Fixed Asset Accountant

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 professionals across the globe. We produce award-winning dairy products under beloved brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft®, Breakstone’s®, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Yoplait®, and many more.

We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply.

About the role

The Fixed Assets and Capex Specialist supports the financial governance, planning, tracking, reporting, and accounting of capital investments and fixed assets across the US Yogurt organization. Reporting to the Fixed Assets and Capex Controller, this role works closely with Engineering, Operations, and Project Management teams throughout the lifecycle of capital projects—from initial financial justification and approval through project completion, capitalization, and depreciation.

The position supports fixed asset accounting processes, capital expenditure reporting and forecasting, annual budget development, and compliance with internal controls and corporate investment policies, with a focus on financial accuracy, internal control discipline, and audit-ready documentation.

Responsibilities

• Capital Investment Planning & Governance
  • Support finance activities related to capital expenditure (CAPEX) across US Yogurt operations.
  • Coordinate annual CAPEX budget preparation and periodic forecast updates.
  • Develop, review, and financially validate capital project requests and authorization packages.
  • Ensure compliance with corporate investment approval processes and capital expenditure policies.
  • Maintain visibility of project approvals, timelines, funding status, and investment priorities.
  • Collaborate with plant leadership, engineering teams, and project managers to monitor project progress and investment performance.
• CAPEX Tracking, Analysis & Reporting
  • Maintain CAPEX tracking systems and project databases.
  • Support data integrity across CAPEX tracking tools, project databases, and fixed asset records.
  • Monitor spending against approved project budgets and identify variances.
  • Prepare periodic CAPEX status reports and investment summaries for management review.
  • Analyze project expenditures, forecast spending requirements, and estimate project completion costs.
  • Support cash flow planning related to capital investment activities.
  • Provide analysis and insights regarding project timing, spending trends, and financial impacts.
• Fixed Assets Management
  • Maintain the fixed asset accounting system and supporting documentation.
  • Support capitalization of completed projects and placement of assets into service.
  • Support asset transfers, disposals, retirements, and write-offs.
  • Support quarterly plant-level reviews to identify potential fixed asset write-off exposure.
  • Participate in periodic fixed asset reviews and physical asset verification processes.
  • Ensure fixed asset records remain accurate and compliant with company policies and accounting standards.
• Depreciation Forecasting & Financial Planning
  • Prepare monthly depreciation calculations, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
  • Contribute to annual depreciation budgets and long-range projections.
  • Support analysis of the financial impact of new capital investments on future depreciation expense.
  • Support budget, forecast, strategic planning, and free cash flow initiatives through depreciation modeling.
• Financial Close & Accounting Support
  • Prepare capital-related journal entries for review.
  • Reconcile fixed asset, construction-in-progress (CIP), depreciation, and other assigned balance sheet accounts.
  • Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
  • Support preparation of financial reports and management presentations related to capital investments and asset performance.
• Internal Controls & Process Improvement
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation supporting capital expenditures and fixed asset transactions.
  • Support internal and external audits related to fixed assets and capital projects.
  • Ensure compliance with internal control requirements and accounting policies.
  • Identify and recommend opportunities to improve CAPEX management, asset accounting processes, and reporting efficiency.
  • Participate in the development and standardization of capital project procedures and documentation.
• Cross-Functional Business Partnership
  • Act as a finance support partner to Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Plant Leadership teams.
  • Provide financial analysis and support during evaluation and execution of capital projects.
  • Support training and guidance for plant finance teams on CAPEX processes, depreciation forecasting, and fixed asset management.
  • Support collaboration between operational and financial teams to improve investment decision-making.
• Development & Functional Support
  • Work under the leadership of the Fixed Assets and Capex Controller, who owns the full fixed assets and CAPEX process.
  • Receive coaching, feedback, prioritization, and technical guidance to build capability for broader responsibilities over time.
  • Support the Controller in preparing analysis, documentation, reports, reconciliations, and process improvements.
  • Demonstrate increasing autonomy, judgment, and ownership as capabilities develop.

Requirements

• Education
  • Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field required.
  • CPA, CMA, MBA, or progress toward a finance-related certification is a plus.
• Experience
  • Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience in finance, accounting, fixed assets, capital project accounting, manufacturing finance, or financial analysis.
  • Experience supporting capital investment programs within a manufacturing environment preferred.
  • Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, asset accounting, and financial reporting.
  • Strong interest in developing toward broader fixed assets and CAPEX controlling responsibilities over time.
• Technical Skills
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required.
  • SAP experience preferred.
  • Experience with fixed asset accounting systems and capital project tracking tools.
  • Strong analytical, financial modeling, and reporting capabilities.
  • Ability to manage large data sets and develop meaningful business insights.
• Competencies
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent organization and project management skills.
  • Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work effectively across multiple functions and organizational levels.
  • Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.
  • Willingness to learn, take feedback, and progressively build autonomy within the fixed assets and CAPEX function.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options, including:

• Significant employer support for insurance costs.
• Generous contributions to retirement plans.
• Paid Time Off from day one.
• Professional growth opportunities, including training, development, and Education Reimbursement.