Director of Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting

Job Description:

There’s never been a better time to join our team. The thousands of ESAB associates located around the world share a common set of goals and values that drive our success and unparalleled innovation in fabrication technology and specialty gas control equipment. At ESAB, we value and respect everyone’s uniqueness and know that our experiences as individuals strengthen our company. And we know that our ability to collaborate, transform, and empower one another is what makes us unstoppable.

With our culture of continuous improvement and innovation and our commitment to living our values, working at ESAB is a career experience like no other. We have more than 9,000 passionate associates in locations across six continents, and we empower our team members to shape the world we imagine every day.

If you have a strong desire to be part of a team that delivers cutting-edge innovations and solutions and positively impacts the community, please check out our career opportunities. We help serve a diverse range of industries such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, robotics, shipbuilding, and so much more.

Position Overview

The Director of Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting will be part of the Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer’s financial reporting and controls group leading impact in the areas of global accounting policy, external financial reporting and compliance. The individual will have a strong executive presence coordinating up and down the corporate finance chain, as well as across different corporate functions and business platforms to drive the company’s financial success.

This is a hybrid position based 3 days a week in North Bethesda, MD.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Technical Accounting
  • Perform technical accounting research and advise on complex accounting policy and issues across all areas of US GAAP including debt/equity transactions, consolidation (analyzing VIEs and identifying Primary Beneficiaries), revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, consolidations, business combinations, divestitures, leases, impairment, derivatives, foreign currency accounting, and cash flow presentation
  • Prepare technical accounting memorandums documenting research performed and conclusions reached
  • Support the entity-wide implementation of technical accounting matters, including preparing journal entries, drafting accounting policies and procedures,
  • Leverage deep understanding of GAAP accounting principles and SEC Regulation S-X compliance in support of financial accounting and reporting considerations related to transactions.
  • Keep informed of new and evolving accounting standards and topics and lead entity-wide implementation of new accounting pronouncements
  • Communicate and support technical accounting analyses and conclusions with Controller, CFO, Audit Committee and external auditors.
  • Provide periodic training for global financial reporting group
• Complex Transactions Support
  • Conduct research and provide guidance on proposed complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs and divestitures, to the Controller, CFO, business platforms and Audit Committee
  • Leverage deep understanding of GAAP accounting principles and SEC Regulation S-X compliance to advise and support the financial accounting and reporting considerations related to complex transactions
  • Lead the accounting approach and analysis of complex transactions and business combinations, including the impacts on closing balance sheet and purchase accounting from mergers and acquisitions
• Financial Reporting
  • Responsible for the Company’s external filings, namely periodic SEC reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)
  • Lead all aspects of external financial reporting to deliver filings in a complete, accurate and timely manner including but not limited to the following:
    • Delivery of the primary financial statements and footnote disclosures
    • Develop and execute against the periodic financial reporting calendar
    • Manage business platforms and executive management to ensure filing timelines are met
    • Respond to SEC comment letters, as appropriate
  • Assist with operational accounting matters and financial reporting process improvements
  • Work closely with VP of Investor Relations to ensure other external stakeholder presentations are complete, accurate and consistent with the company’s strategic messaging
  • Coordinate with external auditors in all aspects of financial reporting
• Employee Benefit Plans
  • Lead the Employee Benefit Plan team and delivery of the company’s US 401k and defined benefit plan, and a main contact point internally and with service providers (actuary, trustee, auditors) including regulatory agency audits (IRS)
  • Processes to oversee include but are not limited to the following:
    • Support HR in ensuring approved amendments are properly implemented into the plan’s operations
    • Participate in Retirement Plan Committee Meetings, as requested, including preparation of financial presentations and recommendations for the plan to the Committee
    • Ensure regulatory filings for plans are complete, accurate and on time
    • Ensure plans acquired through acquisitions continue to meet regulatory reporting requirements until plans are merged or closed. Evaluate and administer the finance aspects of merger activities
    • Prepare financial performance slides for pension trustee group on a semi-annual basis
• Stock Compensation
  • Lead the accounting, reporting and maintenance of the company’s equity plan activity. This would include oversight of the following:
    • Review of stock grants and associated values
    • Review of technical accounting determination for modifications, new awards, etc.
    • Work within Fidelity system to track expense, dilution and outstanding awards
• The Best Team Wins
  • Oversee direct reports and any temporary resources
  • Create career development plans for direct reports
  • Actively coach and seek out challenging opportunities for staff to develop internal talent pool for future career growth
  • Ensure completion of goals established at beginning of year
• Process Improvement and AI Innovation
  • Leverage business system tools to lead continuous improvement initiatives within the financial reporting and control function
  • Support transformation of finance and/or accounting functions, including accounting and operational process improvements, integration support, target operating model design, and RPA/data analytics initiatives
  • Contribute to developing and implementing company-approved, AI-enabled solutions; stay informed about emerging AI tools and techniques and collaborate with firm leadership to identify compliant opportunities to enhance client solutions and internal processes
• Given the dynamic nature of the business, the individual will also work on special projects as they arise, identified by the CFO and Corporate Controller, which have included in the past, due diligence, system implementation, acquisition integration and technical accounting presentation

Qualifications:

• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reporting rules and regulations, technical guidance, and related industry publications
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) – precise, clear, unambiguous and comfortable with communicating at all levels from Board level above down to staff level below
• Team player with demonstrated ability to lead and influence others inside and outside of their direct-reporting lines by developing strong relationships with legal, HR, and finance personnel at business units
• Tough-Minded Commitment to Results
  • Multi-task their own workload and the workload of multiple direct reports
  • Retaining ownership and accountability for the team performance – whether directly or indirectly involved
  • Improving the performance of the team and dealing with underperformance.
  • Prioritize and drive results in a fast-paced dynamic environment

• Ability to leverage AI and automation to optimize accounting processes, enhance reporting accuracy, and drive operational efficiency

Education Requirements:

• An undergraduate degree in Accounting, with a Masters in Accounting a plus

Technical Requirements:

• Certified Public Accountant, active
• In depth knowledge of accounting standards (US GAAP and/or IFRS)
• Hands-on experience – OR – significant exposure to various ERP systems and tools including SAP BPC, Fidelity PSW, Workiva

Experience Requirements:

• 12 years or more of extensive experience and strong foundation at SEC registrants built from a combination of professional services (public accounting) and hands-on controllership experience at public companies

Mobility & Travel Requirements:

• Travel may be required on an as needed basis (could be domestic or international) but is not expected be recurring or on a regular basis, approximately <10%
• Willingness to relocate if future opportunities demand

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):
As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of sex, color, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, age, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), religion, military/veteran status, national origin, marital status, family or caregiver responsibilities, or any other characteristic or status protected by law.

Pay Range: