Senior FP&A Analyst at Maker's Pride in Downers Grove, Illinois

Sr. Fp&A Analyst

The Sr. FP&A Analyst is responsible for supporting the Financial Planning & Analysis function for Makers Pride by delivering high-quality financial analysis, reporting, and insights to drive business performance. This role places strong emphasis on data transformation, advanced analytics, and the use of automation and AI-enabled tools to improve forecasting accuracy, reporting efficiency, and decision-making. The analyst will partner closely with Commercial, Operations, and Leadership teams to translate complex data into actionable business insights.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform month-end close activities, including volume loads, net sales reconciliation, intercompany eliminations, and variance analysis, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.
• Prepare month-end and ad hoc financial materials for the Commercial team, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Board of Directors.
• Lead commercial weekly reporting (volume-to-margin), leveraging data automation and advanced analytics to improve speed, accuracy, and insight.
• Serve as the primary FP&A point of contact for Business Development (BD) requests and provide analytical back-office support.
• Manage and support projects related to budgeting, forecasting, financial results, and strategic initiatives, incorporating predictive analytics where applicable.
• Maintain and govern financial and operational master data, ensuring consistency across systems and reports.
• Actively participate in the design, development, and implementation of process improvements, with a strong focus on:
• Data transformation and standardization
• Automation of recurring reports and analyses
• Enhanced analytics using SAP, BW, Business Objects, and emerging AI-enabled tools
• Support the development of the annual operating budget, rolling forecasts, and long-range plans, including detailed variance analysis and performance commentary.
• Perform ad hoc financial and operational analysis, translating large, complex datasets into clear business recommendations.
• Contribute to change management efforts as the organization evolves toward more data-driven and AI-supported decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Finance required; CPA, CMA or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 4 -8 years finance experience in an industrial sector, preferably high-volume manufacturing. Plant Controller/Assistant Controller, FP&A experience preferred.
• Proficient with SAP/BW. Experience improving or transforming reporting within these tools
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, with strong skills in Word and PowerPoint
• Proficient with data structures, data quality, and financial systems integration
• Exposure to advanced analytics, automation, or AI concepts in finance
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
• Synthesizes data into clear, concise insights for non-financial stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to partner across plant and corporate teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with multiple priorities
• Identifies opportunities for process automation and efficiency gains
• Financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis

Abilities

• Demonstrate strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and strong technical/functional expertise
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with plant personnel and all levels of the organization
• Write clear, professional reports and business correspondence
• Define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions
• Successfully multi-task while maintaining attention to detail
• Manage and adapt to change, supporting the organization's transition toward modern, data- and AI-enabled finance processes

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Position is on-site in our corporate office in Downers Grove, IL 4 days per week.