Director of Finance - Manufacturing (analytics-variance, etc.)

The Director of Finance - Manufacturing (analytics, variance, etc.) oversees all financial functions, including cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and inventory management, acting as a strategic partner to operations leadership. They ensure profitability and compliance with US GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley, and corporate policies while optimizing manufacturing costs and driving process efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Financial Leadership: Drive plant-level performance, including cost control, absorption, inventory management, and margin improvement.
• Strategic Financial Planning (FP&A): Develop Annual Operating Plans (AOP), quarterly reviews (QBR), and long-term financial forecasts.
• Cost Accounting & Control: Ensure reliable product costing, inventory valuation, and work-in-progress (WIP) management, often using SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Operational Partnership: Act as a key advisor to manufacturing leadership (General Managers, Operations Managers) to enhance profitability and support decision-making.
• Internal Controls & Reporting: Ensure compliant, timely, and accurate financial reporting, implementing controls to prevent fraud.
• Team Leadership: Build and develop an impactful finance team, mentoring them across multiple locations.

Required Skills and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; MBA or CPA preferred.
• Experience: 7–10 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, with 3–5 years in a manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of cost accounting, GAAP, and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, S4/HANA) is a plus.
• Leadership: Strong communication skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Common Performance Metrics (KPIs)

• Manufacturing Absorption
• Gross Margin Analysis
• Inventory Turnover and Accuracy
• Budget vs. Actual Variance Analysis
• Capital Expenditure ROI