Director, Strategic Operations FP&A

Recochem•Rosemont, IL

60d•$170,000 - $195,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Strategic Operations FP&A is a key leadership role responsible for driving the development and execution of the company's strategic and financial plans in coordination with operations. This individual will work closely with senior management and cross-functional teams to identify and evaluate strategic opportunities, develop financial models and budgets, and provide financial analysis and insights to support decision-making. This role requires strong expertise in manufacturing and operational accounting, technical accounting under US GAAP, and advanced financial budgeting and forecasting experience across the P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow. This role will collaborate with both US and global leadership teams, providing actionable insights, ensuring compliance, and building a high-performance operations-focused FP&A function. This role will lead a team of 4, consisting of US Plant Controllers and Analysts. This position is based out of our Rosemont, IL office and will require a local candidate for hybrid schedule of 3x/week in-person. Expected travel about 30%.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field; CPA or equivalent preferred.
Experience: 10+ years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5+ years in leadership roles.
Proven track record in manufacturing / operational accounting, technical accounting under US GAAP.
Strong expertise in financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis.
Advanced proficiency with Excel, ERP systems (JD Edwards, D365), and BI tools for reporting and analytics.
Drive digital finance initiatives and automation to improve reporting and decision-making.
Participate in ERP and various software implementation projects.
Deep knowledge of cost accounting, P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow management.
Strong financial and operational risk management skills.
Excellent communication and executive presence; ability to influence at all levels including corporate and ELT.
Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution.
Strong leadership, demonstrated team development skills , and effective change management.

Responsibilities

Develop and update the company's long-term strategic plan, including identifying growth opportunities and assessing potential risks and benefits.
Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process, including the development of detailed financial models and the analysis of financial data to ensure accuracy and alignment with the company's overall strategy.
Working with each business unit and individual plant managers to prepare budgets and consolidate them into one overall entity budget.
Provide financial analysis and insights to support operational and strategic decision-making, including the identification of trends and variances and the development of recommendations for improvement.
Analyze and interpret financial performance data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement, and provide recommendations for action to executive leadership team
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement financial and operational plans that support the company's overall strategy, including identifying and evaluating potential partnerships, joint ventures, and other strategic opportunities.
Communicate financial performance and plans to senior management, shareholders, and other stakeholders through regular financial reports and presentations.
Manage and develop a team of financial professionals, providing guidance and mentorship to support their professional development and growth.
Ensure compliance with financial and legal regulations and guidelines.
Identify internal control, process improvement, and cost savings opportunities and implement those measures in coordination with the team and cross-functional team/leads