Senior Financial Controller

Cma Cgm - Long Beach, CA

Full-time - Senior

Long Beach, CA

Support Activities for Transportation

About the position

The Senior Financial Controller at CMA CGM is a pivotal role that oversees all aspects of the Finance Department, directly reporting to the CFO of APL Lines. This position is responsible for ensuring that all financial deadlines and deliverables are met across multiple reporting structures. The Senior Financial Controller will perform ongoing risk assessments on financial processes and validate that proper internal controls and segregation of duties are applied to all procedures and policies. This role is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the financial reporting and accounting activities of the company, ensuring compliance with established policies and group guidelines. In addition to managing the local finance team, the Senior Financial Controller will partner with global shared service centers to establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the finance department. Building constructive relationships with other departments within APL, the CMA CGM Group, and the company's partners is essential to drive financial performance, process improvements, and add value to the organization. The role also involves monitoring and analyzing profit and loss (P&L) fluctuations against the budget, reporting variances to senior management, and assisting with cost control initiatives. The Senior Financial Controller will lead the annual budgeting process, coordinating requirements with senior leadership and ensuring consolidation within group deadlines. Responsibilities also include overseeing the accounts payable process, ensuring accurate and timely recording of supplier invoices, and reviewing bank reconciliations for accuracy. The position serves as the primary contact for internal and external audits and is responsible for establishing or updating procedures to ensure adequate segregation of duties and internal controls. Regular risk analysis on balance sheet accounts is also a key responsibility, ensuring that proper processes exist for review and audit.

Responsibilities

• Manage local Finance team and partner with global shared service centers to meet all deliverables and deadlines; establish and monitor Finance department KPIs.
• Establish and maintain constructive and beneficial relationships with other departments within APL, the Group, and the company's partners to drive the organization's financial performance, process improvement, and value to the Group; serve as business partner to the senior leadership team.
• Responsible for the Company's accounting and financial reporting activities, including accuracy, completeness and compliance with established policies and Group guidelines.
• Monitor and analyze P&L fluctuations vs budget; regularly report variances to senior management; assist with cost control and cost avoidance initiatives in both DRC, crew travel and G&A related expense.
• Lead the annual budgeting process; coordinate requirements with Senior Leadership, APL Lines, and CMA Ships; ensure consolidation within Group deadlines.
• Oversee accounts payable process; ensure supplier invoices are recorded accurately and timely and proper approvals in all systems are obtained prior to payment.
• Review bank reconciliations for accuracy; ensure head office BR deadlines are met.
• Monitor intercompany activity; ensure proper reporting and matching with other entities of the Group.
• Ensure proper accounting and reporting of tax related transactions and declarations.
• Serve as primary contact for internal and external audits.
• Establish or update procedures and processes to ensure adequate segregation of duties and internal controls; perform regular risk analysis on balance sheet accounts and ensure proper processes exist for review and audit of same.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting; MBA or other evidence of advanced knowledge of accounting and finance preferred; minimum of 10 years of management experience in a corporate accounting/finance environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; leading by example.
• Ability to work well under pressure independently; perform and manage multiple tasks simultaneously; meet deadlines.
• Solid analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite Products (MS Word, EXCEL, etc.).
• Teamwork - show commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Respect - extending dignity and respect to all people.
• Integrity - fostering trust and a positive work environment.
• Innovation - bringing creativity to the workplace.