Senior Director of Finance, Emerging Businesses

Sweetwater Sound•Fort Wayne, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Sweetwater, the nation’s number one online retailer of music instruments and pro audio gear, is seeking a Senior Director of Enterprise Finance to join our growing Finance team! In this role, you will serve as a strategic finance partner embedded within Sweetwater's emerging and non-core lines of business. This is not a traditional accounting or controllership role, but rather an operational finance leadership position designed to put a high-caliber financial mind at the center of Sweetwater's growth businesses. The ideal candidate for this role is equally comfortable in a leadership meeting debating go-to-market strategy as they are building a financial model or reviewing a term sheet. You will be responsible for working cross-functionally across business units, partnering closely with senior leadership, operational leaders, and dedicated finance teams to develop plans, set and monitor key metrics, support critical decisions, and drive execution. You will also serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Financial Officer on Sweetwater’s strategic business and financial initiatives.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive finance experience, with meaningful exposure to operational finance, FP&A, business unit finance, or corporate development.
Demonstrated experience working as a finance partner embedded within, or directly supporting business operations, not solely in a centralized finance function.
Prior M&A experience (due diligence, financial modeling, or integration) is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting multiple business lines or subsidiaries simultaneously is a strong plus.
Background in retail, e-commerce, consumer products, technology, or a similarly dynamic industry is preferred.
Ability to connect financial data to business outcomes and drive action.
Strong financial modeling and analytical skills
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present complex financial topics clearly and confidently to both financial and non-financial audiences
Skilled at building relationships, earning trust, and driving alignment across diverse teams without direct authority
Capable of managing multiple business unit relationships and priorities simultaneously
Must be energized by new business models, ambiguous situations, and problem-solving in a fast-moving environment
Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field required
MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
CPA or CFA preferred

Nice To Haves

Prior M&A experience (due diligence, financial modeling, or integration)
Experience supporting multiple business lines or subsidiaries simultaneously
Background in retail, e-commerce, consumer products, technology, or a similarly dynamic industry
MBA or advanced degree
CPA or CFA

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary finance stakeholder and embedded strategic partner to the leadership teams of Sweetwater's emerging and non-core lines of business, including: Sweetwater Integration (SWI) & Commercial AVL, Sweetwater Instrument Rental, Gator Cases & Private Label, Gear Exchange (GX) & Used Gear Sales.
Partner closely with Commercial AVL and SWI leadership teams to further development on the combined Commercial strategy and operating system.
Provide finance oversight to the SWI finance team, including financial strategy, planning, and operational performance management.
Provide financial oversight, planning support, and operational performance overview as a finance partner alongside the leadership team for Sweetwater's growing Instrument Rental business.
Work in close collaboration with the Gator executive and finance teams to support strategic and financial planning, and operational results review. In addition, partner with key stakeholders on development and execution of Sweetwater’s private label strategy.
Partner with GX leadership to develop financial frameworks, monitor unit economics, and support the continued scaling of Sweetwater's used gear marketplace and Sweetwater’s larger Used Gear strategy.
Actively participate in weekly leadership meetings, operational reviews, and key decision-making forums across assigned business units, functioning as a core member of those teams, not a passive observer.
Partner with business unit leaders to develop multi-year strategies, financial roadmaps, and operating plans that align with Sweetwater's broader enterprise goals.
Help define, implement, and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics; translate results into clear, actionable insights for leadership.
Support capital allocation decisions by providing rigorous financial analysis, scenario modeling, and investment prioritization frameworks.
Participate in key contract reviews and negotiations, ensuring financial terms are sound and aligned with business objectives.
Partner directly with the CFO on merger and acquisition initiatives, including target identification support, financial due diligence, transaction modeling, and post-close integration planning.
Build and maintain financial models that support deal evaluation and strategic decision-making.
Act as a key liaison between the CFO and internal/external stakeholders throughout the M&A lifecycle.
Collaborate with the FP&A team to develop forecasts for each assigned business unit, ensuring that plans are grounded in operational reality and strategic intent.
Prepare and present financial results and forward-looking outlooks to senior management, translating complex financial data into clear narratives that drive informed decision-making.
Partner with the General Accounting team to ensure appropriate controls, reporting structures, and accounting frameworks are in place across all emerging business lines.