Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

Bell & Associates has been retained to recruit a Director of Finance for an established manufacturing organization in the Chicago area. The Director of Finance will serve as the senior finance leader for a significant operating business and will have broad responsibility across accounting, financial planning & analysis, operational finance, and strategic decision support . This individual will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional business partners to improve financial performance, support profitable growth, strengthen financial processes, and develop a high-performing finance organization. The ideal candidate combines the technical foundation of a strong Controller with the commercial and strategic mindset of a business finance leader. Key Responsibilities Lead the overall finance and accounting function for the business. Serve as a key financial partner to senior leadership on strategy, financial performance, and business decisions. Own budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial performance reporting. Oversee month-end close, financial reporting, GAAP compliance, internal controls, and accounting processes. Provide financial analysis and actionable insights around revenue, profitability, margins, costs, and operational performance. Partner closely with Operations and other functional leaders to identify opportunities to improve business performance. Oversee manufacturing finance activities, including cost accounting, inventory, standard costs, variance analysis, and profitability reporting . Support pricing, margin analysis, customer/product profitability, and other commercial initiatives. Lead working capital initiatives and provide financial support for capital investment decisions. Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support strategic and operational decisions. Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, systems, and overall finance effectiveness. Maintain a strong internal control environment and ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. Lead, coach, and develop accounting and finance professionals. Build strong relationships across the organization and promote accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required. 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience. Significant experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment strongly preferred. Previous experience as a Director of Finance, Controller, Business Unit Controller, Division Controller, or similar finance leadership role. Strong combination of accounting/controllership and FP&A/business finance experience . Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing accounting, including cost accounting and inventory. Strong understanding of GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management. Experience partnering with Operations and senior leadership to improve profitability and business performance. Demonstrated success leading and developing accounting and finance teams. Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to communicate financial information effectively to both financial and non-financial leaders. Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and build relationships across an organization. #J-18808-Ljbffr Bell & Associates, Inc.