"This role supports Brown-Forman´s biggest market globally and provides a great opportunity to work with diverse individuals and teams and learn the Commercial and Brands intricacies from an Accounting and Finance perspective."-hiring manager-Regional Controller Americas

Meaningful Work From Day One:

The Lead Accountant supports the Americas Controller and is responsible for a wide range of

accounting and financial analysis for USA and Canada region (US&C). This position will work with

USA and Canada Finance divisions and other cross functional groups within the organization. This

position will lead initiatives to identify accounting, process or SOX control issues within USA and

Canada divisions; will have an opportunity to recommend process re-engineering and

improvements to drive accuracy and efficiency; and will work with the Americas Controller to

strategize accounting and control advice to the region’s finance team and lead resolutions within

USA and Canada divisions.

What You Can Expect:

Manage financial accounting, reporting & analysis activities associated with the US&C region. The

Lead Accountant manages a Financial Analyst. This position includes monthly, quarterly and annual

year-end accounting and closing activities as well as other important tasks and responsibilities

such as:

● Financial Controllership

○ Identify and coordinate procedures, reports, and timing requirements and other

financial activity to ensure accuracy and integrity of the accounting records as well as

compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), tax and legal entity

structures. This includes coordinating with external parties and intercompany

accounting

○ Responsible for ensuring appropriate internal controls are in place and compliance with

corporate financial policies. Provide and implement recommendations for

improvements to internal controls and policies

○ Identify risks or gaps not mitigated with current controls and work with Internal Audit

and process owners on proper remediation.

○ Design controls that flag errors and inconsistencies, perform the research, and propose

remediation actions

○ Control quarterly reconciliations and analysis of corporate balance sheet accounts

○ Respond to inquiries from the Regional Controller, Finance Directors and other finance

and business stakeholders regarding financial results, special reporting requests and

the like

● Financial Records

○ Ensures an accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year end close

○ Responsible for ensuring timely accuracy of all financial records, including financial

statements and general ledger data

○ Serves as accounting and controllership partner to the respective US&C divisions.

○ This position addresses tight deadlines and a multitude of accounting activities

including month end closing, financial reporting, year-end audit preparation, etc

○ Monitors and analyzes the department ́s work to develop more efficient procedures and

use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy

○ Oversees advertising and promotion, discount and other accrual calculations and

records

○ Prepare or manage and respect all deadlines imposed by the group (monthly journal

entries, Sarbanes Oxley controls, quarterly account reconciliations...)

● Operations:

○ Review and post discount accrual entries prepared by Division’s finance team

○ Work with Division’s finance team to manage 77-17 funds and Distributor Investment

funds agreements, payments, reconciliations and accounting

○ Calculate US Broker’s commissions and bonus payments and accruals

○ Calculate brand royalty and license fee payments and accruals

○ Manage and record lease accounting entries for the US&C region

○ Manage miscellaneous journal entries e.g. coupons and rebates; USA and Canada sales

bonus accrual; marketing research, consultants or agencies expenses accruals,

payments and prepaid amortization

○ Ensure accuracy and documentation of reclass entries and year-end accruals

requested by region’s finance team

○ Manage year-end accounting close process for USA and Canada divisions

○ Prepare Balance Sheet Accounts Reconciliations

● Analytics and Advisory:

○ Work with USA and Canada Finance to understand significant accrual adjustments

○ Analyze discount accruals for accuracy and work with USA and Canada divisions

to resolve identified issues

○ Review contracts prior to execution (e.g., consultants, licenses, commissions)

and determine accounting treatment and provide business advice

○ Analyze and quantify the expenses under Accounting Conventions

○ Assist with month-end financial analysis review

● Assist/Lead Special Projects and Initiatives:

○ Analyze and implement US GAAP requirements across all USA and Canada

divisions e.g. change in GAAP for revenue recognition, expense classification

changes/reviews, etc.

○ Lead USA and Canada accounting training for Finance and Commercial teams

○ Develop and implement internal controls guidelines e.g. Control Checklist for

finance team

○ Work with Corporate Accounting in the development and implementation of new

Accounting policies and procedures

○ Lead projects to simplify/automate processes such as discount accrual

estimations

○ Work with the Digital Transformation Team on assessing the right tools and

systems to reach the above goal

○ Periodically review contracts and ensure related accounting entries are updated

accordingly

○ Share best practices with other regions.

○ Other ad hoc projects and requirements

We Are Looking For People Who:

● Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or business administration

● 5+ years of accounting or finance experience in similar roles

● Strong financial and analytical abilities with the ability to collect, analyze, and present

results in a concise format

● Proactive in recommending positive changes in procedures and leading the agreed upon

change process

● Ability to work efficiently on Excel and/or Google Sheets

● Proven oral and written communication skills with the ability to clearly discuss business

issues and translate into financial implications and action plans

● Demonstrated interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective work relationships

with all levels of personnel.

● Experience managing people (preferred)

What Makes You Unique:

● CPA preferred

● Strong analytical skills

● Proven desire to improve processes and adapt to an ever-changing, and sometimes

ambiguous environment

● Experience in working with SAP, Business Warehouse or similar software

Brown-Forman Corporation is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of Brown-Forman Corporation to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status.

Business Area: Global Finance

City: Louisville

State: Kentucky

Country: USA

Req ID: JR-00004437