Job Description
Position Summary
The Financial Analyst supports the manufacturing organization by delivering comprehensive financial planning, analysis, and reporting within the Accounting Department. This role serves as a key business partner to operational and cross-functional teams, providing insights that strengthen financial performance, cost management, and strategic decision-making. The analyst is responsible for preparing and analyzing budgets and forecasts, evaluating financial and operational trends, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial results. With a deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures and business drivers, the Financial Analyst identifies improvement opportunities, enhances financial processes, and supports the organization in achieving its financial and operational goals.
Essential Accountabilities
- Oversee the preparation of budgets and financial forecasts for a large manufacturing unit
- Track and analyze actual expenditures against budgets to identify variances and recommend corrective actions
- Analyze financial data to identify trends, key performance indicators, and variances against forecast, budget, and actuals
- Prepare ad hoc financial analyses to support business performance evaluation and decision‑making
- Identify opportunities for improvement by researching variances and assessing cost‑saving opportunities
- Monitor, analyze, and manage project and organizational costs to ensure alignment with financial and budgetary goals
- Develop and implement cost‑control strategies to improve efficiency and reduce waste
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to develop accurate budget and forecasts and ensure financial alignment
- Review and validate cost estimates, pricing models, and purchase requisitions for accuracy and completeness
- Support the Controller in financial activities for the organization or its subdivisions
- Drive process improvements within accounting by identifying inefficiencies, standardizing workflows, strengthening internal controls, and supporting automation or system enhancements to improve accuracy, speed, and data quality
Essential Principal Skills and Abilities
- High emotional intelligence with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build trust across multiple functions and levels of the organization
- Strong learning‑by‑doing orientation supported by natural curiosity and a desire to ask questions, explore root causes, and continuously deepen understanding of processes, systems, and business challenges through hands-on engagement
- Deep understanding of manufacturing operations, including cost drivers, production flows, and operational constraints
- Solid foundation in cost accounting and business accounting principles, with the ability to apply them in a manufacturing environment
- Experience with automation, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency and data quality
- Ability to analyze and interpret actual results versus forecast and budget, identify key drivers, and clearly articulate the underlying story and implications
- Demonstrated capability to navigate and manage complex, ambiguous problems, balancing analytical rigor with practical judgment
Education and/or Experience
A bachelor’s degree in a financially related field is required; an accounting degree is preferred.
3+ years of experience preferred in a manufacturing environment