The Chief Accounting Officer is responsible for the direction of the accounting function of Northwest Bank, including maintenance of accounting systems, development of recommendations for migration to Workday ERP platform, Maintenance COA, all financial hierarchies, and Legal Entity structure, and future development of accounting data model. Communicates with executives on the financial positioning of the firm and review of all regulatory reports and SEC filings prior to publication. As a Financial Transformation Executive, this role will manage from current state to future state, the automated finance environment of Northwest Bank.

Essential Functions
* Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll.
* Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and relevant regulatory requirements.
* Set team vision and provide leadership in alignment with the overall department and corporate objectives.
* Communicate regularly with operational business partners to identify issues and areas for operational improvement, share knowledge about financial trends and upcoming changes.
* Generate financial reports for management and stakeholders, providing insights and analysis as needed.
* Hire, coach, train and lead a high caliber and diverse team of accounting professionals
* Ensure compliance with tax regulations and manage all tax-related matters, including filings and audits.
* Maintain strong internal controls to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud
* Continuously evaluate and improve accounting processes, systems, and workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy
* Implement best practices in financial accounting and reporting
* Build and maintain strong relationships with banks, auditors, tax authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
* Establish and maintain strategic technology relationships
* Identify cost effective, appropriate investment of financial resources
* Contribute to the shaping, development and implementation of the future-ready Finance strategy to ensure a world class Finance Function
* Develop a deep understanding of the accounting systems and the management information which form the basis of reporting on a monthly basis in order to lead projects and initiatives towards a future-ready Finance function
* Develop a deep understanding of the financial operating environment, including timelines, deliverables and expectations in order to reduced time to deliver.
* Establish and promote a culture of Change Management and Transformation within the Finance department that is responsible for people adopting new ways of working
* Lead and drive automation of self-service functionality for financial and management information
* Identify opportunities to reduce costs within Finance
* Lead and drive synergies and alignment between the actual and budgeting processes
* Simplify and automate processes to enable less time spent on required deliverables

Additional Essential Functions
* Ensure compliance with Northwest's policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
* Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
* Work as part of a team
* Work with on-site equipment

Additional Responsibilities

Safety and Health for Supervisors with Direct Reports
* Provide leadership and positive direction for maintaining the safety and loss prevention program
* Actively participate in and support employee participation in the safety and loss prevention program by ensuring that employees know how to properly report a safety issue, making sure that all accidents are promptly reported to Human Resources and documented, and ensuring that prompt action is taken whenever workplace hazards are identified
* Help implement emergency procedures

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education
Bachelor's Degree Accounting

Work Experience
More than 15 years Business related experience

Executive Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
* Ability to develop and implement an organizational vision which integrates key strategic goals, priorities, values, and other factors
* Ability to balance change and continuity - to continually strive to improve customer service and program performance, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking, and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity
* Ability to design and implement strategies which maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the Northwest's vision, mission, and goals
* Ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.
* Ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes Northwest's mission, and to use new technology to enhance decision making
* Ability to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally.
* Ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations
* Knowledge of key national and industry policies and economic, political, and social trends that affect Northwest; Understands near-term and long-range plans and determines how best to be positioned to achieve a competitive business advantage