Business Analyst - Manufacturing

Austin Powder•Cleveland, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Business Analyst - Manufacturing Overview This role sits at the intersection of finance and operations, owning the accuracy and transparency of product costing and manufacturing performance across the business. This individual will act as a key partner to finance and operations teams, developing and maintaining robust product costing models, analyzing manufacturing performance, and delivering actionable insights to improve margins. The successful candidate will be a hands-on analyst who understands how to translate operational activity into financial outcomes. He/she will help the organization gain a deeper understanding of product costs, manufacturing variances, and plant-level profitability, while supporting more accurate forecasting and decision-making. Additionally, the analyst will play a key role in developing dashboards that enhance financial fluency and highlight priority areas for improvement. This role will require regular interaction with plant operations, providing direct visibility into manufacturing processes and cost drivers. This individual will exhibit strong curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance costing accuracy, streamline processes, and unlock margin across the business.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
2–5+ years of experience in finance, cost accounting, or business analysis
Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment with exposure to plant operations preferred
Demonstrated progressive responsibility throughout career, with increasing scope and impact
Strong understanding of standard costing and manufacturing finance concepts
Advanced Excel skills with ability to analyze large datasets and build models, proficient in PowerPoint
Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar)
Experience with Power BI or other data visualization tools preferred
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to translate data into actionable insights
Strong communication skills with ability to partner across functions and influence without authority
Focuses on delivering measurable cost improvements and operational insights
Maintains strong attention to detail while meeting deadlines
Analytical & Data-Driven Translates complex data into clear, actionable recommendations
Uses data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
Business Partnership Builds strong relationships with operations and finance teams
Works collaboratively to drive improvements and influence outcomes
Continuous Improvement Mindset Proactively identifies process inefficiencies and opportunities for optimization
Supports automation and standardization of reporting and analysis
Technology & Tools Leverages analytics, dashboards, and automation tools to improve decision-making
Enhances data visibility and accessibility across the business
Clear Communication Presents financial insights in a clear and concise manner
Communicates effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders
Curious and inquisitive, always seeking deeper insights
Detail-oriented with strong ownership of work
Driven to improve processes and outcomes
Strong work ethic with a hands-on approach
Collaborative team player with a positive attitude
Proactive and action-oriented with a sense of urgency
Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Self-starter with a desire to learn and grow

Nice To Haves

Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment with exposure to plant operations preferred
Experience with Power BI or other data visualization tools preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as a business partner to finance, operations, and plant leadership teams
Identify cost savings opportunities and support implementation of improvement initiatives
Leverage analytics to identify trends, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
Provide cost-based recommendations for pricing decisions through detailed cost and margin analysis
Analyze customer and product line sales and profitability to highlight trends, margin performance, and strategic opportunities for growth, supporting commercial and operational decision ‑ making
Provide clear performance insights by breaking down results into price, volume, mix, inflation, and productivity drivers, ensuring leadership understands the underlying levers impacting outcomes
Analyze manufacturing variances (labor, material, overhead) and provide clear explanations of drivers
Track manufacturing KPIs including OEE, cost per unit, inventory turns
Develop dashboards and reporting tools to improve visibility into manufacturing performance
Partner in forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning
Build product and plant profitability analysis
Support capital investment analysis including ROI and payback modeling
Participate in process improvement initiatives within finance and operations
Assist in system enhancements related to costing, ERP, and reporting tools
Prepare and present analysis to finance and operational leadership
Lead or support high-impact special projects as assigned
Act as a financial translator between finance and operations to drive better decision-making
Assisting with scenario planning and ad hoc financial analysis