Manufacturing Planning Specialist

Summary

Supports manufacturing managers in creating project timelines, cost accounting, manpower planning and budgetary control. Appraises manufacturing operating results in terms of costs, budgets, operating expenses, trends and increased profit opportunities. Supports the preparation and execution of relevant reports, including budgetary goals, timeline and kit matrix completion percent, expense analysis and various weekly and monthly reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities (these are the positions essential duties and is not an all inclusive list)

Main areas of responsibilities are:

• Support the forecasting activities of manufacturing projects, including:

o Validating project timelines

o Manpower planning

o Overall budget creation and tracking

o Tracking scope completion to hours used

• Support the preparation of project summaries on a cadenced and total project life basis, including total costs, project margins, risks, opportunities and contingencies;

• Support Business Unit Controller with ad hoc reports, internal and external audit requirements and other special projects; 

• Promote financial awareness and accountability within the manufacturing teams; 

• Ensure internal policies and processes are adhered to by manufacturing teams;

• Prepares other various weekly and monthly reports as needed; attends and supports project platform leaders in accordance with the financial calendar

Knowledge & Skills

• Microsoft office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) - Advanced Excel skills required;

• Familiar with ERP systems, specifically SAP;

• Clear understanding of project timelines;

• Working knowledge of project based organizations;

• Financial management skills and knowledge of basic accrual based accounting system;

• Budgeting and forecasting know-how; 

• Analyzing and interpreting data;

• Financial planning, reporting and compliance;

• Identifying measures or indicators for system performance monitoring;

• Ability to plan and coordinate workflow and outputs efficiently across multiple functional groups

Behavioral Competencies 

• Ability to work in a dynamic, multicultural environment;

• Flexible and able to work cross-culturally to optimize performance of the global team;

• Has a mindset for driving and implementing change;

• Strong written and verbal communication skills;

• Appetite for accountability;

• Strong leadership and organization skills, ability to positively influence and guide others;

• Self-starter with good sense of team work;

• Strong problem solving capabilities;

• Proactive and results oriented;

• Ability to multitask and execute to a plan

Qualifications

• Education:

o BS in Finance or relevant field preferred

• Experience:

o Minimum of 3-5 years of finance and/or project management experience at Non-Production Based Automotive Companies (preferably Body in White (BIW) Tier 1 Suppliers)

• Languages

o Fluent in English, any other language is an asset