Finance Manager - Operations
About The Position
The Finance Manager – Operations leads the financial oversight of inventory across the company, partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Accounting, and Commercial teams. The role supports accurate inventory valuation, effective internal controls, working capital management, and actionable financial insights for operational and strategic decisions. Reporting to the Director of Operations Finance, the position is responsible for inventory analysis and reporting across raw materials, work in process, and finished goods at company and third-party locations. The position leads inventory close activities, forecasting, variance analysis, physical inventory and cycle-count coordination, reserve assessments, audit support, and process improvements. It also provides financial guidance on inventory reduction, service-level tradeoffs, sourcing decisions, product transitions, and other initiatives affecting working capital and profitability. The role requires 15% regional travel to support physical inventories, audits, and operational reviews.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
- At least 7 years of progressive finance or accounting experience, including significant responsibility for inventory, cost accounting, or manufacturing finance.
- Strong knowledge of inventory valuation, standard costing, reserves, manufacturing variances, reconciliations, and financial close processes.
- Experience designing, improving, and maintaining internal controls over inventory and cost accounting.
- Ability to analyze large, complex data sets and convert findings into concise financial insights, recommendations, and action plans.
- Experience with inventory forecasting, working capital management, annual planning, and periodic financial forecasts.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, and warehousing processes.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain financial concepts to operational and executive audiences.
- Ability to build effective cross-functional relationships, influence decisions, and lead process improvements without direct authority.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of Word, Power BI, OneStream, and PowerPoint.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Willingness to travel within the region to support physical inventories, audits, and operational reviews (15% travel).
Nice To Haves
- CPA, CMA, or MBA.
- Experience with business intelligence or data visualization tools.
- SAP experience, including inventory and cost-related functionality.
Responsibilities
- Own inventory financial analysis across raw materials, work in process, and finished goods held at company and third-party locations.
- Ensure accurate inventory valuation in accordance with company policies and applicable accounting standards, including standard costs, reserves, and period-end adjustments.
- Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end inventory close activities, including reconciliations, journal entries, variance analysis, and management reporting.
- Analyze inventory balances, turns, days on hand, aging, excess and obsolete exposure, shrink, cycle-count results, and other key performance indicators; translate findings into actions and recommendations.
- Develop and maintain inventory forecasts, working capital plans, and scenario models with Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
- Monitor purchase price, usage, yield, scrap, mix, volume, and other manufacturing variances; identify root causes and partner with stakeholders on corrective actions.
- Establish, document, and maintain internal controls, policies, and procedures for inventory transactions, master data, costing, physical inventory, and financial reporting.
- Coordinate annual physical inventories and ongoing cycle-count programs across company and third-party sites; investigate discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
- Assess reserve requirements for excess, obsolete, slow-moving, damaged, and at-risk inventory; prepare supporting analyses and recommendations for leadership approval.
- Prepare inventory reporting and commentary for monthly business reviews, forecasts, annual operating plans, audits, and leadership presentations.
- Support internal and external auditors with documentation, control evidence, analyses, and timely responses related to inventory and cost accounting.
- Improve inventory processes, reporting, systems, and data quality, including automation and standardization opportunities within SAP and Power BI-related tools.
- Provide financial guidance on inventory reduction, service-level tradeoffs, sourcing decisions, product transitions, and other initiatives affecting working capital and profitability.
- Support the Director of Operations Finance with ad hoc analyses and strategic projects.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness benefits.
- Company-matching 401(k) plan.
- Company-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
- Company-paid identity theft insurance.
- Company-paid disability coverage.
- Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
- Company-paid employee assistance program.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Voluntary life insurance.
- Legal benefits.
- Critical illness insurance.
- Accident insurance.
- Hospital indemnity insurance.
- Pet insurance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
