Sr. Manager, Portfolio and Opex Analysis

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

19d•$158,500 - $218,000•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Materials is the leader in materials engineering solutions to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. Our innovations make possible™ the technology shaping the future. To achieve this, we employ some of the best, brightest, and most talented people in the world who work together as part of a winning team. This position reports directly to the Business Unit CFO of Metals Deposition (MDP). In this role, the candidate will apply conceptual and practical financial expertise to establish and standardize business processes, address complex business problems, and drive investment decisions for profitable growth. As a key finance business partner, the candidate will own and be responsible for managing the product portfolio for the MDP organization. The candidate must be able to anticipate internal and/or external business challenges and actively influence management with critical analysis and sound business advice. This role collaborates with various cross-functional organizations globally and requires the ability to provide solutions to complex problems. Directly manages one Analyst, in support of a fast growing business spanning multiple Key Product Units (KPUs) with a diverse set of new and existing products. Position Summary Leads financial strategy, portfolio investment governance, forecasting, and expense management for a major business unit while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and developing a high-performing finance team. Responsible for translating business strategy into actionable financial plans, ensuring disciplined resource allocation, and delivering financial performance aligned with corporate objectives.

Requirements

Strategic Thinking
Executive Presence
Business Partnership
Financial Acumen
Organizational Influence
Talent Development
Change Leadership
Data-Driven Decision Making

Responsibilities

Strategic Business & Finance Leadership: Partner directly with Business Unit Vice Presidents, General Managers, and functional leaders on strategic planning and business decisions.
Provide financial leadership for business growth initiatives, technology investments, and portfolio prioritization.
Influence resource allocation decisions through fact-based financial analysis and scenario modeling.
Drive alignment between business objectives and corporate financial commitments.
Portfolio Investment Governance: Lead financial oversight of a large R&D and capital investment portfolio.
Establish investment prioritization frameworks and funding recommendations.
Evaluate business cases, project economics, and return on investment for new initiatives.
Monitor portfolio health, investment performance, and strategic outcomes.
Present portfolio recommendations and trade-off analyses to executive leadership.
Financial Planning & Forecasting: Own annual operating plan, quarterly forecasts, long-range planning, and investment outlook processes.
Develop financial models supporting operating expense, headcount, labor, capital expenditures, and project investments.
Partner with business leaders to proactively identify financial risks and opportunities.
Drive forecast accuracy and accountability across the organization.
Expense Management & Financial Stewardship: Ensure achievement of corporate expense and profitability targets.
Establish financial controls and governance processes to support responsible spending.
Oversee operating expense performance, workforce planning, and project funding activities.
Lead corrective actions when spending trends deviate from financial commitments.
Executive Reporting & Decision Support: Deliver executive-level financial reviews, forecasting updates, and business performance analyses.
Create concise, actionable insights for senior leadership and corporate finance.
Communicate business risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
Support board-level, executive staff, and corporate planning processes as required.
Organizational Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop a team of financial analysts.
Build organizational capability through mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
Foster a culture of accountability, analytical rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Drive standardization, automation, and process enhancements across finance operations.
Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Corporate Finance.
Lead complex, cross-functional planning activities involving multiple organizations and geographic regions.
Influence decisions through strong business acumen, financial expertise, and executive communication.