Global Operations Controller

Milwaukee, WI

The Global Operations Controller is a direct report to the Assistant Corporate Controller, has two direct reports, and will serve as a key advisor to the Assistant Corporate Controller on accounting and certain financial reporting matters. This position helps the Company solve global accounting issues and serves as a key adviser on the appropriate interpretation and application of U.S. GAAP. This position has a high level of visibility to finance leadership and requires interaction with all levels of Company management and staff in headquarters, business, regional and functional organizations. More specifically, the Global Operations Controller will work closely with the international and business unit finance leaders, treasury, tax, legal and internal and external audit departments as well as with the Corporate Controller and other Vice Presidents of Finance. The ideal candidate for this position is a results-oriented, bright, resourceful, service-driven finance professional. Other important skills include:

The ability to proactively manage multiple short-range and long-range tasks, as well as tight deadlines and time sensitive pressures, and remain even-tempered.
Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills; ability to interact with senior leadership, staff, peers, and external service providers.
Demonstrate cross cultural competencies and flexibility (communication style and timing) to work effectively with global personnel from different regions, cultures, and time zones.
Willingness to challenge the status quo in order to enhance productivity, processes, and procedures.
Ability and desire to assume additional responsibility and be a candidate for other roles in the medium-term.

Principal Duties:

Support global finance personnel with interpretation of company policies and U.S. GAAP.
Serve as expert for accounting matters, including revenue recognition.
Coordination and oversight of balance sheet review procedures in the international regions and domestic business units. Ensure adequate support is provided to document the reviews by region and business. Regularly review exceptions and issues; drive timely resolution.
Coordination and oversight for creating and delivering technical accounting training to finance organization.
Lead implementation of new accounting standards.
Monitor the remediation of all global financial issues identified by the Company’s internal and external auditors.
Participation in internal and external audit closing meetings & follow up activities.
Monitor issuance of international statutory financial statements and audit issues.
Ensure global financial reporting consistency across all regions and businesses including revenue and expense recognition, cost classification and reserve recognition.
Oversight responsibility of the following complex, corporate accounting areas:
Company-wide general warranty accounting
Environmental liability accounting
Workers’ compensation and product liability accounting
Legal and other contingencies (as necessary)
Responsible for Corporate balance sheet and income statement reporting.
Monthly review of Corporate trial balance
Risk assessed review of account reconciliations (large / unusual / high risk accounts)
Coordinate the responses to the management’s internal quarterly representation letters to ensure that all exceptions are identified and communicated to appropriate levels of executive management.
Provide regular oversight to ensure compliance with Company policies and procedures, recommend appropriate changes or improvements as necessary. Collaborate with management to drive finance process improvements and efficiencies.
Serve as primary business partner to U.S. HR Benefits.
Responsible for accounting for U.S. and Puerto Rico benefit plans (pension, retiree medical, healthcare, savings plans).
Own relationship with U.S. benefit plan auditors and overall audit/management.
Support various aspects of U.S. retirement benefits and healthcare strategy, including contract review, selections of vendors, pricing of healthcare benefits, de-risking of pension plan, and managing spend for the benefit plans.
Responsible for the Outside Service Provider (OSP) process, which includes obtaining, reviewing and monitoring all Statement of Controls (SOC) reports, reviewing contracts, completing annual checklists and following-up with business process owners (BPOs) across the organization. This also includes training BPOs on the new COSO requirements related to Outside Service Providers.
Support business development on acquisitions, due diligence and divestitures as necessary.
Work on any special projects as assigned by the CFO, Corporate Controller or other Senior Corporate Officers.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field and a CPA are required.
Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires at least 5 years of total related work experience.
In depth understanding of technical U.S. GAAP accounting standards.
Big 4 public accounting firm experience and exposure to global industrial companies preferred.
The ability to proactively manage multiple short-range and long-range tasks, as well as tight deadlines and time sensitive pressures, and remain even-tempered.
Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills; ability to interact with senior leadership, staff, peers, and external service providers.
Willingness to adapt work schedule and communication style to effectively communicate with global personnel of different cultures and time zones.
Ability to do 2-3 weeks of standard travel annually and willingness to adapt to additional travel as necessary.
Willingness to challenge the status quo in order to enhance productivity, processes, and procedures.
Ability and desire to assume additional responsibility and be a candidate for other roles in the medium-term.
Working knowledge of Oracle FCC, Microsoft Office products and SAP preferred.

This position is part of a job family. Experience will be the determining factor for position level and compensation.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans.

If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (844) 404-7247.