Director - Operations Finance

Overview:

The Director – Operations Finance is a key leadership role with the opportunity to significantly impact the organization through leadership of the operations finance function. This position oversees approved accounting practices, maintains and analyzes standard cost information, conducts cost studies, investigates and resolves expense variances, supports forecasting and budgeting processes, and prepares reports that accurately reflect business performance. Serving as a trusted advisor to company leadership, this individual will provide financial insight and guidance on decisions shaping the future of operations. The ideal candidate brings strong cost accounting expertise, analytical rigor, and financial acumen to partner effectively with business leaders in driving operational excellence and strategic growth.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will:

• Manage the cost accounting team, providing direction and leadership in pursuit of overall business objectives
• Set and maintain standards for all raw, manufactured and finished goods including overall responsibility for product costing cycle and monitoring of standard cost and plant variance development
• Drive operations forecast updates, create easy to use forecast models, and develop meaningful reports that accurately reflect the financial performance of the business. Update P&L forecasts as needed and proactively meet with management to share results and insights.
• Develop cost calendar and processes around setting standards; define and update existing policies and procedures related to cost accounting
• Lead the month end process around cost ensuring a timely close, proper statement of COGS & proper balances in related sheet balance accounts
• Direct and prepare analysis of all variances, including robust analysis around PPV (purchase price variance including tariffs) and drive understanding and action toward improvement opportunities
• Plan and manage month end close for operations making sure all deadlines are met. Prepare journal entries and reconcile accounts that impact operations. Oversee expense reviews, research variances, and create reports that accurately reflect period activity.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage timeline and activities required to establish labor, machine and overhead rates.
• Develop metrics and tracking system for major cost drivers in COGS and develop month end reporting suitable for senior leaders
• Work with IT on resolving any cost accounting related issues and developments to improve efficiency of cost accounting reporting and analysis
• Manage creation of operations departmental budgets and provide guidance to management on costing trends that will impact future financial performance
• Coordinate inventory forecast updates, interpret results, and lead periodic review of key metrics with management.
• Complete make vs. buy analysis as needed
• Formulate and administer the Policy/Procedure for identification, valuation and disposition of Excess and Obsolete Inventory. Maintain and analyze inventory reserve balances in accordance with corporate guidelines.
• Monitor internal controls and cost accounting practices and make recommendations for improvement as needed.
• Lead and manage the cycle count process.
• Make vs. Buy modelling and recommendations surrounding the analysis

Qualifications:

A successful candidate for this role will have:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, MBA and/or CPA a plus
• 8+ years of cost accounting experience in manufacturing environment
• Management and leadership experience
• Thorough understanding of cost accounting standards around BOM's, standard costing, reserves and applying accounting principles, theories and concepts to financial transactions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to build strong processes & manage the details
• Strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills
• Ability to meet deadlines and work with cross-functional partners
• Ability to motivate and lead by example thus showing the ability to organize, support and clearly communicate with accounting and non-accounting professionals
• ERP systems experience (JDE, SAP, etc.)

About The Hiring Manager: Reporting directly to the CFO, this position is part of a strong and collaborative Finance leadership team with two direct reports. The role is hybrid to our corporate office downtown Madison with occasional travel to our other local SW Wisconsin sites.