Warranty Analyst Program Manager

General Summary

Serves as a highly experienced Finance professional and trusted advisor for warranty and campaign financial management. Applies significant accounting, automotive, operational, and analytical expertise to shape functional strategy, improve policies and methodologies, and lead large-scale initiatives involving warranty forecasting, claim and campaign analysis, reclaim recovery, reserve adequacy, and long-term cost control. Influences high-level decisions by translating complex financial and operational information into clear recommendations for Finance leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. Provides functional direction, establishes standards and best practices, mentors other professionals, and drives measurable improvements in financial governance, reporting, controls, and organizational performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead development of the annual business plan framework, assumptions, analytical standards, and review approach for departmental submissions; evaluate financial reasonableness and recommend adjustments to Finance leadership.
• Set functional direction and analytical standards for warranty forecasting, reserve evaluation, claim and campaign analysis, reclaim recovery, and long-term cost management.
• Lead large-scale, high-impact Finance initiatives that improve transparency, controls, accountability, operational efficiency, and financial performance across multiple departments.
• Direct monthly warranty reserve analysis in SAP by evaluating claim trends, units in operation, cost per unit, campaign exposure, engineering considerations, and forecast assumptions.
• Provide thought leadership and strategic recommendations to Finance leadership regarding warranty expense trends, reserve risk, reclaim performance, budget priorities, and corrective actions.
• Lead analysis of current and emerging campaigns, Kia Georgia financial exposure, and reclaimable portions; identify systemic root causes and sustainable cost-reduction opportunities.
• Develop management and executive reporting that converts complex financial and operational data into clear insights, risk assessments, decision options, and recommended actions.
• Lead cross-functional resolution of complex warranty and campaign matters involving Finance, Quality, KUS, Purchasing, Engineering, operating departments, suppliers, auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide functional leadership for month-end accruals, departmental budget analysis, variance review, and management reporting; resolve unusual or financially significant matters.
• Establish and maintain audit-ready documentation, analytical support, control standards, policies, desk manuals, and best practices for warranty, campaign, reclaim, reserve, and related activities.
• Represent Kia Georgia in high-level discussions and significant supplier engagements involving financial exposure, reclaim recovery, settlement approaches, payment terms, assumptions, and controls.
• Mentor senior and developing professionals, share specialized knowledge, set quality standards, and provide direction on complex accounting, forecasting, reclaim, and financial analysis matters.
• Evaluate systemic process and control gaps and lead implementation of scalable policies, frameworks, and preventive solutions that support organizational strategy and sustainable improvement.

The above typical duties are characteristic of this job and demonstrate a level of difficulty and are not intended to list or limit the duties that may be required or assigned to a team member in this classification.

Qualifications & Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field, along with seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressive Accounting or Finance experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably within the automotive industry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated depth in warranty accounting, forecasting, financial analysis, business planning, reserves, campaigns, reclaim recovery, or cross-functional cost management.
• Advanced ability to interpret and apply divisional policies, accounting guidance, financial controls, and business requirements while establishing standards and recommendations for complex or non-routine matters.
• Advanced knowledge of forecasting, accruals and reserves, cost and variance analysis, budgeting, financial reporting, and financial statement impacts across the P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise substantial independent judgment, influence high-level decisions, lead large-scale initiatives, resolve complex cross-functional issues, and shape functional policies and practices.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to those who are able to perform the essential duties of the job.

Specialized Skills and Knowledge Required

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including management-level financial models, analytical frameworks, scenario analysis, and executive reporting; working knowledge of Word and Access.
• ERP experience required; SAP experience strongly preferred. Ability to evaluate financial and operational data and translate results into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale cross-functional initiatives, communicate persuasively with senior leadership and external stakeholders, and build alignment around strategic direction.
• Demonstrated ability to establish methodologies, standards, policies, controls, and best practices that improve organizational performance and long-term financial governance.
• Strong mentoring, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills; able to guide senior professionals and represent the company in significant supplier or external discussions.
• Must be able to work overtime as business needs require.