Division Controller

Position Summary

As a pivotal member of the ITW Divisional Leadership Team ("DLT"), the Division Controller partners with the Vice President/General Manager and Divisional Leadership Team to drive market growth and sustain profitability. This role leads financial planning, analysis, and governance to support above-market organic growth and operational excellence. The Division Controller leverages ITW’s 80/20 business model to simplify processes, enhance decision-making, and foster a high-performing finance team through talent development and cross-functional collaboration.

Structure

• Reports to the VP/GM.
• Manages two direct reports (accounting/finance) and three indirect reports. IT and A/R are shared with the sister division. Peers include divisional Operations, Marketing, Engineering, Business Unit Manager, and HR leaders (Divisional Leadership Team Members).

Location

• Glenview, IL

Travel

• <10% (mostly local, minimal airplane travel).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the VP/GM and Divisional Leadership Team to develop and execute annual and long-range plans aligned with the division’s Strategic Intent.
• Leverage in-depth financial analysis to evaluate potential capital investments, acquisition opportunities, 80/20 growth projects, restructuring initiatives, and other critical opportunities.
• Lead the Long-Range Plan (LRP) process, providing financial planning and analysis to support above-market organic growth.
• Drive continuous improvement in reporting tools to enhance Strategic Sales Excellence and revenue realization.
• Partner with sister divisions to optimize intercompany financial results and shared processes, fostering a collaborative, win-win mindset.
• Partner with the Operations Director and operational locations to drive operational excellence through financial analysis and support for Enterprise Initiatives (e.g., Strategic Savings and FTB savings projects).
• Oversee day-to-day financial and IT operations/processes, including Accounts Payable, Credit/Collections, Inventory/Cost Accounting, Payroll, and IT systems/support.
• Lead 80/20 initiatives to ensure the division meets or exceeds Annual Plan targets for Revenue, Operating Income, Inventory, and Accounts Receivable.
• Support ERP implementation by aligning business processes and providing functional expertise.
• Establish and maintain a robust governance framework to ensure accounting excellence and internal financial controls across all locations.
• Prepare monthly financial statements with detailed analysis, including variance explanations for actuals compared to plan, forecast, and prior year.
• Manage the financial planning and forecasting processes, delivering accurate and timely monthly financial forecasts and measurable targets to evaluate business performance.
• Monitor and support continuous improvement to achieve above-average financial audit results and compliance.
• Identify, lead, and develop talent by building a deep understanding of the Finance team’s capabilities and creating a strong talent pipeline.
• Coach and mentor the Finance team to strengthen cross-functional business partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Business Acumen: Deep understanding of business operations, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes; leverages financial insights to drive strategic decisions.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops and adapts strategies to capitalize on market opportunities and address challenges, aligning with organizational goals.
• Driving Execution: Ensures effective execution of key initiatives, aligning resources and processes to exceed financial and operational targets.
• Building Organizational Talent: Attracts, develops, and retains top talent, fostering a learning environment to meet future challenges.
• Developing Strategic Relationships: Builds effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and results.
• Communicating with Impact: Delivers clear, concise, and tailored communications to influence and engage diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in financial reporting, analysis, cost reduction, inventory control, and operational accounting, with a focus on manufacturing and commercial environments.
• 3+ years in a financial leadership role with direct people management responsibility.
• Proven track record as an influential financial business partner to senior leadership, delivering actionable insights and driving results.
• Experience in financial controlling roles; construction industry experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead ERP implementations and work with business intelligence tools.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel and financial reporting software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information and adapt to various audiences.
• Growth mindset with experience driving change while maintaining stakeholder alignment.

Key Experience Differentiators

• Influential business partner to senior leadership, delivering actionable insights.
• Track record of exceeding financial goals through proactive risk anticipation.
• Talent manager who builds high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Growth mindset with stakeholder alignment during change.