at the neck and waist, power grasping, pushing, and pulling with hands, reaching above shoulder level, lifting, and carrying up to 25 lbs.
• Work Environment includes exposure to or working in or around equipment and machinery including a computer keyboard and mouse.

Frequency Definitions: Constant = Over 40% / Frequent = Up to 40% / Occasional = Up to 10%