Erwin Johnson
2306 North First Street
P O Box 207
Winterset, Iowa 50273
Home 515-462-1593
Office 515-462-3810, Ext. 404
Fax 603-719-0293
erwinj@earthlink.net
Career Profile
Manufacturing Financial Manager with over twenty years experience leading the financial functions of manufacturing operations with up to 300 employees and $50 Million in sales. Recognized for ability to identify continuous change actions to reduce cost, enhance quality, and increase margins. Supervised up to 13 direct reports with responsibilities in financial reporting, planning, forecasting, information systems, accounts payable, payroll, fixed assets, and general ledger. Led several IS conversions bringing in new systems on or ahead of schedule and on or below budget. Enjoy driving new improvements.
Key strengths include: Process Improvement
Management Philosophy
In today's competitive world, the best way to ensure organizational success is to delight the customer. Today's customers -- and tomorrow's -- want responsiveness, low cost and high quality. If a company does not meet or exceed the customers needs, their competition will.
It's no longer enough for employees to simply "embrace" change: continuous improvement must become a way of doing business, where people actively seek improvements and where systems and processes support and drive initiative. Trust is the key. The work environment must be such that people work without fear, within a culture that encourages pride in both personal and organizational accomplishments.
Examples of Accomplishments
Process Improvement
Facilitated team charged with the improvement of inventory record accuracy: team results included improved on-time delivery from 45% to 95%, eliminated annual inventory losses exceeding $200,000, reduced freight costs by 1%, and improved record accuracy by 83%.
Reduced new bill of material (BOM) cycle time from several weeks to one day and improved BOM accuracy to 100%.
Developed a financial modeling system to evaluate multiple "what-if" scenarios; system reduced forecast and budget preparation time by 80%, increased process accuracy, and improved staff's awareness of actions needed to reach production and financial goals.
Implemented automated financial reporting process to download data, reducing annual overtime by $25,000 and enhancing accuracy and timeliness.
Developed and installed automated back flushing system to support JIT initiative.
Leadership
Led several cross-functional TQC teams and coached team members, as appropriate, to develop skills and confidence in their ability to examine work processes, create solutions, and measure improvements.
Participated in management team process to develop vision and mission statements.
Recognized for ability to develop consensus for strategic planning among all stakeholders.
Communicated with managers and coordinated the financial reporting of fifteen locations to consolidate financial data.
Facilitated numerous learning programs on new reporting systems.
Decentralized accounts payable to facilitate transition from cost centers to profit centers, and trained employees in the new system.
Identified ABM as a key strategy to drive process improvements.
Financial and Operations Management
Developed financial modeling system that reduced turnaround time from five days to one day.
Directed the movement of IS to Winterset plant with only one day of downtime.
Converted to new payroll and accounting systems that reduced and improved tax reporting and corporate consolidations.
Directed several IS conversions to increase accuracy and reduce time for financial recording and reporting.
Developed cost estimating process for quoting new business that was adapted by entire division.
Assisted in closing one office that reduced costs by over $500,000.
Installed LAN to enhance communication and information-sharing capacity.
Career History
Controller/IS Manager, Invensys Appliance Controls (formerly Siebe Appliance Controls, formerly Eaton Corporation), Winterset, Iowa, 1991 - Present
Responsible for financial management in a manufacturing plant with up to 225 employees and annual sales exceeding $34 Million.
Recognized for efforts to identify new processes to improve quality, reduce costs, and increase margin.
General Accounting Manager, Eaton Corporation - Division Office, Carol Stream, Illinois, 1985 - 1991.
Coordinated the financial reporting functions of fifteen locations and supervised accounts payable for entire division.
Trained plants in the use of corporate reporting systems.
Assisted several acquired plants in converting to corporate reporting systems, and assisted with due diligence reviews for new business acquisitions.
General Accounting Supervisor, Eaton Corporation - Division Office, Carol Stream, Illinois, 1980 -1985.
Supervised up to 13 people.
Directly involved in forecasting and planning, budgeting, and product line reporting for up to fifteen locations.
Accountant, Eaton Corporation - Division Office, Carol Stream, Illinois, 1976 - 1980.
Prepared product line financial statements, month-end closing, and product budgets.
Education
Bachelor of Science
Northern Illinois University, 1974
- Comprehensive Major: Accounting
Associate of Science
Rock Valley College, 1972
- Major: Accounting
- Lettered in Football
Certified Management Accountant: Certificate 4314, 1984
Certified Public Accountant: Certificate 20394, 1977
Complete 30 Hours of Continuing Education annually to maintain certifications.
What Others Say . . .
"Has a knack for seeing ways to do more with less."
"Intuitively knows IS technology and how to get more from the existing system."
"Listens to what others have to say."
"Erwin is always there - you can count on him."
"He's very tenacious, sticks with it until it gets done."
References furnished upon request
