THE OPPORTUNITY

• Are you ready to bring your extensive accounting and finance experience to a growing organization?
• Do you enjoy being a strategic and hands-on finance, accounting, and human resources leader?
• Are you interested in partnering with business executives to optimize accounting and financial insights?

ABOUT THE COMPANY

For over 35 years, ARI-HETRA has been the #1 choice for quality, safety, value and satisfaction in heavy-duty transportation maintenance equipment. They manufacture and sell dependable, durable and environmentally safe products, including Mobile Column Lifting Systems, Exhaust Extraction Systems and Wheel Service Equipment.

Safety is ARI-HETRA’s number one priority. Safety has always been central to the design of ARI-HETRA systems. They are committed to providing the highest level of safety for the operator, the shop equipment, and the environment. In today’s maintenance garages, heavy-duty shop equipment is required around the clock. ARI-HETRA’s strong backup service is of key importance in reducing downtime. Their warranty, the most comprehensive in the industry, is backed by a factory-trained service network. ARI-HETRA’s nationwide network of certified service representatives is ready to respond quickly and their comprehensive preventative maintenance program designed to meet customer needs.

This position is onsite at the Sharonville office.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Accounting and Finance is a key strategic partner to the President and CEO, bringing wisdom and excellent judgement combined with insightful analytical skills which are finely focused on driving operational and financial success.  This role is also a general business leader with responsibilities for some office operations which connect closely to traditional accounting and finance functions as more fully described below.

This role manages all aspects of the monthly close process and financial reporting, develops accurate budgets and cash flow forecasts, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and contributes to strategic financial decision-making to drive the on-going success of the company. This role has two direct accounting reports and manages five customer service representatives. This role also performs:

Team Leadership & Development

• Build a high-performance team through setting clear expectations, use of simple and meaningful metrics, mentoring, use of individualized periodic objectives, and development plans and strong interpersonal professional relationships. Ensure appropriate cross training of the office team to allow operation during vacations and periods of personnel change.
• As a primary leader in the Ohio office, establish an overall culture characterized by high energy, camaraderie and commitment to excellence and continuous improvement and aligned with ARI Business Principles. Foster attitudes of “customer first,” “winning,” and respect and compassion for all other ARI team members who may primarily be known by phone and email.  Foster a spirit of service to Customers and others at ARI.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Budgeting & Forecasting – Create annual budgets and periodic forecasts as required with sufficient detail to allow accountability and inform decisions for individuals on the leadership team.
• Accounting – Ensure performance of all aspects of day-to-day accounting, payment of payables, invoicing/collection of receivables, coding and recording of transactions, inventory tracking, cost of goods measurement, and internal-control activities, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Month end close should be completed with financial statements and reports released as quickly as possible and as agreed with the President and CEO.
• Cash Flow Management – As possible, optimize cash flow ensuring that liquidity is always sufficient to meet operational needs. Ensure that invoicing and collections processes result in reasonable levels of accounts receivable, low delinquencies, with policies and practices which are well understood and broadly supported within the company and by our customers. Forecast cash flow and cash needs as necessary.
• Financial Controls & Reporting – Develop and implement practices and tools to ensure a fiscally well-controlled yet flexible organization while ensuring that backward financial looking discussions consume only modest time for senior team members. Create regular processes at appropriate weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual intervals to ensure that financial information is understood appropriately to each level and that forward looking action items emerge and are completed as appropriate from such processes.
• Data Analytics & Business Intelligence – Use financial and market data analytics to inform strategic decision-making. Develop operational and financial metrics, publish them in dashboards and bring focus to them in meetings with appropriate stakeholders, performing analysis of such performance to reveal non-obvious underlying drivers.
• Capital Structure & Funding – Recommend and secure capital equipment leases and loans, fund capital expenditures.
• Banking & Lender Relations – Manage relationships with banks and financial institutions for all banking services, credit lines, loans, etc.
• Investment Analysis & Decisions – Evaluate significant investments in equipment, technology, vehicles and facilities, secure real estate leases.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) – Engage in analysis, due diligence, negotiation and ultimate integration of acquisition opportunities.
• Portfolio Company Engagement – As required, assist in the oversight, analysis and other engagement with other companies owned by the owners of ARI.

 Operational Financial Management & Compliance

• Cost Management & Efficiency – In all areas of the business, those you lead and all others, lead the effort to reduce cost. Work with other senior leaders to identify opportunities for cost reduction via process streamlining, Kaisan-type events, sourcing and logistical savings and where appropriate and optimizing staffing levels with the needs and opportunities of the business.
• Pricing Strategy & Margin Optimization – Assist Product Managers and the President in establishing competitive and profitable pricing structures, considering market competition and COGS.
• Credit Risk Management – Assess and manage credit exposure to customers with appropriate credit and data gathering policies and practices.
• Inventory & Asset Management – Oversee capital equipment inventory, including depreciation and lifecycle management, where possible measuring and reporting on the productivity of significant assets. Ensure accurate tracking of inventory within the plant and on service trucks and any other locations via annual full inventory counts, periodic cycle counts and integrity of BOMs and other inventory processes. Assist operations staff to make inventory commitments with terms which are fair and reasonable to the Company, with the best obtainable payment and other terms and in quantities which are appropriate for the level of usage, freight and warehousing costs.
• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight – Ensure adherence to tax laws, payment of all taxes including some for shareholders, industry regulations, and financial reporting standards and any other relevant regulations of FASB, IRS, State Depts of Revenue, State Attorneys General, Foreign Governing entities, etc. Manage relationships with accounting firms and completion of annual review.
• Insurance & Asset Protection – Secure appropriate coverage for high-value assets and inventory, personnel, operational liabilities and as required by customers.
• Key Partner Relationships and Contract Performance – Ownership of financial interface with key supplier/partners, ensuring that all parties are operating under the terms of any agreements.

Order Entry & Customer Service Team Oversight

• Oversight of the Customer Service Representatives team which receives, approves and enters all orders, schedules service orders and generally supports the company’s salesforce.

Technology & Systems Oversight

• Technology Integration & Optimization – Working with other subject matter experts at ARI and outsourced service providers, Leverage Sage 100 ERP system, Zoho CRM, Google Big Query and other systems for financial and operational data. Lead decisions about server and cloud data management.

Human Resources Leadership & Oversight

• Manage all Human Resources activities (hiring and termination documentation, payroll processing, payment of commissions/bonuses, benefit enrollment, and 401k management via internal staff and external service providers).

IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting
• 10+ years of accounting and finance experience including prior leadership experience
• Professional certification (CPA, CMA) preferred but not required
• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data filters and sorts)
• Experience with ERP upgrades and streamlining accounting processes.
• Experience managing HR and IT functions

KEY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Encourages a culture of open dialogue and constructive feedback within teams
• Decision-making capabilities and ownership mindset
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision

THE PAYOFF:

• Collaborate with a talented and enthusiastic leadership team.
• Watch your efforts have a positive impact on the company’s growth and success.
• Receive a competitive base salary plus bonus and a full benefits package.
• Be positioned for future leadership and executive roles within the company.

OUR COMMITMENT TO CANDIDATES

Gilman Partners is committed to strengthening leadership teams and elevating talent in our communities—and that means all qualified applicants will receive consideration. You do not have to meet every qualification in this job description to apply. If you are drawn to the position and believe your experience makes you a good fit, we encourage you to reach out.