Financial Assistant

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis Heritage Dairy, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Financial Assistant based in Tulare.

This role reports to the Plant Controller. Under the leadership of the Controller this position is responsible for maintaining the integrity of all financial policies, maintaining internal controls, establishing operating budgets, and accurately forecasting and reporting financial performance for that unit. The position is responsible for the financial performance of the facility; therefore he/she must drive accountability and search for ways to bridge any gaps.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily:

• Support delivery of financial targets for the plant by developing controllable cost productivity pipeline, analyzing costs to drive reductions, creating action plans to close gaps. 

• Lead execution of payroll cycle & accounts payable process. 

• Work with POD product costing group as required to develop new product costing models; monitor and analyze new product startups at plant 

• Develop annual budget (AOP), ensuring accurate costs by department/cost component and accurate creation of financial standards (BOM). 

• Ensure completion of month end close requirements (journal entries, SAP, FAC Review) and monthly reporting of results including analysis of the drivers of results. 

• Provide oversight and auditing of operational BOM accuracy throughout the year. 

• Be an active member and contributor to plant manager and leadership team, including training and feedback to users of financial information and support of frontline leaders. 

• Establish and maintain internal controls consistent with corporate requirements and good business practice. 

• Provide leadership for financial integrity, strong controls and transactional activities, including SAP daily/weekly/monthly responsibilities. 

• Show support for all department and plant initiatives, including quality and safety. Volunteer to lead or co-lead initiatives.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Degree in Accounting/Finance or similar degree 

Strategic Thinking Skills 

Technical Learning Ability 

Solid understanding of General Accounting and Cost Accounting principles. 

High level of integrity and ability to maintain strong controls environment. 

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to work with information 

Strong ERP and financial system (SAP, Hyperion) background preferred. 

Proficient with software such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, including the ability to create, modify and ensure accuracy of complex spreadsheets. 

Excellent organization and time management skills. 

Quality Orientation – Attention to detail 

Adaptability – Maintaining effectiveness in the face of changing priorities and tasks, ability to manage multiple assignments. 

Teamwork/Collaboration – Working effectively with those outside the formal line of authority to accomplish organizational goals.

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Proactively work in a safe manner in the context of performing the functions of the position.

Report any unsafe conditions or practices to management so they may be appropriately addressed. 

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.