Director, External Reporting

The Sherwin-Williams Company; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sherwin-Williams Company is seeking a Director of External Reporting at its Global Headquarters in Cleveland, OH. This leadership role focuses on US GAAP and SEC reporting, with collaboration across finance, legal and corporate teams to ensure accurate, timely external financial statements.

You will oversee the preparation of the Company’s 10-Q and 10-K filings, interpret accounting policy, implement new standards and drive continuous improvement in reporting processes and controls.

Qualifications

• Lead the external reporting function including US GAAP and SEC filings.
• Oversee accounting policy interpretation and complex transactions.
• Collaborate with legal, finance and corporate teams to ensure compliant reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SEC Reporting team's preparation of the Company's 10-Q and 10-K filings in accordance with US GAAP and SEC regulatory requirements as well as the Proxy in partnership with the legal department
• Establish a timeline for completion of tasks to ensure internal and external deadlines are met
• Oversee preparation of financial statements and footnotes
• Guide and review various tie-outs to company records for completeness and accuracy
• Utilize Workiva reporting platform for review of the 10-Q, 10-K, earnings release documents, and Audit Committee/Board materials
• Lead the statutory reporting process and coordination with global accounting teams and external auditors
• Lead the implementation of new accounting standards and provide clear communication of impact to stakeholders

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Technical accounting

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

CPA

Tools

Workiva

Oracle Financials

OneStream

Job description

The External Reporting team, which includes the technical accounting function, is responsible for providing clear, complete, accurate and consistent financial information to meet the requirements of both internal and external stakeholders. The Director, External Reporting will lead this mission by leveraging a strong leadership, project management and technical accounting background as well as an ability to collaborate with various teams across the broader organization. The Director, External Reporting will primarily focus on leading the preparation and presentation of financial information in compliance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) or local GAAP, regulatory requirements (e.g., SEC Forms 10-Q, 10-K, 11-K and Proxy), statutory requirements and company policies globally. Additionally, the Director, External Reporting will be responsible for leading the understanding of complex transactions and how they apply to the accounting standards under US GAAP and interpretive guidance, including communicating with management and applying new accounting pronouncements to the Company. This leadership position plays an important role in ensuring complete, accurate and timely accounting records and external financial reporting.

This position is not hybrid/remote and will be located at our Global Headquarters in Cleveland, OH.

Because this role involves access to confidential financial information, the Company has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and to provide similar protections for its clients and potential investments.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Lead the SEC Reporting team's preparation of the Company's 10-Q and 10-K filings in accordance with US GAAP and SEC regulatory requirements as well as the Proxy in partnership with the legal department

• Establish a timeline for completion of tasks to ensure internal and external deadlines are met
• Oversee preparation of financial statements and footnotes
• Guide and review various tie-outs to company records (financial statements, footnotes, MD&A, earnings release, etc.) for completeness and accuracy
• Utilize Workiva reporting platform for review of the 10-Q, 10-K, earnings release documents, and Audit Committee/Board materials
• Oversee completion of the US GAAP disclosure checklist and other checklists as needed
• Manage the Quarterly Earnings Binder and other stakeholder deliverables
• Lead, along with legal, the preparation of the Proxy in Workiva. Review of information presented for completeness and accuracy including the tie out of certain financial and non-financial information

Perform month-end and quarter-end close procedures

• Lead the monthly share reconciliation process
• Review of stock-based compensation entries and forecast
• Review of the quarterly and annual pension and OPEB entries
• Review the monthly balance sheet, equity, and cash flow statements
• Act as the liaison with external audit

Lead the technical accounting process, including but not limited to:

• Evaluation and final review of accounting matters and how they relate to US GAAP and interpretative guidance
• Evaluation and final review of global matters governed under local GAAP (for example, IFRS) as well as US GAAP to other GAAP differences
• Lead consultations with external third-party accounting firms on technical accounting matters as needed
• Finalize accounting conclusions for unique transactions by researching applicable accounting guidance and reviewing documentation
• Review and help guide accounting memo preparation that uses clear and concise writing to satisfy external and internal audit as well as senior finance leadership
• Communicate technical accounting conclusions in an easy-to-understand manner to internal stakeholders that may have non-accounting or non-finance backgrounds
• Review new accounting pronouncements as they are issued; assess, review documentation and communicate impact to the Company
• Lead the implementation process associated with the adoption of new accounting standards, including leading the adoption of the DISE standard
• Act as the liaison with external audit for these matters

Lead the statutory reporting process, including but not limited to:

• Oversee and lead the statutory reporting process for the global enterprise
• Lead the coordination of statutory reporting compliance with enterprise-wide and local accounting teams, as well as audit firms as needed and determine strategies to enhance consistency in statutory policies and practices
• Proactively solution concerns and issues across the global organization as a trusted and reliable business partner
• Lead the implementation and maintenance of statutory reporting on the Workiva Global Statutory Reporting solution
• Lead the process for certain domestic statutory reports such as the Puerto Rico Branch and Sherwin-Williams Insurance Company as well as benefit plan financial statements, including an 11-K filing with the SEC

Collaborate with various business partners on quarterly releases and filings including, but not limited to, the following materials:

• Investor relations presentations and slide decks
• Investor relations earnings call scripts
• Partner with tax, treasury, legal and other business partners to meet disclosure requirements

Contribute to team success

• Provide thought leadership on best practices to advance automation and the use of artificial intelligence to unlock value in the reporting process
• Provide continuous coaching and mentoring to team members, including giving timely, constructive feedback and participating in formal appraisal process
• Lead weekly team meetings
• Participate and lead projects and non-routine transactions, as needed

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• Bachelor's degree with a major in accounting
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Required 10+ years of experience in:
  • Accounting and Reporting Regulation Knowledge - Ability to apply knowledge of rules and regulations to maintain financial records, review financial statements, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as apply the rules and regulations governing financial accounting in accordance with US GAAP to support financial reporting for the industry/division/enterprise.
  • Internal Controls Background - Ability to marry the practices and procedures that are in place at the Company with the financial reporting requirements under SOX to ensure the completeness and accuracy of financial information and transactions presented.
  • Strong Project Management Skills - Proven history of managing a team of individuals on large-scale projects that have timely deadlines, while delivering exceptional results.
  • Financial Statement Analysis - Ability to interpret financial data, such as financial statements, performance metrics and other ad hoc data, and identify trends and patterns in financial data, and translate them into meaningful insights.
  • Financial Systems & Digital Literacy - Stay current on continually transforming financial and cross-functional systems/platforms to support the IT projects, gain insights and drive innovative, timely, and prudent recommendations.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future for employment visa status
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age

Preferred:

• Big Four public accounting experience
• SEC reporting experience
• Technical accounting experience
• Employee benefit plan experience
• Experience with Oracle financial systems, OneStream and/or Workiva

Travel: 10%