Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
Canton, OH

The FP&A Director is responsible for leading the financial planning and analysis function within the organization. This role includes developing budgets, forecasts, financial models, and performance analyses to support strategic decision-making. The FP&A Director will work closely with senior leadership to drive financial performance, improve profitability, and ensure financial health and sustainability of the company. This role requires strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across departments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the annual budgeting process, quarterly forecasts, and long-range planning.

• Develop and maintain complex financial models to support strategic initiatives.

• Provide strategic recommendations based on financial analysis and projections.

• Oversee cost accounting functions, including product costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis. 

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement financial strategies and initiatives.

• Provide financial analysis and insights to support strategic business decisions, including mergers and acquisitions, investments, and capital expenditures.

• Prepare business cases for new projects and initiatives.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement financial strategies and initiatives.

• Provide financial analysis and insights to support strategic business decisions, including mergers and acquisitions, investments, and capital expenditures.

• Prepare business cases for new projects and initiatives.

Financial Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyze financial results and performance against budget, forecast, and prior periods.

• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to senior management and the board.

• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through financial data analysis.

• Lead the preparation and analysis of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.

• Develop and maintain financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.

• Lead the development of financial models and analyses to support strategic initiatives. 

• Analyze variances between actual results and budget/forecast, providing explanations and recommendations for corrective actions. 

• Manage the development of rolling forecasts and financial projections.

• Conduct variance analysis and provide actionable insights to management.

• Analyze financial performance and prepare reports and operational tools to support business efficiency. 

Business Partnering:

• Collaborate with department heads to understand key business drivers and their impact on financial performance.

• Provide financial insights and guidance to support operational decision-making.

• Assist in the development of business cases for new projects and investments.

• Implement and maintain financial systems and processes to improve accuracy and efficiency in financial reporting. 

• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor the company’s financial performance.

• Conduct variance analysis and identify corrective actions to meet financial objectives.

• Implement and oversee the financial performance management framework.

• Develop financial models to support business decisions, including revenue forecasting, expense management, and capital investment analysis.

• Coordinate with relevant teams to analyze and optimize capital expenditures, ensuring strategic allocation of resources. 

• Create operational tools to be used by department leaders to run their areas more efficiently. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to provide financial insights and recommendations that drive business decisions. 

Team Leadership and Development:

• Manage, mentor, and develop the FP&A team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.

• Provide training and guidance on FP&A principles and procedures. 

• Review and verify the FP&A team’s contributions for accuracy and compliance.

• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.

Process Improvement: 

• Drive continuous improvement in financial planning and analysis processes. 

• Implement best practices and tools to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of reporting.

• Lead initiatives to automate and streamline financial processes.

• Ensure alignment and collaboration within the finance team and across the organization.

Partnership with Accounting:

• Collaborate closely with the Accounting department to ensure alignment on financial reporting and compliance. 

• Coordinate month-end and year-end closing activities with Accounting to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. 

• Work cross functionally to drive and lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic goals.

EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE, AND PROFICIENCIES: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, management, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in financial planning and analysis, preferably in a manufacturing environment.

• Expert-level Excel user with extensive experience in financial modeling, data analysis, and predictive modeling. 

• Expertise in data analytics tools and techniques, database management, and reporting systems. (ERP, PowerBI, Tableau etc.)

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders. 

• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and quality.

• Collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across departments. 

• Strategic thinker, capable of contributing to the broader business strategy. 

• Recruit, train and develop team members to ensure they have the skills and resources necessary for success. 

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities, including maintaining a strong rapport and positive relationships with all levels of management. 

• Ability to analyze data and generate meaningful insights.

• Must be strategic in orientation, proactive, persistent, and able to handle multiple projects/ simultaneously.

• Must be flexible, resilient, and adaptable to working in an organization that is continuously growing and evolving.