Operations Finance Analyst

McCain Foods•Washburn, ME

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Operations Analyst serves as the key finance representative at the plant and is a critical member of the site leadership team. This role is responsible for day-to-day financial activities, plant performance analysis, forecasting, budgeting, standard costing, inventory controls, and variance reporting. The Operations Analyst partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, and Finance teams to provide actionable insights that improve financial and operational performance while supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the plant.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field required.
Experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, plant accounting, or operational finance.
Strong knowledge of standard costing, variance analysis, manufacturing accounting principles, and inventory management.
Experience developing and managing financial reporting and variance analysis processes in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to identify root causes of operational and financial variances and drive performance improvements.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills.
Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP and financial reporting tools.
Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to operational and business stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills across cross-functional teams.
Willingness and ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments, including extended walking, standing, and periodic lifting as required.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary finance point of contact for plant operations, providing analysis, reporting, and financial guidance.
Analyze labor, material, energy, yield, downtime, and operational variances, and communicate findings to plant leadership and finance teams.
Lead the monthly variance reporting cycle and maintain forecasting processes, including detailed explanations and performance recommendations.
Develop, automate, and maintain reporting tools, dashboards, and KPIs that enhance visibility into plant performance, throughput, and cost management.
Support month-end close activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, process order reviews, and general ledger accuracy.
Lead the development of the plant’s annual operating budget and support ongoing forecast updates.
Perform inventory audits and reconciliations for raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and spare parts while supporting strong inventory controls.
Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to identify cost savings opportunities, performance gaps, and corrective action plans.
Support SAP implementation activities at the plant, including planning, testing, training, and organizational readiness efforts.
Maintain key operational and financial systems, including Fusionware and AccountMate, ensuring accurate master data, grower payments, reporting, and transaction processing.
Ensure compliance with internal controls, food safety requirements, regulatory standards, and company policies.
Actively support continuous improvement initiatives by translating financial and operational data into meaningful business insights.