Director of Finance

WHO WE ARE

We are the proud artisans behind San Francisco's beloved bakery brand, La Boulangerie, charting a path towards a nationwide presence in the world of CPG. Established in 1996 by French baker Pascal Rigo, La Boulangerie swiftly earned its place as a household name across California. Our unwavering mission from day one has been to bring a little taste of France, with delicious and nutritious food, to as many people as possible.

Our migration from cafe business to consumer-packaged goods has been swift. We already exist in some of the largest retailers in the US. With over 100% growth over the last three years, we are looking for builders to help further evolve our company.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Director of Finance reports directly to the CFO and will oversee key financial activities, provide strategic financial guidance, and support the company's long-term financial goals. This role will be responsible for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, strategic decision making, M&A activities and supporting risk management, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Additionally, the Director of Finance with build and maintain a strong partnership with the Controller / accounting area of our financial business.

This is a hands-on, business savvy leader driving the business in a Consumer-Packaged Goods and Manufacturing space, through deep understanding and ongoing analysis of our operation, with ability to influence suggested solutions that driving ongoing growth. The curiosity, understanding and interest in evolving our financial systems for optimal growth will be key to the success of this Director.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are analytically driven, using data to make business decisions.
• You are matriculas in your organization of data and your attention to detail.
• Critical thinker, engaged in root-cause analysis.
• Brings “beyond the question” responses back, demonstrating anticipatory, progressive thinking.
• Competitive and seeking out continuous improvements.
• Can take critical calculated risks.
• A passionate leader able to inspire, engage and mobilize the organization.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment and can work on various projects simultaneously, requiring strong organizational and time management skills.
• Broad business and people interests, using knowledge to create and execute ideas.
• Inclined to boldly take on issues and challenges; to comfortably confront and work through conflict; to communicate messages without hesitation; to deal promptly and fairly with employee relations issues.
• Self-aware; responsive to feedback; flexible and adaptable.
• A keen eye for ongoing process improvement – good is the enemy of great.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Strategic Financial Planning:

• Lead the budgeting and forecasting processes, including 5-year plan, annual plan, quarterly forecast and real-time projections.
• Lead the development and implementation of financial strategies to support the company's goals.
• Develop and maintain financial models and analysis tailored to support strategic initiatives.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to senior management for decision-making.
• Collaborate with senior management to create long-term financial strategies that align with industry trends and market conditions.

Financial Analysis and Management:

• Analyze financial performance against key business metrics for every aspect of the business, documenting pertinent financial highlights that will enable management to determine progress against budgets.
• Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying variances and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop financial models and analyses to support strategic initiatives, including product cost analysis, inventory management, and supply chain optimization.
• Conduct scenario analysis and evaluate the financial impact of potential business decisions, such as new product launches or changes in manufacturing processes.
• Manage cash flow forecast, capital expenditure analysis and approval, and working capital forecast to ensure financial stability.

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and present accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to the executive team and board of directors.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial results, including production costs, inventory levels, and sales performance.
• Implement and manage robust financial reporting systems that cater to the specific needs of the manufacturing and CPG sectors.
• Ensure compliance with financial reporting standards, including GAAP and industry-specific regulations.
• Implement and maintain robust financial reporting systems.

Risk Management:

• Identify and manage financial risks, including those related to supply chain, production, and market fluctuations.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Cost Management:

• Analyze and control production costs, including raw materials, labor, and overhead.
• Develop Standard costing for all active and future finished goods and subassemblies.
• Monitor and address variances with Operations leadership.
• Develop strategies to optimize cost efficiency and improve profit margins.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising product quality.

Team Leadership:

• Manage and mentor the finance team, promoting professional development and high performance.
• Foster a collaborative and results-driven work environment.
• Ensure the finance team provides timely and accurate financial analysis and support to other departments.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with production, supply chain, marketing, and sales teams to align financial strategies with business objectives.
• Work closely with other departments, such as production, supply chain, and marketing, to understand key cost drivers and opportunities for efficiency.
• Partner with business unit leaders to provide financial insights and support decision-making, especially regarding production planning, inventory management, and sales forecasting.
• Collaborate with the accounting team to ensure accuracy of financial results and compliance with GAAP, specifically in the context of manufacturing and CPG operations.
• Provide financial guidance on new product development, pricing strategies, market expansion, capital investments, M&A investments.
• Support operational decision-making with financial insights and analysis.

Systems, Compliance and Governance:

• Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards and ethical practices.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations and ensure compliance.
• Act as the Functional Expert for Sage X3 ERP system.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• MBA or CPA/ CFA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in financial management
• Minimums of 3 years in a leadership role within the food manufacturing or CPG industries driving systematic changes that improve financials.
• Financial consulting background a plus, married to CPG a double plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on food manufacturing and CPG.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting.
• Advanced knowledge of financial software, ERP and Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Knowledge of Data/ Business Intelligence systems and languages: Power BI, Tableau, SQL
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Proven business acumen and understanding of financial principles related to food manufacturing and CPG.
• Ability to influence and drive change across the organization.