Manufacturing Cost & Operations Finance Lead

job summary:
We are seeking two experienced, hands-on Interim Senior Cost & Operational Finance Analysts for a high-impact diagnostic project supporting a 13-company manufacturing portfolio in the Lexington, KY area .

This assignment will evaluate each business's true cost to produce , identify and quantify gaps between quoted and actual costs , and prioritize findings based on margin impact .

The ideal consultant combines deep manufacturing cost accounting and operational finance expertise with the ability to lead assessments, develop a clear point of view, and communicate findings effectively to senior executives and private equity leadership . This is a hands-on role requiring someone who can move comfortably between detailed shop-floor and financial analysis and polished, strategic communication .

location: Lexington, Kentucky
job type: Contract
salary: $85 - 110 per hour
work hours: 9 to 5
education: Bachelor's degree
experience: 8 Years

responsibilities:



Responsibilities

• Lead financial and operational costing diagnostics across companies within a 13-business manufacturing portfolio .
• Partner with plant controllers, finance leaders, and operations teams to understand end-to-end costing, inventory management, quoting, and month-end close processes.
• Conduct on-site shop-floor reviews to identify operational cost drivers, bottlenecks, and direct and indirect cost allocation issues.
• Audit Bills of Materials (BOMs), labor and overhead routings, and costing assumptions against actual production practices.
• Reconstruct true manufacturing costs using appropriate cost drivers and denominators, including production volume, labor capacity, and machine hours.
• Identify where and why quoted costs diverge from actual unit costs .
• Build financial models connecting P&L actuals to commercial quoting assumptions .
• Analyze representative customer orders to quantify quote-to-actual profitability and margin variance .
• Assess and prioritize findings based on financial and margin impact .
• Develop clear, standardized company-by-company diagnostic profiles and synthesize findings across the broader portfolio.
• Translate detailed operational and financial analysis into concise conclusions, strategic insights, and recommendations for senior leadership and the private equity sponsor.
• Present findings confidently and credibly to executive-level stakeholders .

 
qualifications:



Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in cost accounting, operational finance, financial modeling, and/or FP&A within manufacturing, industrial, or production environments.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures, including materials, labor, overhead, capacity, and cost allocation methodologies .
• Hands-on experience auditing BOMs, routings, standard costs, and standard-versus-actual variances .
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate shop-floor processes and connect operational activity to financial performance.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills with the ability to independently investigate data, identify root causes, and quantify financial impact .
• Experience leading financial or operational assessments and developing a clear point of view from complex or inconsistent information .
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document findings and translate detailed analysis into executive-level insights .
• Executive presence and comfort presenting findings to senior finance leaders, executives, boards, and/or private equity stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively with local plant teams while maintaining an objective, portfolio-level perspective .

If you are a senior manufacturing finance professional who can combine hands-on cost analysis with strategic assessment and executive-level communication , we would like to hear from you.

Please apply with your resume and include a brief summary of your experience with manufacturing costing, BOMs/routings, standard-versus-actual analysis, and diagnostic or assessment work presented to senior leadership or private equity stakeholders .

skills: Cost Accounting, operational leadership




Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Randstad, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact View email address on us.fitly.work.




Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, an incentive and recognition program, and 401K contribution (all benefits are based on eligibility).




This posting is open for thirty (30) days.