Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.
Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary:
The criticality of this role cannot be overstated. Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America (PECNA) is scaling from a single high-velocity site to an enterprise-grade, multi-site manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries. The CFO is a key member of PECNA’s executive leadership team, reporting directly to the President and dotted line to the CFO of the business segment.
The CFO will be a highly strategic business advisor and operator who leads all finance functions for PECNA’s Nevada (NV) and Kansas (KS) giga-factory sites and serves as a critical bridge to Panasonic North America Corporate Finance and Panasonic HQ in Japan. The CFO will work to build the capabilities of the finance/accounting team, ensure tactical execution, and provide the leadership necessary to support the continued growth of the business. Experience working in a multi-national, high-volume continuous manufacturing environment will be a major benefit to the CFO and PECNA.
The ideal candidate must be able to work well in a dynamic, growth oriented, and collaborative environment. The Company’s leadership team prides itself on its ability to make key decisions as a team, all working very hard toward the same objectives. This role will be very strategic in nature, as the CFO will lead execution of strategic financial operational objectives across the business providing accuracy, transparency, and efficiency while building world-class finance capabilities to support a rapidly evolving, complex, and matrixed organization. The successful candidate will bring the right level of executive presence, combined with an entrepreneurial, hands-on approach to the table.
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred:
Education
- Basic/Required: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration is required.
- Preferred: CPA and/or MBA
Essential Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive finance leadership in complex, high-volume manufacturing environments; experience scaling from startup to enterprise operations.
- 5+ years leading multi-site teams with a track-record of leadership success.
- Multi-national experience required, ideally with Japanese or other Asia-based parent companies and cross-border reporting to Corporate/HQ.
- Strong command of US GAAP and IFRS; SOX design and operationalization; “Big Four” or national firm experience preferred.
- Demonstrated success rebuilding finance functions, implementing ERPs/EPMs, and establishing enterprise-grade processes and controls.
- Advanced financial modeling, scenario analysis, and decision-support; proven capital allocation discipline and post-investment review rigor.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem solving, creative skills, and the ability to exercise sound judgement and decision making based on accurate and timely financial analyses.
- Strong operational aptitude with proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally to ensure successful execution of strategic initiatives.
- Demonstrated track-record building successful teams, including mentoring existing talent and adding capabilities where required to enhance the capabilities of the finance organization.
- Explicit knowledge of accounting controls and proven success in implementation of compliance programs, both domestically and abroad.
- Technically astute; hands-on leader possessing strong business analysis skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a high-volume continuous manufacturing environment is preferred.
- Ability to take innovative approaches to improve processes and solve problems
- Ability to understand different cultures to establish reliable and effective communication within a diverse and complicated environment
- Multi-site and global experience are highly desirable
- Spanish and/or Japanese desirable, including reading, writing, and speaking
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to)
- Sit: 25%
- Walk: 25%
- Stand: 25%
- Lift: 25%
Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
- Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
- Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
- Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
- Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a requirement for some roles at PECNA and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
- Highly inclusive and class-leading healthcare options to include family planning, mental health, and pet insurance
- Employee assistance programs that support total well-being with complimentary session offered each and every month
- Company-matched and fully vested 401K retirement program that starts immediately from date of enrollment
- Annual bonus program, High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
- Simplified access to self-guided and representative-supported short and long-term financial wellness and retirement planning
- Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program
- Inclusion programs and associated employee resource groups that promote representation and belonging
- Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs opportunities at all levels across the organization
- Collaborative and motivating culture routed in continuous personal and professional growth and much more.
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.
This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our operations to De Soto, Kansas and build the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. We will provide you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.
As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.
Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.
We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.
In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.
We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.
