Accountant

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Role Definition
Provides timely and accurate financial record keeping and reporting as directed by management.

Responsibilities

•    Maintaining financial records in accordance with GAAP and organizational standards.

•    Creating reports on financial performance and providing insightful analysis for internal and external use.

•    Upon request, take part in special projects and ad hoc reporting requests.

•    Maintain, implement, and adhere to internal controls while ensuring that accounting procedures comply with GAAP.

•    Responding to inquiries and contacting other departments or vendors to resolve a variety of problems.

Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights.

•    Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs.

•    Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.

•    Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.

•    Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out error-free.

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.

•    Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.

•    Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.

•    Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.

•    Identifies the major forces, events, and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.

Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.

•    Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.

•    Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.

•    Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.

•    Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Recognizes changing demands and priorities; validates changes with management.

•    Obtains information about how current assignments contribute to organizational goals.

•    Completes current work according to assigned priorities.

•    Responds to day-to-day operational priorities while still making progress on project work.

•    Performs at least 2-3 concurrent activities without reducing productivity.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.

•    Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.

•    Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.

•    Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.

•    Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Accounting: Knowledge of accounting methods, processes, and tools; ability to maintain and prepare financial statements and reports using accounting methods and processes.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Utilizes cost monitoring practices, techniques and considerations.

•    Works with financial transactions and related documentation within the organization.

•    Participates in accounting practices of classifying and recording financial data.

•    Maintains existing charts of accounts.

•    Follows regulations for entering and reporting the financial content in major accounting systems.

Financial Analysis: Knowledge of tools and approaches of financial analysis; ability to read, interpret and draw accurate conclusions from financial and numerical material.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Applies principles used to evaluate the economics of investment decisions.

•    Interprets major types of financial statements issued by the organization.

•    Utilizes basic qualitative and quantitative tools and techniques with proficiency.

•    Works with a specific financial analysis tool set.

•    Implements valid financial analysis aligned with key criteria.

Financial Reporting: Knowledge of processes, methods, and tools of financial reporting; ability to create and maintain accurate and thorough financial reports.
Level Working Knowledge: 

•    Follows organizational practices and guidelines for product profitability reporting.

•    Analyzes errors or inaccuracies in financial reports.

•    Uses basic tools to create simple financial reports.

•    Monitors compliance with organizational standards for financial report writing.

•    Implements organizational methods and procedures for financial report writing.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.