Make an immediate impact by partnering with the Controller and business leadership to improve strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. This hybrid role in Elgin, IL combines financial planning and analysis with manufacturing cost accounting and advanced, AI-enabled analytics to help the organization move faster and work smarter.
You will work directly with executive and operational leadership, lead budgeting and forecasting cycles, and drive finance transformation initiatives that reduce manual effort, strengthen data quality, and increase organizational efficiency. The role also offers a clear path for professional growth with the potential to advance into a leadership position.
Responsibilities
- Act as a trusted business partner to sales, operations, and leadership teams by delivering financial insights to support profitable growth and strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate with business leaders to assess opportunities, risks, investments, pricing initiatives, and operational improvement efforts.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into practical recommendations for executive management.
- Lead the annual budgeting process and monthly forecasting cycles across the business segment.
- Perform variance analysis to pinpoint key business drivers and develop corrective action plans.
- Prepare and present monthly and quarterly business reviews covering financial performance, risks, opportunities, and key trends.
- Develop financial models to support strategic planning, scenario analysis, and business performance improvement.
- Analyze manufacturing costs, standard cost performance, inventory trends, and operational variances.
- Validate and improve bill of material costing structures to support accurate product costing and inventory valuation.
- Support enhancements to cost accounting methodologies and reporting processes.
- Identify cost optimization opportunities through detailed financial and operational analysis.
- Use advanced analytics, AI tools, automation technologies, and process mining platforms such as Celonis to uncover inefficiencies and drive process improvements.
- Build scalable dashboards, reporting solutions, and analytical models to improve visibility and decision-making.
- Lead finance transformation initiatives focused on reducing manual work, improving data quality, and increasing organizational efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement by challenging existing processes and implementing best practices.
- Influence cross-functional teams and advance initiatives without direct authority.
- Support the Controller with strengthening financial controls, reporting processes, and operational workflows.
- Contribute to long-term finance organization development and succession planning.
- Serve as a change agent promoting accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
- 5 to 10 years of progressive experience across financial analysis, FP&A, manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or controlling.
- Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and business performance analysis.
- Experience supporting manufacturing operations, including standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
- Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling and large data-set analysis.
- ERP experience; SAP S/4HANA preferred.
- Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to influence leaders and drive change across functions.
- Demonstrated track record of identifying and implementing process improvements using advanced analytics, AI tools, or other automation technologies.
- Proficiency in Python, Power BI, SQL, Microsoft Fabric, or other advanced analytics tools.
Technology
- Excel
- ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA preferred)
- Celonis
- Python
- Power BI
- SQL
- Microsoft Fabric
Position Summary
This role functions as a strategic partner to the Controller and business leadership team, integrating financial planning and analysis, manufacturing cost accounting, business performance management, and advanced data analytics. You will leverage modern analytics, AI-enabled tools, automation, and process mining technologies to uncover insights, improve decision-making, and drive operational efficiency.
The position is based on site at the Elgin, IL facility to enable strong partnership with operations and business leadership. Over time, a hybrid arrangement with up to 2 remote days per week may be available based on performance, business requirements, and organizational needs.
Contact
AnnMarie Day
