Financial Analyst - Manufacturing

Senior Financial Analyst – ManufacturingCompany OverviewOur client is an established manufacturing and distribution organization serving customers across a diverse range of industries. The company operates in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment with a strong focus on operational efficiency, product quality, and continued business growth.The organization is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Analyst to join its Finance & Accounting team. This opportunity offers significant exposure to financial planning, manufacturing operations, profitability analysis, and strategic decision support.The company is looking for an analytical and commercially minded finance professional who can translate complex financial and operational information into meaningful insights that support business performance and organizational growth.Location, Compensation & BenefitsWork Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days per week on-siteEmployment Type: Full-time, salariedCompensation & Benefits: 60k-80k base + 10% bonusWhy This OpportunityJoin an established manufacturing and distribution organization with a growing and increasingly sophisticated finance functionGain meaningful exposure to both corporate financial planning and operational finance within a manufacturing environmentWork directly with the FP&A Manager and collaborate with leaders across Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and AccountingPlay an important role in budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, and management reportingDevelop financial models that influence production decisions, capital investments, pricing strategies, and operational initiativesGain experience evaluating manufacturing performance through labor efficiency, inventory, production output, freight costs, and operating marginsWork with business leaders to understand financial results and identify opportunities to improve profitabilityPosition OverviewThe Senior Financial Analyst will support financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, and operational performance analysis for a manufacturing and distribution organization.Reporting to the FP&A Manager, this individual will work closely with Accounting, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance leadership to evaluate business performance, identify financial risks and opportunities, and provide analytical support for strategic decisions.The position will play a central role in developing budgets, maintaining financial forecasts, analyzing profitability, and preparing reporting materials that communicate financial and operational results.A significant component of the position involves manufacturing and operational finance, including analysis of production costs, labor efficiency, inventory performance, product margins, and customer profitability.Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Planning & ForecastingParticipate in the development of annual operating budgets, periodic forecasts, and longer-term financial plansBuild and maintain financial models that evaluate revenue trends, cost structures, profitability, and projected business performanceCollaborate with department leaders to develop financial assumptions and incorporate operational expectations into forecastsAnalyze differences between actual financial results and budgeted or forecasted performanceIdentify underlying business drivers contributing to revenue fluctuations, expense variances, and changes in profitabilitySupport financial planning submissions and reporting requirements for broader corporate leadershipPrepare explanations of forecast changes, financial variances, and evolving business expectationsMaintain and improve budgeting templates, forecasting schedules, and financial planning modelsEvaluate potential risks and opportunities that could affect future financial resultsProvide analytical support for planning scenarios and management decision-makingFinancial Reporting & Performance AnalysisPrepare recurring financial reporting packages and management presentations summarizing business performanceAnalyze revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, and profitability across products, customers, and business unitsEvaluate financial trends and explain the operational factors contributing to changes in resultsDevelop and maintain key performance indicators that provide visibility into financial and operational effectivenessPrepare financial commentary highlighting significant variances, emerging trends, and potential performance concernsIdentify opportunities to improve margins, control expenses, and strengthen overall financial resultsSupport monthly performance reviews and discussions with business leadershipDevelop analytical reports that translate complex financial information into actionable business recommendationsEvaluate customer and product profitability to identify areas of financial strength and opportunities for improvementSupport additional reporting and analysis requested by finance and executive leadershipManufacturing & Operational FinanceAnalyze manufacturing costs and operational performance to identify opportunities for improved productivity and profitabilityEvaluate direct labor expenses, workforce efficiency, production output, and manufacturing variancesReview inventory performance, material usage, production waste, and freight-related costsSupport standard costing analysis and investigate differences between expected and actual production costsPartner with operations personnel to understand the factors influencing manufacturing efficiency and cost performanceEvaluate product-level margins and customer profitability across the businessAnalyze pricing changes and assess their potential impact on revenue, gross margins, and customer profitabilityIdentify cost reduction opportunities and support initiatives designed to improve manufacturing performanceDevelop financial models evaluating equipment purchases, capital investments, and operational improvement projectsProvide financial analysis supporting production planning, capacity utilization, and resource allocation decisionsCollaborate with Supply Chain teams to assess inventory-related trends and distribution costsSupport operational leadership with financial information that improves production and business decisionsQualificationsBachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline requiredApproximately 1-3 years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, accounting, or financial analysisPrevious experience within manufacturing, distribution, or supply chain finance is strongly preferredStrong background in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and variance analysisDemonstrated ability to analyze financial statements and understand the key drivers of business performanceExperience evaluating revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, and profitabilityFamiliarity with customer profitability, product profitability, and operational performance reporting is preferredUnderstanding of manufacturing cost structures, inventory, production expenses, or operational finance is highly desirableAdvanced Microsoft Excel proficiency required, including the ability to build and maintain complex financial modelsExperience working with ERP systems and financial reporting applicationsFamiliarity with Power BI, financial planning platforms, or other business intelligence and analytics tools is preferred