Operations Analyst / Accountant - Houston, TX

Summary and Primary Responsibilities

The Operations Analyst/Accountant will be responsible for day-to-day operations support in regard to Accounting and Financial Analysis.  During the month you will work on weekly forecasts and perform variance analysis and function as a financial partner for your profit centers. At month end you will assist operations managers in analyzing their revenue and expenses, while providing accounting support with journal entries and reconciliation.  Through the use of the various data systems Watco utilizes you will generate reports and analysis on an adhoc basis.  With the below essential duties and responsibilities, the Operations Analyst/Accountant will emphasize operation efficiency and profitability while pursuing opportunities for financial knowledge transfer and skillset growth of the operations team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• First point of contact for operational support including:
  • establishing a solid comprehension of divisional operations 
  • cultivate a partnership and work with divisional leadership and other Watco resources to develop solutions
• Possess a thorough understanding of operations at each terminal within the division
• Interpret monthly financial results and be able to understand drivers for both revenue and expense as it applies to operations.  Ensure performance to both divisional and business segment annual goals and objectives.
• Weekly forecasts including:
  • template preparation and maintenance
  • labor analysis
  • review and consolidate individual results, divisional report preparation and distribution, 
  • ongoing financial training for managers
  • provide forecast updates in the absence of a terminal manager and occasionally lead operation call in the absence of leadership
  • provide high level divisional commentary to communicate variance drivers for leadership reporting purposes
• Month End Accounting support
  • Review financial statement at month end for accuracy
  • Prepare detailed account analysis and journal entries for month end accruals
  • Prepare month end commentary for review
• Budgets including
  • set and lead divisional budget development schedule (capital, revenue, expense) to complete within consolidated business segment timeframe 
  • template preparation, maintenance, and revisions for all terminals within the division
  • uploading capital projects into the cap-x system
  • revenue, labor, and expense analysis to ensure budget accuracy 
  • working one on one with managers to develop financial knowledge as it applies to their budgets 
  • lead divisional review calls and provide feedback or suggestions to support or revise budgets
  • prepare expense narratives to support budgets
  • participate in consolidated business segment review as needed
• Cap-x support and administration including:
  • interpreting capital requirements to determine spend category (maintenance, productivity, growth) and obtain or prepare financial analysis to support projects when necessary
  • load projects into cap-x system including justification and timelines
  • ongoing forecast modifications within the cap-x system for timing and spend during the life of the project
  • review actual spend to forecast and provide feedback to leadership as necessary
  • participate in monthly reporting for business segment and have a thorough understanding of division’s capital impact on the business segment as a whole
  • drive timely spend within the division as necessary in order to meet Watco expectations
• Proformas/financial model assistance
• Adhoc costing/operations analysis projects
• Divisional integration lead for new operations
• Be responsive to other Watco operating units and their needs.
• Work closely with the full team to develop and standardize work methodologies amongst the divisions where possible, promote skill development and knowledge transfer, share and drive process improvements that provide efficiencies.
• Complete other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Preferred 2+ years of Accounting/Financial Analysis experience
• 4-year college degree in Accounting or Finance is preferred or commensurate industry experience
• Must possess strong Excel skills
• Be able to extract and merge data from multiple, unrelated IT systems and convert it into summarized, meaningful information for decision making purposes
• Experience with SAP preferred but not required
• Strong organization and time management skills with a focus on quality, accuracy, and confidentiality
• Self-starter capable of working independently and making decisions with limited supervision
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment

Language Skills

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and through analytics in response to questions or requests from customers, team members, and leadership

Reasoning Ability

Ability to use quantitative reasoning skills and to think critically to solve complex problems and provide solutions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  The team member frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The team member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Not likely