Finance Director - Operations

Kemin•Des Moines, IA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Finance Director – Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for serving as the primary finance partner to Kemin's global Operations group. This position goes beyond traditional financial oversight: the Finance Director will dig deeply into the details of operational accounting and cost structures, translate those insights into clear and actionable language for business unit leaders, and actively drive efficiency improvements and cost savings initiatives alongside the Operations team. The Finance Director – Operations is positioned specifically to enable influence and collaboration across business units without requiring direct hierarchical control. This individual will hold formal direct reports as well as dotted-line accountability over finance personnel embedded in operations locations worldwide. The role requires both technical depth and executive presence — someone equally comfortable in the weeds of a costing model and in front of senior leadership articulating the financial story of operations performance. This position is highly preferred to be onsite at our Des Moines Headquarters location. Join the Kemin Team and Transform Lives! We are a privately held, family-owned-and-operated global biotechnology company driven by curiosity and committed to transforming the quality of life for people, pets, and the planet. We create solutions that strengthen health and wellbeing, provide nutrition and immune support for pets and production animals, safeguard the planet’s natural resources, and protect the global food supply chain for generations to come. We supply over 500 specialty ingredients for various industries, including human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textiles, biofuels, and animal vaccines. We employ 3,500 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

Requirements

Undergraduate/Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field with 15+ years of progressive experience in a manufacturing or operations-intensive environment, OR Master's degree or CPA with 12+ years of relevant experience.
Strong FP&A, cost accounting, and operational finance background required.
Proven ability to influence and drive alignment across business units without direct authority — a collaborative leader who earns credibility through expertise and relationship-building.
Deep technical competency in cost accounting, operational finance, and manufacturing economics, combined with the ability to explain complex financial concepts to non-finance audiences.
A high-energy business partner with a strong commercialization and operational focus; able to provide leadership, set priorities, and meet timetables while driving meaningful outcomes.
An in-depth understanding of GAAP accounting, financial planning, and information services as they apply to manufacturing and operations environments.
Strong analytical capability in cost structures, OPEX optimization, and variance analysis.
Demonstrated ability to drive cost savings and efficiency improvement projects in partnership with operational teams.
Experience as a project team leader and motivator; ability to present ideas effectively and communicate well with all levels of management across diverse teams and geographies.
Strong project management skills including forecasting, project planning, and development of project timelines.
High degree of personal motivation, a desire to make an immediate contribution, and a distinct sense of urgency.
Experience dealing with challenging problems, developing strategies, prioritizing, and implementing appropriate solutions.
Strong Excel skills and proficiency with BI tools and financial analytics platforms.
A post-offer background check and drug screen is required. Additional pre-employment requirements may be necessary based on position.
Kemin is a drug-free and tobacco-free campus.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.
Multi-language ability a plus; international manufacturing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the dedicated finance leader and strategic business partner to Kemin's global Operations group, building trust-based relationships with Operations leadership across all sites and regions.
Translate complex operational financial data — including cost variances, absorption, COGS trends, and capital spend — into clear, digestible insights that Operations managers can act on.
Challenge the Operations team constructively to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve cost savings targets; bring structured financial rigor to operational decision-making.
Lead the development of financial models for investment decisions, capital projects, make-vs.-buy analyses, and operational improvement initiatives.
Drive accountability for operational KPIs by monitoring performance against budget and forecast, explaining variances, and partnering with Operations to course-correct.
Ensure compliance with US GAAP, local GAAP, and the Kemin WW Accounting Manual as it relates to operational accounting and cost structures.
Oversee cost accounting processes including product costing, margin analysis, standard cost setting, and variance analysis across all manufacturing locations.
Ensure the company's operational financials and analyses are accurate, timely, and reflective of true economic performance.
Assist with technical accounting issues related to manufacturing, inventory, and operational assets.
Help prepare and coordinate the annual budget, long-range planning, and rolling forecasts for the Operations function.
Analyze trends across COGS, OPEX, and CAPEX to generate forward-looking insights for Operations and senior leadership.
Ensure accurate and timely monthly and quarterly reporting packages for Operations, including commentary that bridges financial results to operational drivers.
Implement and enhance BI tools, dashboards, and performance analytics to support data-driven operations management.
Proactively perform complex analysis to support planning, proposed capital investments, and actual transactions.
Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements, state and local requirements, and internal controls as they relate to Operations finance.
Work on acquisitions and integration activities as needed, including due diligence, tax risk minimization, and compliance for operations-related transactions.
Coordinate with the WW Legal department on open items regarding contracts and operational matters.
Ensure Kemin's operational assets are protected at all times through sound financial governance and controls.
Support audit preparation and ensure compliance with global finance governance standards.
Directly lead a team of finance professionals aligned to the Operations function, with responsibility for coaching, development, and performance management.
Hold dotted-line accountability for finance personnel embedded within Operations across all global Kemin locations, providing direction, standards, and development support.
Promote a hands-on, collaborative leadership culture that empowers finance team members while maintaining rigorous financial standards.
Strengthen FP&A, cost accounting, OPEX management, and business partnering capabilities across the distributed Operations finance team.
Proactively work in concert with senior leaders across business units to provide relevant, timely financial information that enables maximum impact.

Benefits

Competitive salary
Uncapped bonus opportunities
401k match program
Generous paid vacation and holidays
Fitness reimbursement for the whole family
Access to an on-site fitness center
A restaurant offering seasonal fresh food options
Free fresh fruit in break areas
Opportunities for growth and development throughout your entire career
In-house learning platforms, offering thousands of training resources both live and online
Tuition reimbursement for external post-secondary pursuits
Paid time off for service
Partnerships with The World Food Programme and Habitat for Humanity
Local community initiatives