JOB OVERVIEW

The Finance & Accounting Manager’s responsibilities include developing and maintaining accounting practices and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with Japanese GAAP and corporate policies and procedures. This position addresses tight deadlines and a multitude of accounting activities. The Finance & Accounting Manager is also required to conduct costing statement analysis, develop & analyze budget variances, and set action plans. Another key role of the Finance & Accounting Manager is to propose and execute profit improvement plans.
This position is highly visible and requires a strong leader with the ability to prioritize, plan, and firmly direct the department.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.
• Five to seven years of work experience in accounting.
• Automotive manufacturing experience.
• Supervisory / management experience.
• Global company and multi-currency operation experience.
• Public accounting experience or a CPA title is preferred.

• Financial Reporting & Compliance
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly and quarterly financial consolidation reports for the parent company in Japan, including reclassifications from GAAP to J-GAAP.
• Manage the month-end and quarter-end close processes, including journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies to maintain accuracy and consistency in financial statements.
• Support J-SOX compliance through regular testing and documentation, and assist with external audit coordination and internal control reviews.
• Accounting Operations & Oversight
• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger maintenance, revenue and expense recognition, and transaction accuracy.
• Supervise the Accounts Payable function, ensuring appropriate controls over vendor payments, cash management, and related processes.
• Review and approve reconciliations, schedules, and journal entries prepared by accounting staff.
• Identify and correct discrepancies or posting errors in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Team Leadership & Staff Development
• Lead and support a team of accountants by assigning tasks, reviewing work, and providing training on systems, procedures, and best practices.
• Conduct performance evaluations, offer feedback and coaching, and support employee development plans.
• Promote adherence to departmental timelines, policies, and quality standards through clear communication and goal setting.
• Budgeting & Financial Analysis
• Assist in the preparation of the annual budget and perform ongoing monitoring of actual performance versus budget.
• Analyze financial results to identify variances, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Propose and help implement cost-saving and process enhancement initiatives.
• Systems & Process Improvement
• Partner with IT to test and implement updates or enhancements to financial systems and tools.
• Recommend and help implement improvements to accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Ensure documentation is up to date and reflects current best practices and compliance requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, Customer Service, Warehouse) to ensure accurate financial integration and support operational goals.
• Act as a point of contact for finance-related inquiries and support interdepartmental process alignment.
• Confidentiality & Ethics
• Exercise a high degree of confidentiality and discretion, particularly with access to sensitive company and personnel information.