Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Financial Strategist? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!
Responsibilities
Financial Strategist
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Job Summary:
The Financial Strategist, oversees the finance activities for Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America（PECNA which include, but are not limited to, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and Financial Reporting on a global scale. This role is responsible for understanding, interpreting, and predicting all financial activities within PECNA as well as creating summary in English and Japanese for executives. Those activities include overseeing the development of the annual business plan, conducting the monthly financial forecast, presenting the monthly financial results, and establishing financial KPI’s which the business will be held accountable to. Additional activities include leveraging AI to improve financial analysis and reporting, partnering to develop financial strategic frameworks, influencing senior and executive stakeholders to continuously improve the organization which includes working with Cost Accounting to understand Standard Costs; working with the Operations team to understand the manufacturing costs and addressing deviations from the business plans. The successful candidate for this position will report directly to our VP/Sr Manager of Finance in PECNA management team and play an instrumental role in the financial future of the company.
Essential Duties:
- Partner with teams in company-wide projects to prepare financial analysis and documents to global executives on both strategic and tactical matters
- Lead and partner with the VP/Sr Manager of Finance in PECNA on strategic opportunities to invest or explore to ensure the continued growth (profit and cash) of PECNA
- Lead strategic projects optimizing AI and new systems to improve data-driven decision making from reactive to proactive (real-time).
- Create financial reports in English and Japanese for executives gathered from multiple sites
- Develop monthly and quarterly management reporting packages including forecast, closing, and business planning for senior leadership
- Proactively review and ensure accuracy for such packages and present for the global executives.
- Ensure proper perspective on short- and long-term financial outlooks of MEBD with appropriate countermeasures implemented to address any risks to achieving corporate objectives including Midterm Planning, Annual Business Planning, Monthly Forecasting activities, and Variance Explanations
- Influence senior and/or executive stakeholders to ensure countermeasures are properly acted upon to achieve targets; advising CFO and VP of Finance of concerns and recommend alternatives
- Develop financial ‘continuous improvement’ mindset within members of finance and non-finance communities to better understand each other and progress initiatives with a ‘financial lens’
- Work closely with finance teams in multiple sites including those in Panasonic Corporation in Japan, and proactively communicate to mitigate any risks of having challenges and issues
- Establish the fixed asset management process and structure from importing from oversees to capitalizing, as well as verifying physical asset
- Establish standard controls and procedures for all key activities such as those listed above
- Develop Financial Dashboard highlighting critical KPI’s for Sr. Leadership
- Maintains, reviews, and communicates cost center expenses in conjunction with Accounting Team, ensuring proper documentation and system entries
- Co-lead financial system implementation from requirements to post-implementation (e.g. AI, EPM)
- Organize complex accounting procedures for specific transactions in the U.S. in consultation with accountants, and incorporate them into accounting practices, including the establishment of practical workflows at each location (e.g., IRA grants and state government grant support)
- Provide guidance to Operations on impact of decisions being made to with financial implications, as well as schedules and planning between U.S. and Japan
- Efficiently and effectively utilize established resources and tools, as well as network of people to complete work in a timely fashion with utmost accuracy
- Other responsibilities may be assigned by leadership as required including but not limited to, translating, organizing documents, and processing invoices
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees’, wearing PPE is a possibility and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education:
- Required: Basic/Required: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field
- Preferred: None
Essential Qualifications
- Minimum of 7+ years of direct experience on Executive Reporting in both English and Japanese
- Minimum 10 years of working experience in Finance or Accounting in multi-national organizations located either in U.S., or Japan
- Must have working-level knowledge of the English and Japanese languages, including reading, writing, and speaking in both languages
- Obtains certification(s) as the U.S. Certified Public Accountant (USCPA), and/or Nissho Bookkeeping Level 2
- Proven record of FP&A and Financial Reporting experience
- Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, or another fully integrated ERP system
- Knowledge and experience working with AI tools and EPM systems (e.g. implement and scale)
- Able to work with all levels of the leadership team as high as CEO
- Strong customer service skills including excellent verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills
- Ability to interpret and understand procedures and governmental regulations
- Capable of handling confidential information in a responsible manner
- Ability to respond to inquiries from internal customers in a timely manner
- Flexibility and multi-tasking capabilities
- Highly organized and able to follow a systematic method of performing a task
- Ability to communicate effectively with fellow team members and members of other departments
- Ability to cooperate and collaborate with diverse teams including those overseas in Japan
- undefined
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally when requested Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate well at all levels of the organization
- Able to influence change without direct authority
- Demonstrate ability to take initiative, successfully handle and prioritize multiple competing assignments, and effectively manage deadlines·
- Resilient, self-motivated and able to work well under pressure
- Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
- Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
- Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
- Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
- Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
- Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
- Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
- Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
- Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
- On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us. Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one. As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs. Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions. We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact. In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer. We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required. 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 law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America. R-107387
