Sr. Director, Brand Finance

Ferrara • Chicago, IL

3d • $162,975 - $228,165 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Sr. Director of Brand Finance to join our finance team and play a pivotal role in driving profitable growth across Ferrara's portfolio of brands. This role will serve as a key business partner to Brand Marketing, Innovation, and Commercial Leadership teams, providing critical financial insights to support strategic decision-making, optimize investments, and maximize brand profitability. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in consumer packaged goods, brand financial management, innovation evaluation, and strategic planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• 12-15 years of progressive finance experience, including significant experience in brand finance, commercial finance, strategic planning, or consumer packaged goods finance.
• Consumer products industry experience strongly preferred.
• Proven experience partnering with Marketing, Innovation, and Commercial teams to drive business performance and strategic growth.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex data and deliver actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior executives and cross-functional leadership teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with ERP and financial planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle EPM Planning and Budgeting platform (EPBCS), Hyperion) preferred.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or CPA preferred.
• Consumer products industry experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP and financial planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle EPM Planning and Budgeting platform (EPBCS), Hyperion) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the strategic finance leader for Ferrara’s Domestic Brands portfolio, collaborate closely with Brand Marketing, Innovation, Sales, and Commercial Planning teams to drive profitable growth and value creation.
• Act as primary finance partner to brand leadership, supporting the development and execution of growth strategies across Ferrara's portfolio.
• Lead financial planning, forecasting, and performance management processes for assigned brands, including Annual Operating Plans, monthly forecasts, and long-range strategic plans.
• Partner with Marketing leadership to evaluate and optimize advertising, consumer promotion, and brand investment spending, balancing growth objectives with return on investment and profitability targets.
• Provide financial leadership and governance for portfolio and commercialization decisions, ensuring investments are aligned with enterprise growth and margin objectives.
• Provide financial leadership across functions in evaluating innovation launches, pricing strategies, and any other margin enhancement opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze brand performance, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities related to volume, mix, pricing, margins, and market dynamics.
• Oversee financial assessments of innovation pipelines, including business case development, post-launch reviews, and investment prioritization.
• Develop and enhance executive reporting and KPIs to provide actionable insights to senior leadership.
• Manage month-end close, forecasting, and reporting processes in partnership with the broader Finance organization.
• Collaborate with Finance, IT, and Data & Analytics teams to identify and implement systems and reporting enhancements that improve decision-making and operational efficiency.
• Champion continuous improvement across financial processes, planning methodologies, and performance management practices to strength organizational capabilities.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of finance directors, managers and analysts, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, development, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO).
• Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance.

What This Job Offers

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