Lead Financial Analyst, Operations

The J.M. Smucker Company; Versailles (LA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Company in Versailles, Louisiana, is seeking a Lead Analyst for Plant Finance. This role serves as a vital finance partner for the Gentilly and Chef manufacturing plants, managing critical financial processes and offering insights to enhance operational performance.

The ideal candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance along with 4+ years of experience in financial analysis or accounting. Strong skills in Microsoft Office are essential, particularly in Excel.

Work arrangements are onsite at 100% with a schedule of Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of financial analysis or accounting experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Highly organized with high standards of accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Provide finance support for Gentilly and Chef manufacturing plants.
• Prepare monthly journal entries and support financial close.
• Analyze and reconcile assigned Balance Sheet accounts.

Skills

Financial analysis

Accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Lead Analyst, Plant Finance

Serve as a key finance partner supporting our Gentilly and Chef manufacturing plants. Own critical financial processes including month‑end close, budgeting, variance analysis, and audit support, while ensuring accuracy and compliance. Turn data into actionable insights‑developing analytics and visualizations that drive operational performance and continuous improvement. This is a high‑impact role for a detail‑oriented, collaborative finance professional who thrives in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Location: New Orleans, LA

Work Arrangements: Onsite 100% (M-F)

In this role you will:

• Provide finance support for Gentilly and Chef manufacturing plants
• Prepare monthly journal entries and support financial close
• Analyze and reconcile assigned Balance Sheet accounts
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and corporate policies for assigned responsibilities
• Participate in business planning; prepare and coordinate the annual budget with plant manager
• Participate in annual manufacturing standard reviews for assigned locations
• Review/analyze monthly manufacturing variances
• Review/analyze monthly cost center variances
• Maintain and document monthly controls for internal audits
• Support external audits on quarterly and annual basis
• Provide KPI analysis for monthly financial review
• Drive key priorities and initiatives
• Identify areas of improvements and standardization
• Develop plant analytics and visualizations to add value to manufacturing decisions

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• 4+ years of financial analysis or accounting experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Financial planning and forecasting ownership
• Highly organized and hold high standards of accuracy and precision
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Strong communication and relationship building skills

Additional skills and experiences that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• Experience supporting financial activity for an operations facility
• Ability to work in a diverse and fast paced environment
• Ability to make sound business decisions that have a positive impact on the company
• MBA, CPA, CMA, or other advanced degree or certification

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.