The opportunity:
The North America Mills Accounting organization is seeking a Senior Accountant, Mill Accounting to support a broad portfolio of accounting activities across mill operations. This individual contributor role is responsible for preparing accounting entries, reconciliations, financial analyses, and supporting schedules for assigned areas, which may include inventory, freight, warehousing, pricing and revenue, fixed assets, maintenance, restructuring, and relevant technical accounting matters.
The Senior Accountant plays a key role in the monthly close process and works closely with mill finance, operations, supply chain, commercial, maintenance, engineering, and corporate accounting teams. The position requires strong attention to detail, sound accounting judgment, effective follow-through, and a continuous improvement mindset to help ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Company policy, and internal control requirements.
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:
Close, Journal Entries and Reconciliations
\u2022 Prepare recurring and nonrecurring journal entries, including complete and accurate supporting documentation.
\u2022 Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual account reconciliations and supporting schedules for assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts.
\u2022 Investigate and resolve reconciling items on a timely basis, escalating significant or aged matters as appropriate.
\u2022 Perform period-end cutoff procedures and validate the completeness and accuracy of recorded activity.
\u2022 Maintain close calendars, workpapers, and documentation in accordance with established deadlines and standards.
\u2022 Support review processes by responding to questions and providing clear explanations and documentation.
Operational Accounting
\u2022 Perform accounting and reporting activities across a broad portfolio of mill-related processes, which may include:
Inventory valuation, reserves, accruals, and period-end cutoff.
Freight, warehousing, and other logistics-related costs and accruals.
Pricing, revenue, rebates, incentives, and other commercial accounting matters.
Fixed assets, capital projects, depreciation, asset retirements, and related controls.
Maintenance expenditures and the appropriate classification of capital and expense activity.
Restructuring, transformation, and other special business activities; and
Relevant technical accounting matters affecting mill operations.
\u2022 Prepare accruals, reserves, allocations, account roll forwards, and other accounting calculations.
\u2022 Validate source data and work with business partners to resolve errors, incomplete information, and accounting discrepancies.
Financial Analysis and Reporting
\u2022 Analyze account balances, trends, and period-over-period fluctuations to identify unusual activity and required adjustments.
\u2022 Prepare variance analyses and concise explanations of financial results for management reporting.
\u2022 Compile financial and operational information used in working capital, cost, capital, and performance analysis.
\u2022 Provide timely and accurate schedules, reports, and ad hoc analyses to accounting and business stakeholders.
SOX Controls, Audit and Compliance
\u2022 Perform assigned internal controls accurately and timely and retain complete supporting documentation.
\u2022 Follow established accounting policies, procedures, and SOX requirements.
\u2022 Prepare schedules and documentation for internal and external audit requests and respond to follow-up questions.
\u2022 Identify control, documentation, or process issues and communicate them to management.
Technical Accounting and Policy Support
\u2022 Research U.S. GAAP and Company accounting policy requirements for assigned transactions and business matters.
\u2022 Assist with the documentation of accounting conclusions, supporting analyses, and position papers.
\u2022 Apply accounting guidance consistently and seek additional direction for complex or judgmental matters.
\u2022 Support implementation of new or updated accounting policies and procedures.
Process Improvement, Systems and Data
\u2022 Identify opportunities to simplify accounting activities, improve data quality, reduce manual work, and strengthen documentation.
\u2022 Participate in standardization, automation, system enhancement, integration, and transformation initiatives.
\u2022 Use core financial systems and tools, including SAP, JDE, BlackLine, Excel, Alteryx, and BI platforms, as applicable to assigned responsibilities.
\u2022 Assist with testing, documentation, and implementation of process and system changes.
Business Partnership
\u2022 Build effective working relationships with mill finance, operations, supply chain, commercial, maintenance, engineering, FP&A, and corporate accounting teams.
\u2022 Obtain and validate information needed to complete accounting activities and resolve open items.
\u2022 Provide responsive, practical accounting support within assigned areas.
\u2022 Communicate accounting issues, deadlines, and results clearly and professionally.
What you need to succeed:
\u2022 Bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting or finance required.
\u2022 3+ years of accounting experience, preferably within a manufacturing, industrial, or mill environment.
\u2022 Experience preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, account analyses, and month-end close deliverables.
\u2022 Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and internal controls; SOX experience preferred.
\u2022 Exposure to inventory, cost, operational, fixed asset, revenue, or technical accounting preferred.
\u2022 Experience with ERP systems such as SAP and/or JD Edwards; experience with BlackLine, Alteryx, or BI tools is beneficial.
\u2022 Strong Excel skills and the ability to work effectively with financial and operational data.
\u2022 Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
\u2022 Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on open items in a fast-paced environment.
\u2022 Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate across functions and organizational levels.
\u2022 CPA certification or progress toward CPA preferred but not required.
\u2022 Demonstrated initiative, accountability, curiosity, and a continuous improvement mindset.
What we offer:
\u2022 Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
\u2022 Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
\u2022 An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
\u2022 A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety, and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
