Manager Accounting

ERIK M. SOCKMAN ********@***.**.***

**** ******** ***** ***********, ** 45434 Home 937-***-****

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

A successful Senior financial executive with eighteen years of progressive manufacturing accounting

experience. Extensive experience in lean manufacturing, driving cost reductions through the use of

kanban, JIT and the 5S approach to operations. Managed multiple operational manufacturing sites and

responsible for consolidation of numerical and operational results. Diverse background in business and

system development, financial and operational activities and accounting practice and theory. Successful

in leveraging interpersonal attributes of individuals to obtain corporate initiatives.

Financial reporting and analysis-Reduced monthly closing process from 2 weeks to 3 days through

system improvements.

Budgeting and forecasting-Designed new budget process that involved support from all functional

areas. Implemented cost teams to maximize return on production levels.

Identification and management of cost reduction initiatives-Established quality code reporting process

to identify quality rejects and quantify variances. Reduced customer returns by 20%.

System development and implementations-Implemented computerized Time & Attendance system for

1200 employees, reducing direct labor expenses while improving the quality of reporting.

Product costing and pricing initiatives-Worked closely with R&D teams to establish price matrix to

price new products. Process improved the validity and accuracy of new product costs by 30%.

WORK EXPERIENCE

BEHR AMERICA

Plant Controller-Dayton, OH October 2006-Present

(Reporting to the Corporate Controller and Vice-President of Operations, responsible for

accounting and financial systems for this $500MM automotive manufacturer. Total

manufacturing space is 1.2 million with two separate facilities and 1700 employees)

Responsible for all operational accounting and financial functions for plant.

Responsible for preparing the annual budget and monthly financial forecast.

Responsible for monthly profitability analysis on high volume product lines.

Responsible for establishing machine rates, labor costs and overhead rates.

Work closely with Fractal Managers in understanding of financial variances.

Supervise 4 member IT staff for entire 1.2 million square foot facility.

Business Unit Controller-Dayton, OH October 2005-October 2006

Established new sales and margin analysis reporting structure to analyze profitability.

Used Excel to model vehicle platform sales, cost and return on investment.

CREE

Business Unit Controller-Research Triangle Park, NC July 2002-October 2005

(Reporting to the Corporate Controller and Executive Vice-President of Operations, responsible

for accounting and financial systems for this $390MM world class silicon chip manufacturer)

Responsible for all operational accounting and financial functions of North Carolina

operations.

Responsible for preparing the annual budget and monthly financial forecast.

Establishing accounting infrastructure to support high volume operations.

Responsible for all manufacturing accounting issues including costs and revenue.

Responsible for annual budget preparation and Oracle reporting analysis.

Established new forecast procedures to analyze monthly with CFO.

Assisted with writing, implementing and auditing Sarbanes Oxley policies and procedures.

COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS COMPANY

Controller-Roxboro, NC January 1997-July 2002

(Reporting to the Division Controller and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all accounting and

financial systems for this $350MM world class automotive textile business unit)

Responsible for all accounting and financial functions for 3 manufacturing facilities and two

distribution centers. Strong emphasis on manufacturing, inventory and cost analysis.

Implemented an R&D tax credit system to capture applicable expenses, which qualify for

special tax treatment.

Designed system for issuing NAFTA certificates on all product lines in conjunction with

customers and suppliers.

Implemented 3-way match A/P system; discounts taken improved by over 200% as well as

significant increase in cash flow for Division.

Promoted from Manager, Cost Accounting, and Manager, Financial Analysis.

Responsible for monthly financial closing and variance explanations.

Responsible for planning, preparing and executing annual budget process.

Responsible for hiring, managing and developing an Accounting staff of 15 people.

Responsible for due diligence work in conjunction with recent acquisition of business.

Responsible for approving all capital expenditure requests for operations.

Work closely with Division President on special projects and initiatives.

Member of I/S Steering and I/S Enhancement Committees.

Accounting Manager January 1996-January 1997

Responsible for all daily accounting and financial functions for 3 manufacturing facilities and

two distribution centers in Roxboro, NC.

Established written internal control systems, policies and procedures.

Reduced turnover in Accounting Department from 35% to less than 5%.

Assisted with financial input for Six Sigma projects throughout operations.

Cost and Budget Manager July 1994-January 1996

Implemented product line profitability by business segment into operating structure.

Responsible for 32,000 SKU Finished goods inventory and 120 new product cost per week.

BASSET-WALKER

June 1992-July 1994

Financial Accountant-Martinsville, VA

(Reporting to the Division Accounting Manager for this $300MM textile operation and division

of VF Industries)

Responsible for the preparation of the monthly financial statements.

Conducted cost-benefit analyses on corporate initiatives.

Identified strategies to maximize personnel and system resources while minimizing cost.

Assisted with design and implementation of SAP financial system.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO

Masters of Business Administration 1997

Dean’s List Student G.P.A. 3.60

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Major in Accounting 1989

Graduated Cum Laude Honors/Lambda Sigma Honor Society

Alpha Tau Sigma National Honor Society/Dean’s List Student G.P.A. 3.64

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

Oracle, SAP, BPCS, Word, Excel, Lotus, AS 400 Mainframe, Hyperion

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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