Finance Manager-EV, Digital & Design

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford is seeking a finance partner for its Advanced Electric Vehicle Development, Digital Design and Corporate Design engineering functions within Product Creation & Industrialization. The role leads financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis and reporting, and may expand in scope over time based on the hire’s experience and capability. The Finance Manager works closely with engineering leaders, learns the work firsthand and uses data and financial analysis to clarify priorities and guide decisions across hardware and software development. Areas of focus include build-versus-buy decisions, capital and expense choices, headcount and supplier spending, and returns on technology investments.

The position is based in Dearborn, Michigan, in a hybrid arrangement requiring onsite work four or more days per week. The role leads and develops finance professionals and influences finance and business partners across the organization. Ford describes the position as leadership level 6, with a salary range of $115,500–$218,100. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or a related field.
• At least 8 years of finance and accounting experience with increasing responsibilities, including budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis for an engineering, R&D, software or technology organization.
• Experience directing the work of others, as a manager, team lead or through influence without authority.
• Ability to quantify return on investment for software, technology or capital programs.
• Working knowledge of internal controls and SOX.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including in new or undefined situations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with senior executives and technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, meet quick turnaround times and deliver tangible results.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or CPA.
• Experience in a high-growth technology environment, such as cloud, software, devices or hardware-plus-software, with ownership of a significant cost base.
• Knowledge of software development cost treatment, including capitalization versus expense.
• Track record of owning problems end to end, defining the problem, closing the gap and monitoring results.
• Advanced financial modeling skills and experience with SQL or a business intelligence tool.
• Curiosity about AI and automation, with practical experience applying them to improve analysis and reporting and judgment to validate results.
• Comfort with ambiguity and a bias for action.
• Natural curiosity about technology and data.
• Automotive, EV or electronics experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual budgeting process for Engineering organizations in partnership with operational leadership.
• Own monthly and quarterly forecasts and variance analysis, identify root causes, and determine follow-up actions.
• Develop and maintain financial models for technology investment decisions, including build-versus-buy, capital-versus-expense, and software-development return on investment.
• Prepare and present financial results, insights and recommendations to senior leaders and the relevant engineering leadership teams.
• Monitor engineering spending against budgets and statements of work; ensure compliance with company policies and procedures, and identify risks and opportunities with recommended actions.
• Review and approve capital project requests, purchase requisitions and other spending requests for accuracy and compliance.
• Identify and implement cost-saving and efficiency opportunities without putting engineering delivery at risk.
• Provide financial input into the product development cycle plan in partnership with stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to Engineering leadership, providing guidance on costs, trade-offs and investment choices.
• Collaborate with Engineering business offices on business cases and opportunities to optimize how work is done.
• Support supply chain and transformation teams on vendor contracts and cost negotiations.
• Implement process improvements, including automation and improved use of data, to enhance engineering financial management.
• Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements and other relevant regulations, and maintain documentation of key financial processes.
• Lead and develop finance professionals and influence finance and business partners across the organization.
• Foster a collaborative, results-oriented work environment and hold self and others to a high standard.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs and subsidized backup child care.
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments and other family-building benefits.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager