Sr. Finance Manager - Innovation - Chicago, IL
About The Position
The Senior Manager, Innovation Finance serves as the financial lead for the innovation portfolio, guiding commercial investment decisions from concept through commercialization. The role combines financial analysis, governance, cross-functional partnership, and long-range planning to support profitable growth while balancing risk, resource constraints, and long-term value creation. The position leads financial evaluation of the innovation pipeline, develops business cases and investment recommendations, and partners with teams across the business to incorporate financial considerations early in product development. It also supports stage-gate reviews and executive decisions, identifies risks and sensitivities, and makes recommendations about portfolio trade-offs and resource allocation. The role provides developmental leadership to direct reports and champions change management behaviors with business partners.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive Finance experience, ideally in CPG or brand-focused roles.
- Strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of P&L management.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Nice To Haves
- MBA or CPA.
- Experience with Oracle EPM, Hyperion, or similar systems.
Responsibilities
- Lead financial evaluation of the innovation pipeline from concept through commercialization and present analysis and recommendations to senior management and internal stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain innovation P&Ls, business cases, and investment recommendations.
- Assess profitability, margin structure, volume assumptions, and return on investment for new products.
- Partner with Marketing, Innovation, Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, RGM, and Commercial teams to integrate financial considerations early in product development.
- Establish financial criteria and decision frameworks for innovation prioritization.
- Facilitate financial alignment across stakeholders and ensure transparency of key assumptions.
- Support stage-gate reviews and executive decision-making processes.
- Identify risks, sensitivities, and key assumptions that may affect innovation outcomes.
- Recommend portfolio trade-offs and resource allocation.
- Provide guidance, direction, and developmental leadership to direct reports to drive a high-performance culture.
- Use curiosity and critical thinking to ask probing questions, challenge conventional assumptions, and explore alternative perspectives.
- Make timely recommendations using available information while recognizing risks, uncertainties, and the need for further analysis.
- Champion change management behaviors and influence business partners.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits supporting health and financial wellness.
- Paid time off (PTO).
- Eligible employees may receive an annual incentive bonus based on company performance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
