POSITION OVERVIEW
Korn Ferry is conducting an Operations Finance Director searchfor our client – a global manufacturer & supplier of ingredients to the food & beverage industry based in the greater Chicagoland area. They have an award-winning corporate culture, career growth opportunities, and great benefits.
This is a newly created position due to growth and will be responsible for partnering with operations and supply chain teams to drive financial performance, optimize processes, and support business growth. This role requires a strong analytical mindset, operational expertise, and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions to achieve business objectives
LOCATION
North West ~40 miles from Downtown Chicago (Hybrid)
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the CFO, you will oversee accounting and financial reporting for 4 plants while leading all financial aspects related to operations. This leader will play a crucial role in optimizing financial performance, manage budgets, analyze costs, and provide strategic insights to drive profitability and efficiency in their supply chain processes.
Financial Planning and Analysis:
- Lead the financial planning and analysis process for operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Develop and maintain financial models to support decision-making and strategic initiatives related to operations and supply chain.
- Provide insights and recommendations to optimize resource allocation, improve cost efficiency, and drive profitability.
Operational Performance Management:
- Partner with operations and supply chain teams to monitor and analyze key performance metrics, including production efficiency, inventory management, and logistics costs.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements, cost savings, and operational efficiencies through data-driven analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develop and implement performance dashboards and KPIs to track progress and drive accountability across operations.
Capital Investment Analysis:
- Lead the evaluation of capital investment proposals for operations projects, including new facilities, equipment purchases, and process improvements.
- Drive the financial feasibility analysis, ROI calculations, and risk assessments to support investment decisions and prioritize capital allocation.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to develop business cases and investment strategies that align with corporate goals and financial targets.
Cost Management and Optimization:
- Analyze and manage manufacturing and operating costs, including direct labor, materials, overhead, and other expenses.
- Implement cost control measures and process improvements to reduce waste, improve productivity, and enhance profitability.
- Work closely with procurement and sourcing teams to optimize supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and minimize procurement costs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, supply chain, sales, and finance, to align financial objectives with business strategies.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to operations leaders, providing financial insights and recommendations to support informed decision-making.
- Drive process improvements and efficiency gains through collaboration and knowledge sharing across departments.
Financial Transformation Processes Enhancements:
- Robotic Process Automation, A/P Automation, Onstream Implementation, etc.
- Strive for continual improvement of all finance processes to capture timely and more accurate information for Management to direct and support their business activities
QUALIFICATIONS
- At least twelve (12) years' experience in Finance and Accounting, preferably with proven successful assumption of similar responsibilities in a manufacturing multinational company.
- At least 5 years of experience managing employees, including coaching, performance management and team performance in a multi-site company
- Extensive inventory management experience
- Knowledge of ERP, Accounting and Reporting systems (D365, OneStream, Excel, etc.) including extensive exposure to best practices and operational procedures
- Experience building trusted partner relationships across the organization
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization is essential.
- Experience driving a collaborative, results oriented, purpose driven culture.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- CPA or CMA is required.
SE# 510676922
