Finance Director

Employer Fender
Location Sydney
Position Finance Manager
Link Seek

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is a world famous brand with offices across the globe. An American icon, Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence extending beyond the studio and the stage. A Fender is more than an instrument, it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally.

We are searching for a Director of Finance based Alexandria, NSW, Australia.

Position Summary:

 

The Director of Finance is responsible for managing the financial aspects of Fender’s operations for the Australia market. This includes domestic accounting operations, financial statements, compliance with relevant regulations and laws, tax matters and liaising with internal and external counterparts. The Finance Director should have a strong background in finance and accounting, as well as experience in managing financial operations in the distribution business.

 

Essential Functions: 

Financial Reporting

  • Independently plan, direct, and coordinate all day to day domestic accounting operation functions for areas such as fixed assets, prepaid assets and accruals, royalties and licensing, rebates, self-insurance, stock-based compensation, payroll, cash, and allowances and reserves
  • Lead the team to manage the domestic month-end close process. Assure adherence to AU GAAP as well as US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Work closely with other departments to ensure all financial information entered the ERP system is accurate and timely and ready to consolidation
  • Review and post all FMA journal entries and review all reconciliations
  • Lead and manage all the financial accounting operations, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit, and collections
  • Manage staff in accordance with organization’s policies and applicable legislation
  • Manage and review all the inter-company transaction process
  • Build strong relationships with internal customers to become a trusted business partner
  • Analyse financial information, collect information, call attention to trends and report on variances
  • Independently prepare annual financial statements, including related disclosures and footnotes as per AU GAAP and file with ASIC
  • Liaison with international counterparts to ensure consistency of global policies and procedures and provide leadership related to unique transactions. Reviewing the existing policies and procedures at least annually for changes
  • Recommend and implement process improvements to simplify, standardize and streamline financial shared service activities
  • Build and maintain a superior control environment by implementing best practices
  • Review contracts/agreements to ensure proper accounting treatment and payments are made in accordance with the terms
  • Serves as the primary company contact for external audit teams to ensure timely delivery of audit requests and completion on the audit
  • Extensive and effective communication across functions and with senior financial management, including the Corporate Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Treasury Director and financial personnel in our business lines and global operations
  • Work closely with teams across the shared services organisation and in the business lines to identify and implement opportunities for efficiencies

Tax Reporting

  • Serves as the primary company ambassador for tax matters to educate/ support key business unit leaders on the tax issues relevant to operations and planned transactions
  • Responsible for overlooking the tax function and is responsible for federal and multi-state payroll and corporate income tax compliance, Support VP- tax & treasury for transfer pricing matters, providing support in property / land tax compliance, tax research, and financial reporting for income taxes
  • Identifies, evaluates, recommends and implements tax planning opportunities to minimize the Company’s tax liability while working with accounting personnel, external auditors and tax advisors
  • Support CBC reporting and Review of reportable tax positions other ad hoc Tax reporting for transfer pricing and complete tax compliance

Company Law matters / Other Ad Hoc Duties

  • Serves as a primary contact for all company secretarial matters and providing support to external agency for maintaining minutes and other secretarial matters related paperwork
  • Review company structures / turnover to identify changes in the company law’s compliance
  • Responsible for reporting and analysis of Voluntary duty on Transfer pricing and Support duty team to manage compliance on duty
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly finance reports for management. Prepare flash report and present monthly financial reports with the local team and discuss variances
  • Prepare regular and ad-hoc analyses and presentations for Senior Management
  • Initiate, lead, and/or support special projects to reduce costs and/or improve process efficiency
  • Oversight of Payroll and related matters

Education and/or Certifications and/or Training:

  • Required: Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting
  • Required: CPA or CPA equivalent like ACCA

Minimum Professional Experience:

  • Preferred of 3-4 years of experience in FP&A
  • Minimum of 5-8 years of post-qualification relevant work experience, combining both public accounting and/or industry experience, with at least 2-4 years managing people

Business Knowledge, Skill Requirements, and Desired Attributes:

  • Proven business partnering skills supporting global supply chain organizations
  • SAP working knowledge and Hyperion knowledge (Planning, ESSBASE, HFM)
  • Proven analytical abilities
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and management skills
  • Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
  • Knowledge of Six Sigma and/or lean tools to solve problems for specific process improvement initiatives
  • Budgeting and forecasting experience
  • Business process improvement focused
  • Experience in federal and multi-state corporate income tax compliance, international transfer pricing policies, and tax planning as well as knowledge and experience in sales & use taxes and personal property taxes as per Australian Laws
  • Strong technical knowledge of tax accounting, deferred tax accounting and requirements and knowledge of accounting principles and tax compliance
  • Ability to research tax issues and present findings in a clear and concise manner
  • Effective and decisive under pressure
  • Ability to manage multiple processes and projects
  • Demonstrated advanced financial analytics using US GAAP and AU GAAP
  • Advanced business partnership
  • Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently
  • Financial management of P&L, Balance Sheet and operating cash flow
  • Oversight of budget, forecasting, and financial management for all aspects of the business
  • Highly, highly analytical
  • Proficiency in technical accounting research related to the proper application of accounting pronouncements, including the implementation of new accounting pronouncements.
  • Functional understanding of intercompany transactions and foreign currency translations
  • Supporting the ongoing marketing, analytics, key business KPIs, and channel growth

About Fender Musical Instruments:

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Presonus®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby®, and Groove Tubes®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com.  Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.