Sr. COPA Manager (Hybrid)

Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor to Life™ for more than 220 years. As one of the leading makers of vinegars, condiments, and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. We are committed to following our two core principles: continuously challenging the status quo and delivering only the finest products for our customers. Our leadership seeks out, embraces, and implements ideas for improvement from all of its employees. Transparency and accountability are two key factors that drive our company’s overall management approach.

We are looking for people who are seeking to deliver their best so that we can deliver ours. We’re dedicated to maximizing the potential of our greatest assets—our team members. That is reflected in our ongoing commitment to recruit, develop, reward, and retain our talented, multicultural workforce. We hope to see you as part of our team’s future success!

Job Description Summary

The Senior COPA Manager will manage financial and accounting operations for plant activities, focusing on inventory management, operations controlling, capital management, risk/opportunities management, and S&OP. The person in this role is a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to lead and mentor a team. Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial data collection, maintenance, and analysis is crucial. They also manage data visibility and inventory, support the S&OP process, and maintain general ledger, inventory, costing, and supply chain accounting for Mizkan America, Inc. Additionally, the Senior COPA Manager will serve as a strategic partner, manage cost accounting, demand/supply planning, MRP/material procurement, contribution margin analysis, capital management, risk management, and financial reporting.

Overview

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage financial and accounting operations for plant activities, emphasizing Inventory management, Operations Controlling, Capital Management, Risk/Opps Management, and S&OP.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data collection, maintenance, and analysis.
• Manage data visibility and inventory, including book value, provisions, and reporting on slow-moving and obsolete items.
• Support the S&OP process, collaborating with Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Plant Production Planning, and Procurement.
• Maintain general ledger, inventory, costing, and supply chain accounting for Mizkan America, Inc., and oversee site inventory control.
• Serve as a strategic partner, manage cost accounting, demand/supply planning, MRP/material procurement, contribution margin analysis, capital management, risk management, and financial reporting.
• Optimize conversion costs, internal controls, and process improvements for One Mizkan operations.
• Align goals, priorities, and action plans with the VP of Finance & Accounting, VP of Operations, and Plant/Division Controllers.
• Lead operation budget and forecast processes, and monthly P&L/KPI reporting.
• Unify product cost methodology and streamline cost tracking using a standardized BI/reporting system.
• Standardize and simplify processes across plants, sharing best practices.
• Improve working capital at plants, including supplies, stocks, and spare parts.
• Develop and train plant controllers.
• Initiate cost improvements, resource savings, and optimization processes.
• Oversee plant Capex budget, including Capital requests and monitoring project expenditures.
  
  

Cost and Operations:

• Identifying and evaluating specific financial risks (incl. Monthly Risk and Opportunity (R&O) reporting).
• Participating in internal and external financial audits, and validating, documenting, implementing audit recommendations.
• Overseeing the financial management of Plant operations, including the development of consolidated financial reports, validation and monitoring of investment projects, and post-analysis of financial performance.
• Ensuring the upkeep of financial reference frameworks, routes, and dimensions within ERP D365 and other functional systems, while also monitoring the reliability of financial interfaces and data integrity.
• Conducts balance sheet general ledger account reconciliations for plant operations, covering inventory management and plant expenditures (e.g., detailed Monthly Account Recs).
• Supervising the production and completion of MA financial reporting, management reports (e.g., Production Yield/MUV/Product Write-offs/Scrap change), and R&O analyses (e.g., Monthly R&O report).
• Examine the recurring financial outcomes in the C.O.P.A. area and offer comprehensive insights and functional commentary (e.g., Demand forecast drive conversion cost changes vs. budget plan).
• Participating in all stages of the operational investment management process in accordance with Mizkan's financial guidelines and regulations.
  
  

Planning & Analysis:

• Manages and organizes all planning processes (Strategic Plan, Operational Plan, Budget, Forecast) in all factories and ensure that these processes are running smoothly.
• Performs and/or coordinate analyses that are necessary to understand the economic situation in the factories, upstream of planning processes, including cost position, strategic and operational levers, periodic trends.
• Implements guidelines, ensuring plans, budgets, and forecasts are properly developed and executed – support the FP&A team in the overall budget process.
• Monitors production and updates standard cost prices based on the budget.
• Addresses the management and analytical needs of operations.
• Benchmarks key performance metrics of the factory against the plant network (e.g., flash report).
• Suggests performance improvement ideas with clear roles and responsibilities.
• Measures the economic impact of operational levers within factories.
• Oversees ad-hoc analyses, ensuring methodological rigor and validating conclusions.
• Controls the quality of information extraction, analysis consistency, and result communication.
• Performs analyses for operational hierarchy, communicates results, and monitors action plans.
  
  

Qualifications and Competencies - Minimum degree and experience required:

• BS/BA in a Finance, Accounting, or a related field; MBA preferred; or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 10-15 years of relevant work experience, significant management roles, with consumer-packaged goods experience as a plus.
• Experience managing Controllers across several locations is required.
• Demonstrated strategic thinker with an in-depth understanding of financial processes, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead and mentor a team.
• Knowledge of reporting systems like D365, BI, and Financial Reporter required.
• Exhibits a professional demeanor; courteous, friendly, well-organized, and proactive.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• Proven leadership, management, and team-building skills.
• Be able to work with cross-functional teams and is comfortable interacting with senior management.
• Willing to challenge the status quo, committed to providing the best services to our cross-functional teams, and capable of driving change.
• Results-oriented and pragmatic. Customer service orientation (internal and external), and collaborative ability.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel with pivot tables and V-look-up.
• Strong understanding of USGAAP; IFRS knowledge is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, experience with spreadsheets, databases, and data interpretation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Exceptional presentation skills, capable of delivering presentations across all organizational levels.
  
  

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $118,900 to $164,400.

Compensation is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills and experience. Short-Term Incentive and other forms of compensation may also be provided as part of a total compensation package.

A full range of medical, dental, vision, 401K plus up-to-four percent (4%) match, profit sharing, wellness program, paid parental leave, long-term-care insurance, critical accident insurance, short- and long-term disability and education assistance are also available.