Senior Accountant

About Zep Inc.

Zep Inc. is a leading manufacturer of cleaning solutions for businesses and consumers with operations across the U.S, Canada, and Europe. Our purpose is to make the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive. To fulfill our purpose, we focus on understanding and solving cleaning needs for consumers, as well as business customers across a variety of segments including transportation, industrial, institutional, and food & beverage. We also have a strong presence in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) segment, where we develop products to help consumers and businesses maintain a clean and safe environment. Our products can be found online and at retail shelves at outlets like Home Depot, Amazon, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Grainger, HD Supply, Walmart, and many others. We market our products under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep, Enforcer, Misty, TimeMist, TimeWick, and Country Vet. Zep was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. In 2021, Zep became the official cleaning partner of Atlanta United FC.

Job Description:

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role will work closely with other finance, accounting and functional leaders and provide key support to the business unit leaders and other Finance personnel.
• Direct the month-end close process, covering multiple business units, legal entities, and systems.
• Lead the transition, training and developing of offshore accounting resources. Provide ongoing direction and act as a resource to offshore resources to ensure complete, accurate, and timely completion of work.
• Assist in leading, developing, coaching, and provide regular feedback to the Corporate Accounting team leadership team
• Ensure all company financial records are properly maintained. Ensure the implementation of new guidance is appropriately planned, documented, tested, communicated, and implemented timely and accurately.
• Responsible for creating, implementing and refining policies and procedures to optimize efficiencies related to close activities.
• Assist with reviewing journal entries and account reconciliations prepared by the offshore team to ensure they are prepared timely and monitors the accuracy of the completed work by the offshore team. Ensure that follow-up and resolution of reconciling items occurs in a timely manner.
• Assist with monthly balance sheet analysis
• Assist with narrative and key control updates and monitor and modify as necessary an adequate private company control environment.
• Assist with projects related to business integration, system conversions, or other significant business issues as directed by the Corporate Controller
• Identify and drive process improvements considering and working through impacts on other departments.
• Assist business partners and external customers with reports and information requests.
• Assist with the completion of external audit schedules and support, as well as the related communication with external auditors.
• Lead the execution of accounting and reporting special projects and needs.
• Manage self, and other members of the accounting team including offshore team to consistently meet published deadlines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent required in accounting. MBA or CPA preferred.
• 2-3 years of experience in corporate accounting (may include cost accounting, audit, or financial reporting).
• Prior experience with working with offshore accounting resources required.
• Large ERP system experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment. SAP preferred. Navision and/or Peachtree helpful. Blackline helpful. Host Analytics helpful.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial systems/processes, and internal controls.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Drive and initiative to pursue high standards, focus on meaningful results, and demonstrate consistent and persistent contribution to the organization.
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite products (Word, PPT). Advanced Excel preferred.

Our Values

At Zep, we have developed a set of values focused on bringing even greater cohesion to our workplace. As part of this plan, we introduced a values framework called S.P.E.E.D. to align with our purpose of making the planet cleaner, safer, and more productive.

• Stewardship: We continuously improve the safety of our people and products, and we protect the planet by innovating solutions to reduce our environmental impact.

• Passion for Problem Solving: We listen to our customers and actively work to find solutions for unique situations. We think creatively to innovate and seize opportunities that will drive growth and make all our customers' and consumers' lives better.

• Empowerment: We encourage and lead our people to be accountable by equipping them to make decisions and own the outcome

• Expertise: We create innovative solutions and partnerships that are relevant to service our communities and customers.

• Doing the Right Thing: We expect our people to understand ethical boundaries and be inclusive of other backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives. Demonstrating honesty, respect and integrity in all actions is always expected.

Zep Inc. is an organization that is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages all interested candidates, including women, minorities, & former military personnel to apply. It is the policy of Zep Inc. that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, Zep Inc. provides full employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, ancestry, or veteran status or any other distinction outlined in all applicable federal, state, and local laws.