Financial Analyst - Operations

You may know us for our delicious cheesecakes…and for being recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For®” since 2014! What you may not know is how our Finance Team provides analysis, insight and support for strategy development/deployment and key initiative oversight and skillfully prepares and examines the financial records for two bakeries producing over 35,000 cheesecakes daily. The Senior Financial Analyst plays a critical role in driving financial insight and enhancing operational efficiency across the organization. This position is responsible for analyzing data and providing financial support for production operations, cost analysis, operational reporting, and inventory management. The role helps leadership understand performance trends, financial impacts, and value‑creation opportunities. You’ll thrive in this position if you are: Exhaustively Meticulous: You appreciate attention to detail, leaving nothing to chance while understanding what deserves your immediate attention and what can wait. A Top Notch Analyst: you possess the ability to demonstrate logical thinking in order to gather and analyze a variety of information. Driven by Results: you're conscientious and persistent about delivering timely and high quality deliverables, while never hesitating to ask for more when you're done. Adaptable: you’re at ease in a fast-paced environment and, you're able to stay nimble and change direction when priorities shift. Here’s more of what you’ll get to do: Prepare and report daily, weekly, and monthly operational KPIs and trend analyses, including performance evaluation of labor and material usage variances; identify key risks and improvement opportunities. Provide analytical support for cost accounting activities, including establishing standard costs for materials and labor and analyzing variances across material, labor, and overhead. Support the year‑end standard cost roll‑up process, including related analysis and documentation. Monitor and analyze variances between actual production costs and standard costs, identifying root causes and drivers. Support preparation of the annual operating budget, quarterly forecasts, and financial performance metrics aligned with production plans. Assist with period‑end close and reporting, including preparation of cost‑related journal entries, general ledger reconciliations, and variance commentary at the cost center level. Maintain perpetual inventory reporting and support physical inventory counts to ensure accurate inventory valuation. Develop complex financial analyses and trends, including sales performance, expense analysis, and identification of business improvement opportunities. Analyze production costs and recommend cost‑saving initiatives to enhance profitability. Partner with production and operations teams to support continuous improvement initiatives and efficiency projects. Collaborate with accounting and financial planning teams on financial close activities and support internal and external audits. Perform ad‑hoc analyses, special projects, and provide cross‑functional support as needed. What we require: Minimum of three years of relevant experience in financial and operational analysis and reporting. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field. Solid understanding of finance and accounting principles, with the ability to read, interpret, and analyze financial data. Proven experience analyzing large data sets, including trend analysis, variance analysis, and performance metrics. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced skills in Excel for financial modeling and analysis. Strong working knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Infor, Ross, Oracle). Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team environment. Here’s what we prefer: Prior experience in a manufacturing environment. CMA certification and/or a master’s degree in a related discipline is preferred. What we offer: Vacation and sick time 401K with company match 25%-35% discount when dining as a guest Discounted cheesecake purchase program Annual stipend for dining in our restaurants About the Company: The Cheesecake Factory Bakery creates over 35,000 delicious cheesecakes per day across our two facilities in Calabasas, CA and Rocky Mountain, NC plus other baked products for our restaurants, international licensees, and third‑party bakery customers. The Cheesecake Factory Bakery is a subsidiary of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. Recognized as a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® since 2014, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is a global $3.8 billion public company with more than 370 casual dining restaurants and over 48,000 staff members. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of identities, ideas, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences to apply. The Cheesecake Factory offers reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Cheesecake Factory