Senior Financial Analyst

Job Title: Senior Financial Analyst Reports to: CFO FLSA Status: Exempt; Salaried Schedule: Monday through Friday // 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Senior Financial Analyst Summary Specializing in operational finance to enhance cost efficiency and support day-to-day manufacturing operations in our fast-paced production environment. This role centers on creating, updating, and optimizing standard manufacturing costs while providing hands-on financial guidance to plant teams. Leverages own expertise in cost modeling and variance analysis to drive operational improvements, reduce production variances, and ensure accurate costing for informed decision-making across supply chain and production functions. Additionally, support monthly and quarterly financial processes, including the preparation of financial models and management/board presentation decks. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following: Operational Variance & Cost Analysis: Perform in-depth variance analysis on operational metrics, such as material variances, labor efficiency gaps, and overhead absorption discrepancies against standards. Identify root causes of cost overruns (e.g., scrap rates, downtime, rework) and partner with operations to implement corrective actions for real-time cost control. Support daily operational reviews by providing cost impact assessments for production scheduling, shift adjustments, and resource allocation. Operational Finance Business Partnering: Serve as the primary finance liaison to manufacturing operations, offering proactive insights on cost drivers during production meetings and shift handovers. Analyze operational KPIs (e.g., cost per unit, throughput rates, OEE) and recommend strategies to optimize working capital, such as inventory reduction and cycle time improvements. Assist in make-or-buy decisions, outsourcing evaluations, and capacity planning with detailed cost simulations. Standard Cost Creation & Updates: Develop and maintain standard manufacturing costs from scratch, including detailed breakdowns of direct materials, labor standards, machine utilization, and overhead rates based on engineering data and production routings. Conduct annual and ad-hoc cost updates in response to material price changes, process optimizations, inflation adjustments, or supplier negotiations; ensure ERP system (e.g., PLEX, SAP, Oracle) reflects accurate standard costs for all product lines. Collaborate with engineering and procurement to incorporate design changes, BOM revisions, and efficiency gains into cost models. Inventory Management & Reconciliation: Oversee standard cost-based inventory valuation, including cycle counts, obsolescence reviews, and variance reconciliations to the general ledger. Drive initiatives to minimize excess inventory and improve turnover through accurate costing and forecasting. Budgeting, Forecasting, & Capital Projects: Lead operational budgeting and forecasting at the plant level, integrating updated standard costs into monthly rolling forecasts. Evaluate CapEx investments (e.g., new machinery, process automation) using standard cost models to project ROI, payback periods, and operational savings. Track and report on post-project performance against budgeted costs. Monthly & Quarterly Financial Support: Provide monthly and quarterly close support Prepare and update financial models for scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and what-if simulations related to production volumes, cost changes, and market impacts. Develop management and board presentation decks, synthesizing operational data, financial trends, and key insights into clear, executive-level visuals (e.g., using PowerPoint). Qualifications / Experience / Education Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. 5+ years of experience in operational finance within manufacturing, with proven expertise in creating and updating standard manufacturing costs (e.g., building cost models from BOMs/routings and handling annual rollovers). Advanced skills in Excel for financial modeling (e.g., scenario analysis, sensitivity testing) and extensive hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, JDE, Plex or equivalent) focused on cost accounting modules. Strong analytical abilities to link operational performance to financial outcomes, with excellent communication for cross-functional collaboration. Previous high-volume manufacturing / automotive experience preferred Personal Protection Equipment Wearing Safety Glasses when working on the shop floor. Management has the right to add or change these duties of the position at any time.