Senior Director, Finance, Planning & Accounting

LIVING OUR VALUES

All associates are guided by Our Values. Our Values are the unifying foundation of our companies. We strive to ensure that every decision we make and every action we take demonstrates Our Values. We believe that putting Our Values into practice creates lasting benefits for all of our associates, shareholders, and the communities in which we live.

Gulf States Financial Services Group, or GSFS Group, is a leading provider of F&I products and award winning reinsurance structures to the automotive industry. Founded in Houston, Texas in 1982, GSFS Group is recognized nationwide as a leading provider of F&I products and award winning reinsurance structures to the automotive industry.

The Company is committed to offering ALL five participation structures:

DO, DOWC, CFC, NCFC and Retro. Partnering with GSFS Group allows customers to choose the structure that fits their current needs with the support to change and adapt over time.

At GSFS Group, there is one simple goal and that is to provide a straightforward and highly responsive customer experience to its general agents, dealers and end consumers. Through its general agent network, GSFS Group provides dealerships andtheir customers with the most complete and innovative F&Iproduct portfolio in the industryincluding:

Vehicle Service Contracts

Maintenance Programs

GAP

Tire & Wheel Service Contracts

Limited Warranty Administration

Credit Insurance

Hiring Winners®

GSFS Group understands that its actions don't just control its own standing, but also impact the reputation of the general agents and dealers that sell the Company’s products and services. With this in mind, GSFS Group supports its dealer efforts with first class customer service, extensive dealer training options and a comprehensive online contract management toolkit.

Please see more details at:

http://www.gsfsgroup.com/

GSFS Group is part of the Friedkin Companies, Inc. a privately-held family of businesses, headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company’s combined revenues are greater than $6 billion annually and include Gulf States Toyota, Inc., a significant national distributor of Toyota products and services to dealers in the United States, along with other businesses including financial services, insurance, energy and travel-hospitality management.

Founded in 1969, the Friedkin Companies has consistently been named to Forbes’ list of Top Private Companies.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Director, Finance and Accounting under the leadership of the Vice President, Finance and CFO will be accountable for establishing and maintaining accurate financial reporting, effective internal controls and company policies, accounting principles, practices and procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Statutory Account Principles (SAP), accounting records (including but not limited to general ledger, chart of accounts, fixed asset ledger and other subsidiary ledgers), completing the monthly and year end close processes within deadlines, account reconciliations, sales cycle accounting including customer billing and collections, disbursement cycle accounting, tax accounting and various tax matters (property, sales and use, premium, income, excise, franchise), investments and related investment processing and support internal and external audits for all GSFS companies.

The Senior Director will also be accountable for the development of financial plans for GSFS companies, providing financial analysis to:

improve returns and results; improve decision making; and facilitate strategic planning, working with The Friedkin Group (TFG) to establish company performance benchmarks and representing the group with outside agencies on various financial matters. The Director also will take action to enhance cross-functional coordination, expand internal communications, and develop the financial planning and accounting associates in GSFS.

Key Relationships

Reports to:

Vice President and CFO GSFSGroup

Peers & Direct reports to:

Director of Accounting, Finance & Planning, Reinsurance, Investment Manager

Other key relationships:

President, GSFSGroup, Chief Revenue Officer, GSFSGroup, Vice President and CFO, Treasury – The Freidkin Group, President – The Friedkin Group

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Lead, motivate, reward, and develop department associates

Participate in the collection and analysis of competitive and industry information that aid in decision making and the setting of the Company's strategic direction

Analyze and advise the Company's management team regarding the Company's results of operations and financial condition with respect to its business plan, budgets, forecasts, cash plans, product lines, etc.; explain trends; and recommend actions to increase the Company's revenues, profits, and growth.

Participate in the Company's and TFG’s treasury functions, primarily in the areas of setting investment policies and determining asset allocations.

Challenge GSFS leaders to continually evaluate current business practices ensuring the business is making the right financial decisions including evaluating the financial impact of initiatives and probability of success

Identify revenue generating and cost saving opportunities

Oversee the preparation of financial reports and maintenance of internal controls for the GSFS Group of companies.

Manage the development and maintenance of financial forecasting, budgeting, product costing, and transaction models. Develop methodologies to track and analyze Key Performance Indicators.

Coordinate and manage the development of annual GSFS Group business plan and budgets of GSFS companies; provide financial advice and facilitate related decisions.

Analyze financial returns with respect to budgets, forecasts, and product lines; explain variances and trends; and recommend actions. Conduct profitability studies, trend analyses, and similar analytical actions.

Collaborate with TFG on the activities supporting the GSFS companies’ system of internal controls, general accounting and internal, statutory and external financial statement preparation to ensure the companies’ accounting and financial reporting are in compliance with authoritative Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), statutory regulations and the GSFS companies’ information requirements.

Direct the preparation of selected schedules, write ups, etc. necessary to support the GSFS companies’ annual financial and regulatory audits as needed.

Participate in maintaining technology systems and implementing business process changes necessary to support new products and existing product updates that will have an impact on the GSFS companies’ operations, accounting and financial reporting.

Participate in the preparation for and conduct of financial examinations by departments of insurance and other outside agencies.

Collaborate with TFG and the external tax return preparers to develop and implement tax strategies for the GSFS companies; coordinate the information needed for the annual tax return preparation and review the tax accounting transactions and footnote disclosures.

CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION:

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Ideal Experience

Demonstrate leadership, team building, financial planning, and coordination skills.

Demonstrate an understanding of internal control structures

Demonstrate strong analytical and problem solving skills.

Demonstrate knowledge of F&I products.

Demonstrate broad knowledge of GAAP and SAP (Statutory Accounting Principles) and applicable federal, state laws and regulations pertaining to GSFS Group of companies and its products.

Demonstrate strong computer skills (spreadsheets, databases, word processing, etc.).

Demonstrate knowledge of federal taxation and taxation strategies as it pertains to the insurance industry and GSFS Group of companies and its products.

Is able to promote, coordinate, and support change.

Is able to communicate effectively – orally and in writing.

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; and 15+ years related management experience and at least ten years of insurance industry experience. An advanced degree preferred.

CPA preferred.

Critical Competencies for Success

Leadership and Organizational Savvy:

The ideal candidate will be decisive and have fact-based decision making capabilities that provide direction and commitment in order to set and realize the goals and objectives of the department consistent with company strategy. The individual will be able to identify and eliminate barriers to legacy or ineffective processes.

He or she will serve as an example to others by being pragmatic, hands-on and always supporting arguments with facts and data. The candidate will be able to deal with ambiguity in a mature and professional manner and bring a solution-focused, analytical approach to problem solving.

This executive will have a leadership style that is in alignment with the corporate culture at both GSFS Group and the Friedkin Group. Equally important will be the individual’s ability to bring strategic vision and customer focus together to create a strategic advantage for the Company.

Target Orientation:

The ideal candidate will have a bias for action and a forward thinking orientation that uses information to shape the future. He/she will not rest until the goals are achieved. He/she will be skilled in developing internal and external relationships required for achievement of company goals and objectives, whether with internal constituencies or with external stakeholder

Other Personal Characteristics

A resourceful, action-oriented individual who possesses a strong sense of urgency and who knows how to overcome obstacles to get things done in a timely fashion.

An individual who is able to work in a lean, action-oriented environment.

Possess the ability to interact effectively in a broad range of situations and deal with pressures of time and changing conditions.

Leadership expertise in providing a vision for what has to be done, winning the support to execute the vision and managing to achieve established business objectives. A thought leader who can build a consensus and shared perspective from a series of individually focused people and departments.

An unusually effective leadership style based on the art of listening, persuading, and facilitating. A passionate motivator who is extremely well organized. Demonstrated ability to attract and to manage great talent.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the associate is required on a daily basis to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a stationary position for a significant amount of the work day; and frequently access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices.

The associate is regularly required to move about the office and around the corporate campus. The associate is occasionally required to travel to other sites, including out-of-state, where applicable, for business. The associate must frequently move up to 10 pounds and occasionally move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in an office environment, the associate is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, areas in which moving mechanical parts, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals are present, and outside weather conditions.

The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the associate may be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Minimal travel is required for this position (up to 25% of the time and on a domestic basis).

The Friedkin Group and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers and maintain drug-free workplaces by conducting pre-employment drug testing.

#LI-DR1

HP125