Manager, Operations Finance – Manufacturing & Cost Accounting

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a finance leader to manage operations finance for its manufacturing and cost accounting needs at the Oakwood Village, Ohio site. Reporting to the Senior Manager, North America Operations Finance, this role works closely with Site Operations and Business Unit leadership to drive cost transparency, planning/forecasting discipline, and inventory and cash performance. The position focuses on translating manufacturing results into actionable guidance for operational decision-making.

Role Focus

• Partner with Operations and Business Unit leaders to lead manufacturing finance, cost accounting, planning/forecasting, and inventory/cash performance.
• Act as a trusted financial partner to the Site Operations Leader, providing strategic support and constructive financial challenge.
• Support operational goals including output, on-time delivery, and product quality targets through actionable financial insights.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead site processes for direct cost of sales, other cost of sales, and inventory management across business units and operations teams.
• Provide clear, timely reporting on critical site and manufacturing metrics.
• Analyze operating performance and translate results into recommendations for Operations leadership.
• Improve visibility into savings, investments, and ROI through effective processes and scorecards.
• Support inventory optimization, cash performance, and reduction of scrap and excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory exposure.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain leaders to improve cost and inventory performance.
• Drive profitability and margin expansion through design for manufacturability, complexity reduction, sourcing, productivity, overhead cost management, inventory risk management, and capital optimization.
• Lead the site’s annual budget and periodic forecasting processes.
• Align volume assumptions with commercial forecasts through the SIOP process.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend actions to support annual operating plan (AOP) and forecast targets.
• Oversee Operations budgets, including headcount management, reserves, and indirect costs.
• Ensure appropriate controllership and compliance with company policies and U.S. GAAP.
• Develop capacity, resource, and material plans supporting short- and long-term growth while improving margins.
• Align operating plans across the organization to strengthen accountability for financial performance.
• Bring a continuous-improvement mindset and outside-in thinking to the site finance organization.
• Support development and implementation of transformational manufacturing strategies in partnership with Operations and other key functions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive finance experience, including finance leadership and/or deep operations finance expertise.
• Strong experience in manufacturing operations finance and cost accounting.
• Experience partnering with Operations and Supply Chain leaders to improve cost and inventory performance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and U.S. GAAP.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to communicate financial insights effectively to multiple levels of leadership.
• Ability to work successfully in a matrixed organization.
• Strong systems and analytics capabilities, including experience with SAP, HFM, and process automation.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• MBA and/or CPA.
• Experience with standard costing, manufacturing variance analysis, inventory accounting/controls, and operational decision-making.
• Demonstrated success influencing cross-functional teams and delivering measurable business results.

Technologies

• SAP
• HFM
• Process automation

Compensation

• Salary range: USD 94,000–140,000 per year
• Annual incentive plan bonus
• Pay: $94,000.00–$104,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Annual incentive plan bonus
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance
• Healthcare and a range of employee benefits

Work Environment

• Fully onsite role in Oakwood Village, Ohio
• Standard Monday–Friday schedule
• Flexibility to work varying schedules or hours may occasionally be required
• Occasional travel
• Primarily office environment
• May require extended periods of sitting and computer use
• Occasional walking and lifting of up to 20 pounds
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the work successfully

Work location: In person