Assoc. Director Finance - Compounds & Dimex

Westlake Chemical; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical is seeking a senior finance leader for Global Compounds & Dimex to provide robust financial leadership, planning, and decision support across NA, Europe, and Asia. This role partners with commercial and operational teams to drive performance, improve processes, and support growth initiatives including M&A integration.

The position oversees monthly forecasts and annual budgets, ensuring US GAAP compliance, internal controls, and cross-site consistency while leading the

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in Accounting with 10+ years progressive accounting experience; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting in manufacturing, including standard costing and variance analysis.
• Ten+ years of Supervisory/Management experience leading accounting and finance teams.
• Proficiency with SAP, BPC, and/or JDE; advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-depth analysis and communication of financial data to enhance operations for Global Compounds & Dimex.
• Serve as a strong business partner to influence strategic decisions and drive performance.
• Oversee monthly close to ensure US GAAP compliance and SOX controls.

Skills

Cost accounting

Leadership

Financial analysis

Education

B.S. Degree in Accounting or equivalent

Tools

SAP

BPC

JDE

Excel

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 position serves as the senior finance leader and strategic business partner for the Westlake Global Compounds & Dimex business unit, providing robust financial leadership and analytical support to Global Compounds & Dimex commercial and operational teams across all regions (North America, Europe, and Asia). Global Compounds is a complex global business with multiple manufacturing locations, diverse product offerings and customer segments, and significant integration with the Housing & Infrastructure Products segment. The role is responsible for analytical decision support and analysis of the business, ensuring accurate accounting in accordance with US GAAP, ensuring compliance with internal operational controls and SOX controls, reporting and analysis of monthly results to Executive Management, providing accounting and finance support for business improvement and growth initiatives (including M&A and integration), and overseeing the monthly forecast and annual budget processes for Global Compounds & Dimex.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Provide in-depth analysis and communication of financial data and business intelligence to enhance the operations of the Global Compounds & Dimex business.
• Serve as a strong business partner to both financial and business leadership to influence strategic decisions and drive performance in Global Compounds & Dimex.
• Oversee Global Compounds & Dimex accounting during the monthly close to ensure accurate closing in accordance with US GAAP and make decisions on accounting issues that arise during the close.
• Drive support for Global Compounds & Dimex business and operations leaders in presenting, explaining and understanding monthly, quarterly and annual financial results.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls and reviews and Global Compounds & Dimex SOX compliance, including documentation and testing of key controls.
• Coordinate and support internal and external audit requests for Global Compounds & Dimex to ensure timetables are met; address potential issues and internal audit reports related to the business unit.
• Review monthly financial performance and forecasts for Global Compounds & Dimex, consolidating results across all sites and providing insight into variances, trends and key drivers.
• Provide insight and criticality to business forecasts.
• Oversee and help coordinate the Global Compounds & Dimex annual operating budget activities, assisting business and operations leadership in budgeting, business plan development and long-range planning, including plant-level budgets and standard costing updates where applicable.
• Drive support for Global Compounds & Dimex business and operations heads in business development and M&A activities, including integration of operations, systems, policies and procedures, and internal reporting with the Westlake model.
• Work closely with the Global Compounds & Dimex accounting, cost accounting and analysis teams in planning and completing process improvement initiatives to enhance accuracy, efficiency, controls, transparency and comparability across sites, including manufacturing cost analyses, standard cost updates, variance analysis, and benchmarking.
• Oversee the accounting and FP&A teams in preparation of the Global Compounds & Dimex monthly forecast, SBU/segment-level reporting, review of each plant’s results prior to close, and review of key reserves and estimates, including inventory-related reserves and LCNRV assessments, consistent with Westlake policies.
• Coordinate with regional accounting leaders to ensure consistency in accounting treatment, reporting and controls across all Global Compounds & Dimex locations.
• Assist the Segment Controller in assuring that accounting policies and practices are being consistently applied across the Global Compounds & Dimex business, in alignment with Westlake standards; drive process improvements and standardization to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Work with and train staff as appropriate for their position and development needs, including coaching on cost accounting, standard cost methodologies, financial analysis techniques, and the use of SAP/BPC/JDE and related reporting tools.
• Provide support and oversight for high-risk accounting areas to ensure no material errors, including transactions related to sales revenues, costs, fixed assets, trade payables and inventory management.
• Strong leadership skills to guide a team of accounting and finance professionals across corporate and plant locations in a positive, collaborative and effective manner.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• B.S. Degree in Accounting or equivalent with ten plus (10+) years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in both public accounting and the private sector, and preferably within manufacturing, chemicals or related global, asset-heavy industries. CPA and/or MBA preferred. Knowledge of general financial and cost accounting, financial statement preparation, and financial investment/analysis techniques is required.
• Must have strong knowledge of cost accounting in a manufacturing environment, preferably similar to the Housing & Infrastructure Products segment and Global Compounds operations, including standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, plant-level performance analysis and business decision support.
• Ten plus (10+) years of Supervisory/Management experience leading accounting and finance teams.
• Knowledge of computerized accounting systems and proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel required; experience with SAP, BPC, and/or JDE is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

WORK ENVIRONMENT

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 20% including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required, including international travel to Global Compounds sites in North America, Mexico, Europe and Asia 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.

For more information, visit the company's web site at www.westlake.com.

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®.