Assistant Treasurer

Intro: Schneider Electric is a market-leading supplier of electrical distribution industrial control and automation products, systems and services. Square D is the flagship brand of the North American Division, one of four geographic divisions of Schneider Electric, headquartered in Paris, France. Job Responsibilities: Schneider Electric Holdings Inc. ("SEHI"), the $8+ billion U.S. holding company for almost all of Schneider Electric's ("SE's") North American interests, is seeking an Assistant Treasurer (Treasury Director). SE is a $25+ billion French multi-national corporation engaged in the manufacture of electrical products and components in approximately 190 countries.The Assistant Treasurer (Treasury Director) will be located in SEHI's corporate headquarters in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb 40 minutes northwest of Chicago. He/she will have a duel reporting relationship to the SE Senior Vice President - Financing and Treasurer, and the SEHI Vice President - Finance (responsible for Tax, Treasury, Risk Management and Business Development).The Assistant Treasurer's responsibilities include:1. Strategy and Business Case • Within 90 days, prepare a complete strategy and business case for the regional shared services center, including (1) defining future tasks to be performed in the center, affiliates and SE Corporate Treasury; (2) defining people resources needed in the center and affiliates; and (3) defining key initiatives and quantifying their associated costs, savings and timelines. 2. Cash Management • Drive all aspects of day-to-day cash management operations. Actively lead in driving process improvements and automation in daily cash management activities. • Drive full participation and efficiency in all cash pooling programs (1) between the U.S. and France (from SEHI to Bossiere), (2) within the U.S. (from all U.S. affiliates to SEHI), (3) within Canada (between all Canadian affiliates) and (4) within Mexico (between all Mexican affiliates).• Drive full participation in U.S. banking services consolidation to JPMorgan or Bank of America, and Canadian banking services consolidation to JPMorgan. Continue to drive fee savings from such consolidations through periodic RFP's.• Drive standardization and full participation in all FX management practices across the region, in compliance with SE Corporate Treasury policies and practices.• Drive stronger cash flow orientation throughout the business and across the region. Develop and implement periodic cash flow reporting and forecasting as necessary.• Ensure that all cash management Treasury tools and processes are secure.3. Corporate Finance • Lead efforts to identify, evaluate and implement effective structural working capital financial management programs (e.g., supply chain financing).• Lead all capital structure and financing activities for the region. Evaluate, implement, document and monitor all financing transactions (intercompany or external) in line with SE corporate guidelines, and in coordination with SE Corporate Treasury.• Lead annual dividend distribution campaigns and tax-effective cash repatriation strategies from (1) affiliates (both domestic and foreign) to SEHI and (2) SEHI to SE.• Lead all treasury aspects of acquisitions in due diligence, closing and post-closing integration phases.• In conjunction with the Tax team, identify, evaluate, execute and monitor the post-closing performance of tax-advantaged investments we make in furtherance of the SE global effective tax rate initiative.• Working in conjunction with external fiduciary investment advisers, assume primary responsibility to monitor and manage all defined benefit pension plan investments and determine future investment strategy. Prepare presentations to, and attend meetings of, the Retirement Plan Investment Committee and the SE corporate finance team. The candidate must quickly master pension accounting and funding rules.• Lead and implement the annual SAR hedging program.• Perform leasing and lease versus buy analysis as necessary. Longer term, develop plans to standardize and centralize lease versus buy decisions within the business. • Assist Purchasing, as necessary, in evaluating the financial condition of sole source or other critical suppliers that may pose material risk to the business.4. Process Improvement and Automation • Implement and standardize best Treasury practices across the region in compliance with SE Corporate Treasury policies and practices.• Drive preparation for a smooth and effective SE global bridge (SAP) implementation.• Automate Treasury practices across the region to the fullest extent possible.5. People Management • Evaluate current people Treasury resources in the shared services center (4 currently) and affiliates, and recommend optimal people structure going forward.• Drive stronger competencies in cash management, corporate finance, process improvement and people development.• Implement aggressive personal development plans for key people resources.• Drive key cross-functional initiatives through solid project management skills.The successful candidate will create and evolve a full-service regional Treasury shared services center, responsible to lead Treasury matters in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, across all Schneider Electric ("SE") North American affiliates. In this role, the candidate will (1) oversee daily cash management activities, (2) drive ongoing Treasury process improvement initiatives (including EDI/ACH), and (3) develop and maintain banking relationships for SE's North American operations. The candidate should be familiar with cash forecasting and using a Treasury management system. The ideal candidate will evaluate and implement process improvements to maximize Treasury efficiencies, manage existing banking relationships, and evaluate new banking relationships, services and systems. As defined, Treasury excludes A/R and Credit and Collections, which will be lead out of a separate shared services center.The ideal candidate should have: • A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics, an MBA (strongly preferred)• At least 7-10 years of experience in corporate treasury and (preferably) banking.• Experience in cash management, cash forecasting, developing and maintaining banking relationships, corporate finance, process improvement and automation (including EDI/ACH), and people management.• Extensive knowledge of cash and investment management theory and practice, as well as banking operations and practices.• The candidate must have good interpersonal skills and possess a demonstrated ability to work on cross-functional teams (to resolve issues effectively but diplomatically) and influence team members.• All candidates must demonstrate solid financial skills, leadership abilities and growth potential. Submit Your Resume Online NowSchneider Electric Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or veteran status.