Principal Analyst - FP&A

Westlake Chemical; Stafford (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical seeks a Principal FP&A Analyst to join the Global FP&A organization, supporting the North America Compounds business and partnering with the NA General Manager and leaders to drive pricing, margin expansion, and performance improvements.

The role focuses on FP&A and business partnership, collaborating with accounting and global FP&A to deliver actionable insights and robust planning across monthly forecasts, annual budgets, and long-range plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required.
• CPA, CMA, or MBAE preferred.
• 7+ years of FP&A, business finance, or operational finance experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Strong forecasting, financial analysis, and performance management.
• Experience with SAP, BPC, SAP COPA and/or JDE systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary FP&A partner for the North America Compounds business.
• Act as a trusted advisor to NA General Manager and commercial leadership.
• Consolidate and analyze regional performance, ensuring consistency and alignment.
• Support pricing strategy, margin optimization, and growth initiatives.
• Utilize tools such as SAP COPA to analyze customer profitability, product mix, and pricing performance.
• Develop scenario modeling and business cases to support key decisions.
• Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for leadership.

Skills

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Performance management

Business finance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting

CPA / CMA / MBAE preferred

Tools

SAP COPA

SAP

BPC

JDE

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 a key member of the Global FP&A organization supporting the Compounds business, with primary responsibility for the North America region. The Principal Analyst acts as a strategic finance partner to the North America General Manager, as well as commercial and operations leaders, providing financial insights that drive pricing, margin expansion, and overall business performance. As the FP&A lead for North America, this role connects regional performance with global financial strategy, delivering actionable insights, and decision support across the business. The position is focused on FP&A and business partnership, with close collaboration with accounting teams.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Serve as the primary FP&A partner for the North America Compounds business
• Act as a trusted advisor to the NA General Manager and commercial leadership
• Consolidate and analyze regional performance, ensuring consistency and alignment
• Support pricing strategy, margin optimization, and growth initiatives
• Utilize tools such as SAP COPA to analyze customer profitability, product mix, and pricing performance
• Develop scenario modeling and business cases to support key decisions
• Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for leadership
• Lead North America inputs for monthly forecasts, annual budgets, and long-range planning
• Analyze actual results vs. plan/forecast, highlighting key drivers, risks, and opportunities
• Continuously improve reporting to enhance decision-making and visibility
• Operate with a high degree of independence as a finance lead for the region
• Serve as a key liaison between regional leadership and global FP&A
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior analysts where applicable

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required. CPA, CMA, or MBAE preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in FP&A, business finance, or operational finance, preferably in manufacturing. Preferred experience in a multi-site or global organization.
• Experience supporting commercial or business leadership teams
• Strong understanding of forecasting, financial analysis, and performance management.
• Experience with manufacturing cost structures and variance analysis.
• Experience with SAP, BPC, SAP COPA and/or JDE systems.

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 occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 10 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 on 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.