Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices LLC JOB ANALYSIS INFORMATION FORM Job analysis: Management Accountant A. Organizational Locator The following partial organizational chart identifies the position and locator of Management Accountant for the Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices LLC. Functionally, the Management Accountant (MA) provides all the internal information support for tactical and strategic decision making at every level of management (Atkinson, Banker, Kaplan & Young, 2001). He reports to the Chief Financial Officer, together with the lateral equals: Chief Marketing Officer, the Chief Production Officer, among other officers of the company. Figure 1 Organizational Locator of Management Accountant Especially highlighted in the ever-changing environment in the manufacturing industry where Siemens belong, the position of Management Accountant (MA) is an indispensable provider of critical information to management on such areas as, but not limited to the following major functions: (a) budget preparation and implementation, and performance review which consists of assisting the various managers of the company identify, allocate and manage the resources necessary to achieve its unit goals and objectives, (b) revenue and cost management which determines specific management accounting strategies that maximizes the organization’s income generating and target costing trajectories (Atkinson et al, 2001), and (c) strategic planning and consulting which is a component of management accounting that integrates all the qualitative and quantitative factors to map out the directions towards the long term, (Garrison & Noreen, 2004) Anthony & Govindarajan, 2003). In more functional detail these consists of the: (1) adoption of the activity-based budget management that utilizes a zero-based projections based on targets; (2) Financial analysis to determine the operating efficiency and effectiveness of every productive segment as well as in aggregation, especially the production department (Gibson, 1998) of the company so that proper decision making and controls can be made in the areas of profitability, stability, solvency, turnovers, and other indicators of organizational health. This is aimed at developing short, medium and long-term strategies for the entity (Anthony & Govindarajan, 2003). Likewise, (3) the need to utilize relevant and applicable traditional and strategic management accounting tools (Agamata, 2002) to address recurring and non-recurring issues critical to the company’s operational efficiency and effectiveness; (4) the identification of internal operating as well as external weakness and opportunities, commonly called the SWOT factors and processes to the company brought about by its market status and position. Similarly, Management Accountants also guide managers in developing proactive technology-driven measures and techniques to lead in a competitive market (Anthony & Govindarajan, 2003). All these specific management approaches are designed to preempt the competition’s strategic move to dominate the market with the best customers possible (Taylor & Greco, 2002). The job analysis process required the preparation of the following job description information which can help attain a good job design (Tropman, 2001) through a job analysis information form (JAIF). Below is the summary of questionnaire including several other methods of data gathering such as interview, questionnaire or observations, focus group discussion. Below is a rundown of the questionnaire type: Question: What is the primary responsibility for the job? Answer: Preparation of the regular (periodic) and special production reports especially in the areas of budgeting, revenue and cost management and strategic planning for all decision makers in all management levels including Siemens. This also includes the preparation of the regular (periodic) and special production reports especially in the areas of budgeting, revenue and cost management and strategic planning for all decision makers in all management levels including Siemens. Question: What is the next logical position to which you would expect to be promoted? Answer : The Chief Financial Officer, who represents the entire financial and management accounting functions in the company Question : What are some of your primary job duties? Indicate which of these are done on a daily, weekly and monthly schedule, periodic or irregular intervals? Answer : Daily: Accumulation and sorting of accounting data prepared and submitted by the Management Accounting staff in charge of budget, revenues/cost, strategic planning inputs. Weekly: Preparation and submission of weekly production reports along – utilization of budget, variance analysis and; Monthly: Preparation of monthly reports on budget utilization, including variance analysis; Attends management meeting to clarify analytical data for managers. Questions: Are there any duties that you currently perform that you deem unnecessary. If yes please give examples. Answers: To backup the treasury accountant in his financial tasks almost daily who is always in meetings. The treasury accountant should undertake custodianship instead of recording. Questions: Are there any duties that you are not performing at this time that should be included in your current job duties? Educational level. Graduate of BS Accountancy; must be a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Experience : Two years experience in management accounting in a related field. If applying from internal sources, a consistent very satisfactory performance evaluation rating for at least three evaluation periods. Question What are some of the skills required to perform successfully in this position Answer: Computers with windows applications; fax and photocopying machines, Question What types of equipment are you required to operate? Question Briefly describe the working conditions Answer: Unionized group; 40 hours workweek, need to render overtime from to time; Team environment; Must be heavy practitioner of Ethics for Management Accountants; High Confidentiality of sensitive data. Based on the above job analysis, the following job description can be designed and formalized. Hence, considering the job analysis conducted the job description is presented below: JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title : Management Accountant Department : Controller/Accounting Reports to : Chief Financial Officer Wage Classification: Salary Plus Performance Bonus General Description of the job: Accumulates and manages financial and cost accounting information (budgets, revenues and cost, etc) for purposes of decision making by managers in various levels. Job Activities : Gathers financial and management data/information affecting all units of the company; classifies and sorts accounting information according to segments, products, geographical locations, and other means needed by all decision makers; gathers the specific plans and activities of each segments and quantifies to articulate the plans towards the short-medium-long term; analysis of internal and external data through trending, ratio percentages, fractions etc. Prepares financial executive summaries for all unit managers; Attaches various formatted financial and management reports for submission to the various managers; Attends meetings where management accounts may help internalize and understand implications of management reports. Supervises three assistants. Other related tasks assigned from time to time. General Qualifications Requirements Experience and Training With two years of related experience . If applying from internal sources, must meet a continuous very satisfactory performance evaluation for at least three consecutive periods. Education: A graduate of BS Accountancy Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Proficient in Windows applications; analytical skills, with ability to be team-oriented; Technical: Computer skills in an accounting environment Analytical skill, Time management, communications proficiency in oral and written English. Leadership skill in supervising a small accounting unit. Interpersonal skills as this required working with people Machines Operated Computers, fax, telephone and other office appliances; photocopying machines Tests Candidates must pass the company aptitude test. Responsibilities Must be able to gather, handle, analyze and interpret accounting data and information for submission and discussion with the various managers of the company. Working conditions Unionized group; 40 hours workweek, need to render overtime from to time; Team environment; Must be heavy practitioner of Ethics for Management Accountants Part B Requirement. Below is a list of resumes taken from the different sources. Partly, the resumes were collected based on the following job postings: (a) Internal job posting which requires that any form of vacancy shall be filled up initially by qualified applicants from within the company. In this way, existing employees are given the chance to apply and be promoted to the positions they are aiming for or aim for the position that best suits their qualifications and this is done through posting of internal applications and imposing a deadline to allow teachers; (b) from JobsDb.com or other websites such as JobStreet.com and other similar portals which Siemens Home and Office Communications utilized as venue for easy access of applicants and which is one of the most successful online job placements on the internet. (c) direct application and submission of resumes from walk-in applicants which is the traditional way of job application and this involves the manual submission of resumes at the premises of the company; (d) referrals from employees and clients which is a system of recruitment based on expanded circle of referrals. In this regard, recruitment is not posted but provided mostly by parties knowledgeable to the company or its officers. And (e) other sources can be in the form of unsolicited letters through received the mails with the applicant simply exploring the means to possibly, by luck, be able to get employed therein. The applicants are summarized as follows: Applicant number 1 is a graduate of BS Accountancy with a three-year experience as cost accountant at Dow Chemical, Inc. His credentials include exposure to a wide variety of reports being submitted to the management for decision-making, passed the qualifying test and interviewed with good results. Availability is immediate but without supervisory experience. Applicant number 2 is a graduate of BS Chemical Engineering with a license. He has a five-year experience with an affiliate of Siemens in Dallas and was referred by the CEO of that affiliate company. A very active, skilled worker, he is well-versed in communication and interpersonal skills, adept at computer applications and has a strong character of assertiveness and being able to correlate himself with the top management. He has a knack for persuasion but was found to have a track credibility problem with the former employer. Applicant number 3 is a BS Accountancy graduate with a one-year management accounting experience with Southern Bell in a supervisory position. He has passed the interviews and written qualifying tests with very satisfactory results. He has a master’s degree and was credited with a paper on Management Accounting in the electronics industry. His availability is immediate and has a limited supervisory experience but with a pleasant personality needed to manage people. Applicant number 4 is a BS Accountancy graduate who applied through the JobsDB.com; without experience. A fresh graduate without supervisory experience, the applicant had excellent skills in management accounting, highly proficient in networked computers and a number of applications; He is taking up the CMA norm and is to take the certification examination for CMAs within the month. Applicant number 5 is Business Management graduate with a two-year academic background in management accounting. He has a three-year experience as Senior Management Accountant of Sara Lee in the Houston area and has a number of commendations as Management Accountant from the company. Applicant number 6 is a BS Accountancy graduate from a foreign country, graduated with honors and has a five-year audit experience with KPMG. When tested, he has excellent skills in Management Accounting and reporting with high accuracy results. He is not a resident of the United States. Applicant number 7 is a BS Accounting graduate of a local university in San Antonio, Texas. He has a Master’s Degree but appears to be too old for the job and may not be able to cope with the demands of supervision and the fast-paced environment. He has extensive experience in auditing and management accounting. Applicant number 8 is lady CPA and a CMA licensee as well. Armed with a three-year experience with Samsung USA assigned as Management Accountant with the electronics division, she applied through the JobStreet.com and is a resident of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Highly skilled in interpersonal and analysis, the applicant is known to many employees of Siemens. However, she appeared to have been employed by three firms in a period of five years. Applicant number 9 is a BS Accountancy graduate with high honors. A CPA licensure topnotcher, the applicant has no experience, but turned out to have an exceptional skill as a fast learner. Applicant number 10 is an incumbent employee of Siemens. A CPA taking up training as CMA, the applicant can had a record of very satisfactory performance rating with the credit division of Siemens. Although she is very qualified for the job, she is however an asset of her unit who cannot be released without affecting the operations of the credit area. She has no possible replacement if she transfers as Management Accountant of SHC. This is promotion for her. The Selection Process. Based on the list of applicants, there appears to be a limited number who exactly qualifies for the position. Although a few – Applicants number 3, 8 and 10 are the most likely candidates, Siemens must undertake a set of processes to prepare any of these shortlisted candidates in the event that one is chosen for the position. Thus the criteria of the vacancy and the characteristics of the applicants will have to be calibrated to determine who best qualifies for the job. The critical factors of the Management Accountant position for Siemens are: supervision considering that the information for decision making will come from the subordinates, education and skills. Closing in on the three qualifiers, applicant number 3 appears a good choice but will have to be reprocessed through training as he has limited experience on the job and lacks supervisory exposure as well. Applicant number 8 is an ideal candidate for the position except for the turnover rate of successive employment which could put the company to another recruitment stage should the candidate decides to leave again. Applicant number 10 is equally a good candidate with a plus being an existing employee of Siemens. Thus, the final selection stalemate will have to be broken through a number of recruitment factors Siemens might adopt. First, existing employees will have to be given preferences in terms of internal recruitment to maintain morale and recognize loyalty. Training will not be difficult for applicant number 10 considering she is an incumbent employee and is assumed to be thoroughly familiar with the business. The vacancy she will create can readily be filled up by candidate number 3 or 8 who can be taken in to replace candidate number 10. Or replacement for candidate number 10 can come from within Siemens anew. Whoever among applicants 3 or 8 is not hired can be classified under active file and serve as reserve candidate during the current period. Thus, priority queuing could be candidates number 10, 8 and 3. In all cases, Siemens will only incur minimal cost to train, compliance requirements for the position of management accountant adequately addressed and a good gesture of recognition for loyalty and performance accorded candidate number 10. List of References Agamata, Franklin. Management Advisory Services, 2002 Edition, Redman Printing, Manila, 2002 Anthony, R and Govindarajan,V, Management Control Systems, 11th International Edition, Mac-Graw-Hill Education Asia, Singapore, 2003 Atkinson, A, Banker, R., Kaplan R., and Young, S. Management Accounting, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall International, New Jersey, 2001 Drucker, Peter F. “The Discipline of Innovation”, Harvard Business Review, The Innovative Enterprise, 2002 Garrison R. and Noreen, E. Managerial Accounting, Tenth Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, Asia, 2004 Hinkley, R. Corporate Social Responsibility Report, How Corporate Law Inhibits Social Responsibility, Business Ethics, 2002: Available: http://www.medialens.org/articles/the_articles/articles_2002/rh_corporate_responsibility.html (1 May 2008) Horngren, C., Sundem, G. and Stratton, W., Introduction to Management Accounting, 11th International Edition, Pearson Education Asia Pte. Ltd. Singapore. 2000 Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. Strategy Maps, Converting Intangible Assets into Tangible Outcomes, Harvard School Publishing, Boston, 2004 Naylor, Mary and Susan Greco, Customer Chemistry, How to Keep the Customers You Want, MacGraw-Hill, New York, 2002 Peters, Tom “Liberation Management”, Necessary Disorganization for the Nanosecond Nineties, Fawcett Columbine, New York, 1992 Shaw, J. Corporate Governance & Risk: A Systems Approach, 61-82, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 2002. Tropman, J. E, The Compensation Solution: How to Develop an Employee-Driven Rewards System, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, California, 2001 Attachments: Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices LLC Summary of Candidates’ Qualifications Job Vacancy: Management Accountant Name of Candidate Recruitment Source Educational & Professional Qualifications (BSA/CMA) Experience (2 years related) Skills · Team · IT/Communications · Supervisory · Leadership Aptitude test Rating Score out of 100 Interview Rating out of 100 Remarks ANTHONY RIES (1) Classified/Want ads BS Accountancy; Three-years experience in related job with DowChem. Team-oriented; Microsoft Office Applications; Enterprise Resource Package; With supervisory exposure; 90 90 Immediately available STEPHEN BOOTH (2) Referral From CEO of Siemens affiliate BS Chem Engineering; Five-year experience in unrelated job Team-oriented Microsoft Word and Excel & ERP; No supervisory exposure 87 95 Persuasive but lacks track record credibility; not immediately available JOHN BELMONT (3) JobsDB.com BS Accountancy (UTex-San Antonio) with MBA in the discipline. One-year in identical task 45 wpm Windows 2000. Microsoft Word & Excel, ERP; Excellent communications; Limited supervision but with potentials; very pleasant personality. 95 95 Lives in Dallas area; immediately available STANLEY FORD (4) JobsDB.com Fresh BS Accountancy; To take CMA norm within the month. No experience but highly proficient in Management Accounting. 50 wpm Graphics artist Windows 2000. Microsoft Word & Excel, ERP and Network 90 85 Not readily available; ALFRED ST. JOHN (5) JobStreet.com BS Business Management; 3-year academic background in MA Three-year as Senior Mgt Accountant with Sara Lee 45 wpm Customer service skills. 87 87 With commendations from company for good performance PAUL CLARKE (6) JobDB.com BS Accountancy honors Audit experience with KPMG; excellent skills in MA 45 WPM Microsoft Office Applications Audit software ERP 94 90 Not a resident of the USA. JAIME THOMAS (7) Walk-in BS Accounting with Master’s Degree Extensive experience in audit and management accounting 35 wpm Microsoft Word and Excel Satisfactory communication skills 85 86 Appears too weak for the job. May not stand against fast-paced stress MARY NATHALIE STANFORD (8) JobStreet.com BS Accountancy CPA/CMA Experience with Samsung electronics division as Management Accountant 55 WPM Windows Vista/2000 Microsoft Applications and ERP; Low loyalty index 90 94 Resident of Dallas, known to many Siemens employees KEVIN CHARLES (9) Employee Referral CPA with honors No experience 60 wpm Windows 2000/XP Microsoft Office Applications Exceptional skill 97 84 Fast learner SHERRYL CRUZ (10) Internal Job Posting CPA with CMA credits Internal MA experience with Siemens’ Credit with very satisfactory performance 56 WPM Team-oriented leadership Office applications with ERP; Audit software 95 95 Needs replacement in the credit division. Cannot be released without replacement RESUME NO. 1 CURRICULUM VITAE POSITION APPLIED FOR : MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT Name : ANTHOMY RIES Education : BS Accountancy Work Experience: Management/|Cost Accountant 2004-2007 Dow Chemicals, Inc. Freeport, Texas Area of Responsibility: Tasks: Financial analysis and management reporting of Texas manufacturing operations for purposes of Target Costing,.Logistics Management, Transfer Pricing, Responsibility Accounting and Performance Reporting System. Supervises three Financial analysts performing budget variance reports, target cost analysis and performance reports. Reports Prepared: Performance Reporting System furnished all Managers articulating financial and operating performance on a monthly basis. This includes segment reporting of all DowChem operating units. The reports guide managers on target costing through activity-based management approach to manufacrturing. Skills I am team-oriented with mastery level skills in Microsoft Office Applications, JD Edwards Enterprise Resource Planning package; All Microsoft Office Applications; With supervisory exposure. Reference/s Andrew Sparks Plant Supervisor Dow Chemicals, Freeport, Texas Michael Scaffold Senior Management Accountant Dow Chemicals,Freeport, Texas Others Immediately available RESUME 2 Curriculum Vitae Objective : Apply professional management accounting tasks Name : Stephen Booth Lake Charles, Louisiana Course Completed: BS Chemical Engineering Experience: Reengineering Auditor Siemens Water Technologies Dallas, Texas 2002-2007 Responsibilities: Job analysis of all staff positions, preparation of job descriptions and establishment of work systems to improve efficiency, manage costs and increase funds flow. Skills: Knowledge in operating all office machines; Enterprise Resource Planning software; Team oriented and willing to undergo supervisory training. Reference: Roger Spelling Chief Executive Officer Siemens Water Technologies Dallas, Texas Resume 3 CURRICULUM VITAE Name : JOHN BELMONT Address: Houston, Texas Course : BS Accountancy University of Texas, San Antonio Texas Master in Business Administration University of Texas Experience: Management Accountant Dallas Technologies, Inc. 2007-2008 Skills Keyboarding Mastery of all MS Office Applications Knowledge of ERP (JDE & SAP) Good communications and potentials Immediately available Resume 4 Curriculum Vitae NAME…………….Stanley Ford ADDRESS……….Forth Worth, Texas EDUCATION…….BS Accountancy Experience……….None Skills………………Keyboarding, Graphics Windows and Office Applications ERP (SAP) & Network Others…………….Available for employment in two months Resume 5 CURRICULUM VITAE Name : Alfred St. John Address : Dallas, Texas Education : BS Business Management major in Management Accounting Experience : Senior management accountant Sara Lee, Inc. Houston, Texas With commendations for good performance Skills Customer Service Knowledge of Office Machines and Computer Applications /resume 6 Curriculum vitae Name: Paul Clarke Address: San Antonio, Texas Education: BS Accountancy Cum Laude Experience: Audit supervisor & Management Analysis KPMG Consulting, Dallas, Texas Skills: Keyboarding All MS Office Applications JDE audit software Knowledge of JDE enterprise package Resume 7 Curriculum vitae NAME: Jaime Thomas ADDRESS: Houston Texas, Education: BS Accounting Masters in Business Administration Experience: Audit supervisor and Management Assistant Edwards & Cheney Consulting Skills: Keyboarding Communication skills Office applications Others Willing to be trained for the job Resume 8 Curriculum Vitae Name: MARY NATHALIE STANFORD Forth Worth, Texas Education: BS Accountancy Certified Public Accountant Certified Management Accountant Skills: Keyboarding Windows/Office Applications/ERP (JDE AND SAP) Experience: Management Accountant Samsung Electronics, USA Management Accountant Dallas Technologies, Inc. Management Accountant – Mfg Division Home Depot Texas Resume 9 CURRICULUM VITAE NAME………………….KEVIN CHARLES ADDRESS…………….Dallas, Texas Education……………..BS Accountancy with Honors A Certified Public Accountant Skills…………………. All Office Applications A fast learner Experience…………..None Resume 10 CURRICULUM VITAE Name…………………….SHERRYL CRUZ Address………………….Forth Worth, Texas Education……………….BS ACCOUNTANCY Licenses ………… Certified Public Accountant Experience…………….Management Accountant Siemens Home & Office Communications LLC - Credit Division Prepares all management reports for managers periodically; with consistent excellent performance. Skills………………………..All types of office machines JDE AND SAP ERPS Audit Software Others…………………Willing to start immediately