Location: Hybrid at Chicago, IL

Opportunity

Under the direction of the Group President - K&B International and New Ventures the Chief Financial Officer, K&B & New Ventures has overall responsibility for the finance-related matters of the one of the largest segments of business in Kohler Co. Serves as a strong advisor to the Group President and the entire K&B Group Leadership Team and ensures that financial perspectives are understood and considered before all major/critical decisions are made.

The CFO-K&B Intl & New Ventures has solid line responsibility for Controller K&B International Cost and Business Development and Finance Manager, and dotted line responsibility for responsibility for six Business Unit controllers in China, EMEA, South Asia and Asia Pacific, Northeast Asia, Latin America, and Luxury & Wellness Brand.

Executes the role in alignment with Kohler Co. policies, procedures within a matrixed organizational structure. The position reports directly to the Group President – K&B International and Kohler Ventures. Must maintain the highest level of integrity and candor to all key management levels of the business and Kohler at large. Maintain a constant focus on profitability and cash flow driving continual improvements within the Group.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure delivering fin plan and strategic plan goals to double our sales and operating margins in 5 years
• Study, close and integrate new acquisitions
• Be a business partner ensuring financial decisions are sound and always considered
• Advise the management of the group and Kohler Co. from a financial perspective.
• Interpret and communicate in a straightforward manner. Analyze and quantify business activities and decisions in financial terms using Kohler Co. methodologies.
• Train and leverage support staff in these roles.
• Identify trends in operating performance, owns cost controls and drives corrective actions.
• Identifying and helping to execute operating margin improvements to be aligned with publicly traded competitors.
• Maintain constant awareness of incoming cost pressures and alert and help to drive corrective actions. Actions include hedging, pricing, sourcing, etc. Confirm realization with the expectation of driving margin enhancement.
• Manage inventory turns and excess & obsolete levels.
• Overall responsibility for the product and service costing methodologies for the Group including standard cost process where appropriate. The primary focus of these methodologies is to enhance understanding of margin and overall profitability of business segments.
• Responsible for coordinating the annual budgeting, financial planning, and capital planning processes. Responsible for the financial projection consolidation and submission and acts as a key player in the strategic planning and other business planning processes
• Develops the supporting staff including providing knowledge transfer, coaching, constructive feedback, candid appraisal, Leading Boldly.
• It is expected that potential Controller replacements, financial managers, and key financial process owners are being developed and prepared for placement throughout Kohler Co. Likewise, dealing with incompatible associates on a timely basis is also expected.
• Responsible for keeping the financial records in accordance with U.S. GAAP, tax, legal, and Kohler Co. requirements in alignment with Corporate Accounting. These requirements are to be consistently applied from period to period. Maintain the business’s Chart of Accounts in a manner compatible with Kohler Co. requirements. Maintain a timely documented balance sheet reconciliation process.
• Responsible for the financial information reporting for the business. This reporting is to be in accordance with Kohler reporting formats and attributes. The financial information is to be made available to the business and Kohler Co. management on a timely basis.
• The Vice President & Controller - K&B Group is responsible for maintaining consistent presentation of data and for bridging comparative results when changes occur in the reporting.
• Jointly responsible with the Treasurer for the cash management of the business including customer collections, vendor payments, and general cash requirements.
• Responsible for maintaining and enhancing the system of internal controls for the business. Use feedback from internal and external auditors to identify internal control weaknesses.
• Responsible for continuously improving the business’ financial processes from a quality and productivity perspective. Use benchmarking and best practice information to gain perspective, and the use of disciplined continuous improvement techniques is encouraged.
• Responsible for the maintenance, integration, and enhancement of the accounting systems of the business.
• Maintain the highest level of honesty and integrity. Expect and promote that same level of honesty and integrity in the supporting staff.