Operations Finance Manager

Operations Finance Manager Position Overview

The Operations Finance Manager serves as the senior finance partner for the manufacturing/supply operation. This role works closely with site leadership to translate operational activity into meaningful financial insight, support strategic and day-to-day decisions, and strengthen financial discipline across the organization.

The position is responsible for leading core site finance activities, including planning, forecasting, costing, performance reporting, working capital management, internal controls, and financial analysis. The successful candidate will help build a culture of accountability, transparency, operational excellence, and continuous improvement while ensuring that financial information is accurate, timely, and useful to the business.

Key Responsibilities Business Partnership & Strategic Support

• Partner with site and operations leadership to provide financial guidance and support business decisions.
• Translate financial results and trends into clear, actionable insights for operational leaders.
• Challenge assumptions and provide an independent financial perspective on key business decisions and initiatives.
• Support short- and long-term business planning through financial analysis, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
• Develop strong working relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and other cross-functional teams.
• Promote consistency and the sharing of effective financial and operational practices across the broader organization.

Financial Controls, Governance & Compliance

• Maintain a strong financial control environment that supports accurate reporting and responsible business management.
• Establish and monitor processes that ensure reliable, consistent financial information across the operation.
• Identify control gaps, financial risks, and reporting issues and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activities and support compliance with applicable accounting, financial, and corporate requirements.
• Safeguard company assets through disciplined financial processes and effective risk management.
• Ensure reported financial results are accurate, transparent, and supported by appropriate documentation and reconciliations.

Planning, Forecasting & Financial Analysis

• Lead the annual budget and quarterly forecasting processes for the manufacturing or supply operation.
• Analyze actual results against budget, forecast, and prior periods, clearly identifying key performance drivers.
• Prepare financial reports and analysis that help leadership understand business performance and emerging risks or opportunities.
• Use financial modeling and data analysis to improve forecast quality and support proactive decision-making.
• Manage and monitor working capital performance, including inventory, fixed assets, and cash-related activities.
• Support balance sheet management and reconciliation activities relevant to manufacturing and supply operations.

Costing & Manufacturing Finance

• Oversee product costing and standard cost processes.
• Analyze material, labor, overhead, and other variable cost drivers to identify opportunities for improved performance.
• Support timely and accurate inventory valuation and reporting.
• Investigate significant cost variances and work with operational teams to understand root causes and develop solutions.
• Provide financial support for productivity, efficiency, and cost-reduction initiatives.

Commercial & Investment Support

• Increase financial understanding across the operation by helping non-financial leaders better understand margins, contribution, costs, and other key performance measures.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and financial performance.
• Evaluate proposed investments and capital projects through financial analysis, return assessments, and cost-benefit evaluations.
• Support decisions that balance financial performance, operational requirements, long-term growth, and sustainability considerations.
• Encourage commercially focused thinking throughout the organization.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Provide leadership and direction for finance activities supporting the site or operation.
• Coordinate, review, and support the work of finance team members or other personnel contributing to financial deliverables.
• Ensure continuity of key finance processes through effective documentation, training, and knowledge sharing.
• Lead or participate in initiatives that improve financial processes, reporting quality, controls, systems, and data accuracy.
• Foster a continuous improvement mindset focused on simplifying processes, increasing efficiency, and improving the quality of financial support provided to the business.
• Build productive relationships across all levels of the organization and encourage shared accountability for results.
• Demonstrate high standards of integrity, ownership, accountability, adaptability, and responsible business practices.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 5-7 years or more of progressive experience in manufacturing, plant, operations, or supply finance.
• Strong background in product costing, standard costing, inventory accounting, and plant-level financial management.
• Experience supporting or leading finance activities within a complex, multi-site, or large corporate environment.
• Solid understanding of internal controls, financial governance, corporate reporting, and working capital management.
• Experience reviewing, analyzing, and reconciling manufacturing-related balance sheet accounts.
• Broad experience across financial planning, accounting, reporting, analysis, and business partnering.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects and working effectively with operational and non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to use data to influence decisions and improve business performance.
• Experience with ERP systems; experience with enterprise manufacturing or finance platforms is preferred.
• Familiarity with modern reporting, analytics, and business intelligence tools is an advantage.