Lead Incentive Accountant (Finance)

SUMMARY

Supports the Finance Manager of the Incentives team and additional Finance department management in the development and implementation of Subaru of America (SOA)'s Incentives Business Plan. Serves as a primary resource for oversight and completion of the monthly financial close process for the Incentives unit, as well as assisting with the development of annual Incentives budgets and forecasts, financial modeling of costs, and preparation of monthly incentive proposals for SOA National and Regional incentive programs. Works with Finance department management to develop Incentive key performance indicator (KPI) and dashboard reports for utilization by SOA senior management.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Must be able to perform all of these:

• Supports the Finance Manager of Incentives and Finance department upper management in development and preparation of Subaru of America's (SOA's) Incentive Business Plan including presentation of critical key performance indicators (KPIs) and related assumptions. Plan development responsibilities include financial modeling of Subaru Motor Finance (SMF) lease and loan program unit cost assumptions for interest costs, rate subvention, residual value costs, program penetrations, carline mix, and sensitivity/what-if analysis. Understands and considers additional Incentive program costs and works with management of other teams and business areas within SOA to gather and analyze relevant information.
• Prepares monthly incentive proposal and financial projections with Finance Manager of Incentives for presentation to SOA Sales, Distribution, and Marketing management and Subaru Corporation (SBR), including measurement against Incentive Business Plan targets and other economic factors (interest rates, penetration performance, etc.); this includes including developing variance analysis from prior models and actual results. Communicates with Sales/Distribution management on potential programs and related costs and advises Regions on funds spent and fund remaining.
• Incentive Finance Team Mentorship
  • Completes and/or oversees Incentive Staff Accountant's completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activity and financial statements for the Incentives team, including coordination of activity completed by other members of Finance Department.
• Financial close activity includes incentive-related journal entries, wholesale vehicle accruals, account reconciliations, and incentive variance analysis through Oracle G/L, OneStream, and other financial application tools.
• Provides knowledge and insight in the area of Incentive Finance/Accounting by serving as a trusted point of contact for both Incentive staff resources and other SOA business areas for escalated and/or complex matters.
• Provides mentorship and guidance to more junior staff members on the Incentive Finance team.
• Coordinates and assists with cost modeling of other SOA vehicle sales incentives including Retailer Monthly Bonus, Fleet, Service Loaner Program, Certified Pre-Owned (CPO), vehicle coupons, Owner Loyalty, Love Promise Community & Customer Award (LPCCA), and various other retailer support and tactical incentive spend programs. Ensures that correct and timely data is included in annual Business Plan and Projection models with appropriate assumption adjustments.
• Collaborates with department management with oversight and control of administrative areas' incentives including third-party Auto Hook funding, Retailer/Salesforce award trips, VIP program, and serving as a point of contact for key third-party contract arrangements with key vendors including JD Power, ALG, and One10. Advises with Marketing team on use of Auto Hook funding and Distribution Incentive Team on budget spend and cost effectiveness. Develops and reviews support materials with Finance Manager of Incentives for meetings with Finance management, vendors (such as ALG), and retailers.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Distributes monthly KPI and Regional Discretionary Fund incentive cost tracking reports to the SOA Regional Sales management.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of Dashboard/KPI reporting of incentive trends through Qlik analytics and other software tools to senior management.
• Distributes work to and oversees the work of Incentive Finance Intern.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of consumer financial products, the automotive industry, and impacts of interest rates and vehicle residual value assumptions on various types of incentive programs which support company sales.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Strong accounting knowledge and understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and annual audit requirements.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Financial Suite tools and understanding of financial database concepts.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 4-Year College Degree (BA, BS) and 6-8 years' experience; Advanced degree (i.e. Master of Business Administration) and/or CPA or CPA candidate preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Prolonged sitting at desk and working on computer.
• Frequent use of headset
• Hybrid work schedule- 2 days remote after 180 days onboarding

COMPENSATION: The recruiting base salary range for this full-time position is $81,300 - $,90,000/ year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. (Internal Job Grade: P3).