Job Summary

This position executes complex financial processes and ensures the integrity of inventory accounting across Supply & Distribution regions. Working closely with the Accounting Supervisor, the Financial Analyst manages refined products inventory reconciliations, addresses book-to-physical differences, and maintains inventory accuracy. Key responsibilities include validating inventory volume at close, monitoring SAP and Right Angle interfaces for data issues, reviewing entries, recording accruals, and reconciling general ledger balances. The analyst ensures alignment with GAAP, recommends process improvements, and analyzes financial results for management. Additional duties include serving as a resource within the Controller’s organization, supporting audit needs, and acting as a backup for the Terminal & Pipeline Accounting Supervisor and Pipeline Financial Analyst. The role requires strong problem-solving skills, independent analysis, and effective collaboration across teams.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree; 2 years of experience
  •    Solid understanding of accounting principles (US GAAP) 
  •    Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data, investigate discrepancies, and resolve complex reconciliation issues independently and accurately.
  •    Prioritize duties when given multiple projects with limited supervision. 
  •    Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, ability to efficiently use formulas, pivot tables, data filtering, and basic data analysis functions for reconciliation and reporting tasks.  
  •    Effective oral and written communication skills. Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams, including operations and back-office functions.
    
  Preferred:
  •    Work with limited supervision.  
  •    At least 2 years’ experience with SAP or a similar ERP application.  
  •    Familiarity with internal controls framework, and regulatory reporting requirements for inventory.

Job Duties

1.    Inventory reconciliation oversight - Support the department Supervisor by overseeing volume reconciliations prepared by terminal inventory analysts, ensuring all refined fuels reconciliations are completed within the required 30-day deadline. Ensure that all material book to physical inventory differences are documented, investigated, and resolved within 45 days.   Responsible for reviewing most complex inventory volume reconciliations, communicate findings, and development of reconciliation processes for new locations. Provide mentorship, training, and secondary review to reconciliations prepared by terminal inventory analysts. Participate in the implementation and testing of new inventory systems or reconciliation tools.
2.    Monthly closing duties and GL reconciliation analysis - Assist Supervisor of the department in reviewing terminals accounting transactions and associated entries prepared by the terminal inventory analysts or generated by CITGO’s accounting systems. Use business knowledge and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to review and analyze GL reconciliations and determine relevant corrections or accruals needed. Run and review inventory reports in Right Angle and SAP during close to verify the accuracy and completeness of inventory records, ensuring all discrepancies are identified and resolved prior to systems close.  Research large negative inventory balances, rack summary differences and evaluate reasonableness of miscellaneous and overs/shorts adjustments. Prepare regular inventory reports to various groups including Supply, Financial Reporting, Internal Controls, Compliance, Business Development, etc.
3.    Accounting analysis of inventory reconciliation discrepancies - Collaborate with Operations to determine reasons for large discrepancies observed during the book to physical inventory reconciliations identified on CITGO owned and 3rd party terminals, pipelines, and in-transit locations.  Oversee and manage the list of open reconciliation items, supporting other analysts in resolving large outstanding discrepancies to ensure timely inventory accuracy. Assess the potential financial impact of inventory discrepancies on CITGO’s financial statements, identifying risks, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate financial exposure.   
4.    Terminal Agreement Revenue Reconciliation and Analysis - Review and analyze customer system setups to ensure alignment with commercial agreement requirements, supporting accurate statement generation and revenue recognition for miscellaneous manual fees (i.e. min thruput, excess storage, etc.). Collaborate with Terminal Operations, Business Development personnel, and other team members to confirm agreement validity and resolve customer statement discrepancies. Prepare accruals, accounting transactions, adjustments, and calculations based on agreement formulas as needed. Prepare customer account reconciliations and provide directions for applying cash to customer accounts to Treasury and Accounts Receivables department. Support and assist credit department with statement discrepancies resolution on past due terminal agreement revenue and aged items.  

Job Duties II

1.    Earnings Analysis – Prepare and analyze comparison of current month results to prior month results as well as current budgeted results. Identify factors impacting those results.  Prepare and present an analysis of actual expenses compared to planned operations as required.  Propose any accounting corrections resulting from the earnings analysis.
2.    Special Projects/Reports - Lead and support special projects and reporting request related to regulatory, internal control, and SOX compliance impacting refined fuels inventories. Prepare and maintain supporting documentation for internal and external audits. Summarize and analyze reports as requested, providing management with clear results and actionable recommendations. Assist the department supervisor and upper management with special assignments and ad hoc analyses as needed.
3.    Terminal Tank Gauge Observations - Partner with Supply, Terminal Operations, Internal/External Auditors, and the department Supervisor to perform physical inventory count observations at CITGO terminal locations. Coordinate meetings and travel logistics, ensuring the use of industry best practices and up-to-date measurement techniques for accurate manual calculation of physical inventory, conduct investigations on discrepancies between physical counts and system records, draft recommendations for corrective actions and advise terminal personnel, department supervisor and upper management on audit findings and outcomes.