Accounting Manager

Westlake Chemical; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake is seeking an Accounting Manager to oversee plant accounting and cost accounting across multi-site manufacturing operations. You will ensure accuracy of inventory accounting, standard costs, variances, and financial reporting while partnering with Plant Management to improve performance.

This role leads a team of senior cost accountants, drives month-end closes, FP&A, budgeting, and liaises with internal/external auditors to maintain SOX controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including manufacturing accounting responsibilities.
• Strong manufacturing and cost accounting experience is required.
• Previous FP&A experience is required.
• Experience with ERP systems is required; JD Edwards experience is preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with financial reporting and analysis tools.
• Prior supervisory or people leadership experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing accounting activities, including inventory valuation, standard costing, absorption costing, and variance analysis.
• Oversee monthly inventory close processes, ensuring accurate reporting of material, labor, and overhead costs.
• Review and analyze manufacturing variances, including purchase price variances, labor variances, production variances, scrap, and inventory adjustments.
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count programs, including variance investigation, analysis, and resolution.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting for assigned manufacturing plants.
• Oversee all accounting activities for assigned plants, including full ownership of the Profit & Loss Statement, Manufacturing Statement, inventory accounting, and all Balance Sheet accounts.
• Lead plant financial planning and analysis activities, including monthly forecasting, variance analysis, and annual budget preparation.
• Serve as a key finance business partner to plant leadership and operations management by providing financial insights, identifying risks and opportunities, and supporting strategic decision-making.
• Partner closely with internal and external auditors to support audit activities and ensure compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and SOX requirements.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Senior Cost Accountants, including resource planning, training, performance management, and career development.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to inventory management, costing methodologies, and financial reporting processes.
• Support ERP system enhancements and process automation initiatives.
• Ensure the integrity of inventory accounting and compliance with company policies and procedures.

Skills

Manufacturing accounting

Cost accounting

FP&A experience

Leadership

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA preferred

Tools

JD Edwards

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

This role is responsible for overseeing all plant accounting and cost accounting activities across a multi-site manufacturing operation. The Accounting Manager will ensure the accuracy of inventory accounting, standard costs, manufacturing variances, and financial reporting while partnering closely with Plant Management and Operations to drive financial performance, strengthen controls, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all manufacturing accounting activities, including inventory valuation, standard costing, absorption costing, and variance analysis.
• Oversee monthly inventory close processes, ensuring accurate reporting of material, labor, and overhead costs.
• Review and analyze manufacturing variances, including purchase price variances, labor variances, production variances, scrap, and inventory adjustments.
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count programs, including variance investigation, analysis, and resolution.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting for assigned manufacturing plants.
• Oversee all accounting activities for assigned plants, including full ownership of the Profit & Loss Statement, Manufacturing Statement, inventory accounting, and all Balance Sheet accounts.
• Lead plant financial planning and analysis activities, including monthly forecasting, variance analysis, and annual budget preparation.
• Serve as a key finance business partner to plant leadership and operations management by providing financial insights, identifying risks and opportunities, and supporting strategic decision-making.
• Partner closely with internal and external auditors to support audit activities and ensure compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and SOX requirements.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Senior Cost Accountants, including resource planning, training, performance management, and career development.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to inventory management, costing methodologies, and financial reporting processes.
• Support ERP system enhancements and process automation initiatives.
• Ensure the integrity of inventory accounting and compliance with company policies and procedures.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including manufacturing accounting responsibilities.
• Strong manufacturing and cost accounting experience is required.
• Previous FP&A experience is required.
• Experience with ERP systems is required; JD Edwards experience is preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with financial reporting and analysis tools.
• Prior supervisory or people leadership experience is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Flexibility in hours to meet deadlines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel up to 10% including air travel or auto travel.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer.

Westlake (NYSE: WLK) is a global diversified industrial company that manufactures and supplies essential products that enhance the daily lives of people around the globe. Our products, now under a One Westlake brand, supply the necessary building blocks for everyday products across housing and infrastructure, packaging and healthcare, and automotive and consumer goods. Consumers gain the benefits of materials Westlake produces in products such as food packaging, medical devices, soaps and detergents, car interiors, fashion, toys, shoes, furniture, electronics, siding, stone veneer, windows, outdoor living, roofing, and pipe & fittings.

Westlake is proud to contribute to driving a sustainable future through the creation of essential products that are Enhancing Your Life Every Day®. To view other career opportunities at Westlake and our family of companies, visit https://westlaketalent.com