Executive Director, FP&A and Operations Finance

Detroit Manufacturing Systems•Auburn Hills, MI

18d

About The Position

DMS’ Purpose: We are creating a culture of service. We empower others to grow, rise and give back – accelerating positive change in the world. We lead with the heart to bring out the best in you – which brings out the best in us. As a dynamic and innovative team, we are dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions to our customers in the automotive and non-automotive sectors. We do well so we can do good. Serve Others, Enrich Lives, Rise Together and Give Back Position Overview: The Executive Director, FP&A and Operations Finance is a critical senior finance leadership role responsible for enterprise-wide Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and functional oversight of Operations Controllership across the organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this leader serves as the CFO’s primary strategic partner in driving financial performance, operational accountability, and forward-looking decision support. This role leads the development of financial strategy, forecasting discipline, and performance management across the business, while directly managing a team of Operations Controllers embedded within plants and operating units. The Executive Director will play a central role in translating business strategy into actionable financial plans, ensuring transparency, rigor, and alignment between corporate objectives and operational execution. This is a highly visible opportunity to serve as the CFO’s right hand in shaping financial strategy while directly influencing operational execution and performance across the enterprise. The Executive Director will play a central role in building best-in-class FP&A discipline and strengthening controllership rigor across operations.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive finance experience, including senior leadership roles in FP&A and operations finance
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level FP&A and partnering directly with a CFO or executive leadership team
Proven ability to lead, influence, and develop plant/controller organizations in a manufacturing or operational setting
Exceptional analytical, strategic, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable business insights
Strong executive presence and ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred
Experience in automotive, manufacturing, industrial, or operationally complex environments
Hands-on knowledge of Adaptive Planning and SAP
Collaborative, high-accountability leadership style with a continuous improvement mindset
Ability to drive alignment across corporate finance, operations leadership, and plant-level execution
Experience with Adaptive Planning and SAP strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of enterprise FP&A, including the annual operating plan, budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long-range strategic planning
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team on financial strategy, scenario modeling, and key business decisions
Develop and communicate clear financial narratives and performance insights for executive leadership and Board-level discussions
Own forecast accuracy, variance analysis, and identification of enterprise-wide risks and opportunities
Drive financial discipline and accountability through consistent cadence, reporting, and business review processes
Provide functional leadership and direct oversight of Operations Controllers across manufacturing plants and business units
Ensure strong linkage between corporate FP&A, operational performance metrics, and plant-level execution
Standardize operational financial reporting, KPIs, and performance management routines across the organization
Partner closely with Operations leadership to drive improvements in margin performance, cost structure, productivity, and cash flow
Strengthen financial governance, controllership rigor, and decision-support capabilities throughout operations
Lead FP&A systems, tools, and process enhancements to enable faster, higher-quality decision-making
Advance financial modeling, dashboards, and analytics to improve visibility into operational and enterprise performance
Champion continuous improvement and best practices across forecasting, reporting, and financial governance
Support integration and scalability of finance processes in a dynamic, operationally complex environment