Accounting Manager - Plant Finance

Westlake; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake is seeking an Accounting Manager to oversee plant and cost accounting across our multi-site manufacturing operation. You will ensure inventory accounting accuracy, standard costs, variances, and timely financial reporting with operations leadership.

The role leads a team of Senior Cost Accountants, manages month-end close, forecasting, and budgeting, and supports SOX compliance with auditors while driving continuous improvement in costing and reporting processes (ERP enhancements).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including manufacturing.
• 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 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

Financial analysis

Leadership

SOX compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA preferred

Tools

JD Edwards

Excel

Job description

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

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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.