Inventory & Process Analyst - Accounting/Finance

Job Location: Hershey, PA   

Summary:

The Hershey Company West Hershey plant is a Union plant producing products such as White & Milk Chocolate Paste, Kisses, Nuggets, Milk Bars, Almond Bars, Rolo, Syrup & Cookies and Crème in a high-speed complex environment.

The Inventory and Process analyst’s primary focus will be to understand and anticipate variances and related issues around the intricacies of the West Hershey paste processing operations and the production lines within the plant.  In addition, this position will be the Line Performance Reporting (LPR) expert and champion for the West Hershey plant, and be able to lead management of inventories,  production analysis, profit plan development, and take the lead in training employees. 

The Inventory and Process Analyst will be actively involved in providing support for the accuracy of data in LPR.  The ability to work independently with many different Plant disciplines is a critical component of success as is the ability to ensure accuracy of reports and analysis under tight time deadlines.  Additionally, being able to multi-task and work on projects with little direction is required.

Responsibilities:

• Take lead in training management and production level employees to use manufacturing tools to drive top plant performance.
• Performing the role of Back-up Payroll Coordinator. Maintaining proficiency in all payroll processes, reports, and SAP HR transactions
• Oversight and analysis of Plant Inventory Processes for Manufacturing, Warehouse, and Storeroom.
• Oversight of plant GR/IR receipt issues, working with outside groups in commodities, purchasing, and scheduling to solve receipt issues in a timely manner.
• Oversight of Plant Sarbanes Oxley Inventory checks, ensuring that the plant achieves compliance with corporate standards for inventory completeness.
• Oversight of the Plant Fixed Assets, including all Sarbanes Oxley testing, analyzing, and following up on all issues or requests pertaining to our plant fix asset management and procedures.
• Miscellaneous Analysis:  Perform miscellaneous reports, special projects and analysis as required on an ongoing basis

Production Reporting and Analytics: 

• Support the Accounting Manager in ensuring that operators and plant personnel are using LPR to drive top plant performance.  Assist in performing plant analytics, and analysis of anomalies and variances to enable the plant to address issues and improve performance.
• Assume responsibility for utilizing data analysis created above to determine causes of performance shortfalls.  Work with Manufacturing Department and use production data to focus Plant efforts on significant long and short-term causes of downtime, including whether downtime is driven by employee or mechanical issues.
• Accumulate rework, waste, and overweight information on per line basis.  Issue performance reports that highlight performance shortfalls to applicable Plant users.  Work with Manufacturing and Plant Management to determine causes for significant long and short term performance shortfalls on Key Performance Indicators and focus efforts on overcoming shortfalls.
• Report on various performance analysis statistics.  These statistics will include line mix and production pounds.  Use this analysis to assist in various outlook submissions to Corporate Finance.

Analytical & Profit Plan Support:

• Support Admin Services and other Plant disciplines in completing the annual profit plan ($ value added budget) while proofing all profit plan inputs with appropriate check & balance techniques.  Tasks will include:
• Support review of standards for planning process including case outputs, crewing, waste, overweight, & rework.
• Creation of and input to spreadsheets to allow cost center managers to prepare detail of budgets for upcoming year.
• Review and verify accuracy of charges to all Plant cost centers.  Follow up with Cost Center Managers from outside of the Plant on unusual charges and resolve incorrect charges.
• Linking of budget package, which provides summary of relevant profit plan details for Management review, to supporting detail.
• Completion of other budget analysis as necessary

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Comfortable with periodic Flexible Work Hours (Physical Inventories, Month-end Close, Budgeting)
• Advanced knowledge of SAP or similar ERP Financial Accounting software
• Advanced Spreadsheet Skills – Excel
• Advanced Accounting Systems & Practices
• Advanced Analytical Ability
• Detailed understanding of basic accounting principles
• Understanding of SOX processes
• Understanding of inventory controls & overall internal control concepts and analytics
• Adaptable/Flexible (competing & shifting priorities)
• Results oriented
• Strong interpersonal relations abilities
• Strong collaboration skills
• Strong problem solving & decision-making abilities

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: 

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or other related major required

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of accounting experience required. 4 or more years of Accounting experience related to Manufacturing is strongly preferred.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans