Director of Finance

Job Description

Director of Finance

About the Role

A global manufacturing organization is building its first major U.S. production operation and is seeking a Director of Finance to serve as the senior finance leader at the site.

This individual will be one of the key leaders within the facility, partnering closely with operations and executive leadership while building the finance function from the ground up. The role combines manufacturing finance, FP&A, operational business partnering, financial accounting oversight, and long-term team building.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable building forecasts, supporting operational decisions, managing early-stage accounting requirements, and helping establish the financial foundation for a rapidly expanding manufacturing operation.

This is not a pure controller role. The ideal candidate is a manufacturing finance leader who can operate as a site business partner while helping build a finance organization that scales alongside a growing manufacturing facility.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Finance & FP&A

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• Lead budgeting, forecasting, planning, and performance management activities for the U.S. manufacturing operation
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• Provide financial guidance to plant leadership and site management teams
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• Analyze operational performance, costs, margins, investments, and profitability drivers
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• Develop financial reporting processes and KPIs to support manufacturing operations
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• Support leadership decision-making through scenario analysis and operational insights
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• Drive working capital, inventory, and cash flow visibility
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Operational Business Partnership

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• Serve as the primary finance partner to plant leadership
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• Translate financial results into operational actions
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• Support manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, HR, and other site functions
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• Help leadership understand the financial impact of operational decisions
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• Participate in strategic discussions regarding facility growth and production ramp-up
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Financial Accounting & Compliance

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• Oversee financial accounting activities during the early stages of facility development
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• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, local regulations, and reporting requirements
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• Support audits, tax requirements, internal controls, and statutory reporting activities
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• Coordinate with global finance teams on reporting and compliance matters
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• Maintain strong accounting governance while remaining focused on operational finance
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Startup & Growth Leadership

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• Build financial processes, reporting structures, and operating rhythms for a new manufacturing site
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• Help establish the finance infrastructure needed to support future growth
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• Operate effectively in an environment where processes and teams are still being created
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• Balance tactical execution with long-term planning
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• Partner with global leadership while adapting processes to local operational needs
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Systems & Process Support

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• Support finance and ERP-related initiatives within the manufacturing operation
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• Participate in finance process design and improvements
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• Work within an established global ERP environment
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• Support manufacturing reporting, planning, and operational finance systems
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Team Development

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• Initially operate as a hands-on finance leader
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• Recruit, hire, train, and develop future finance team members
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• Create scalable finance processes and organizational structure
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• Develop a high-performance local finance team as operations grow
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Qualifications

Required

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• 10+ years of progressive finance experience
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• Significant manufacturing finance experience
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• Strong FP&A background including budgeting, forecasting, and performance management
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• Experience partnering directly with manufacturing or plant leadership
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• SAP experience
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• Strong understanding of accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls
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• Experience in operational finance and cost analysis
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• Leadership experience with the ability to build and develop teams
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• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
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Strongly Preferred

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• Experience supporting a greenfield facility, startup operation, plant launch, major expansion, or significant manufacturing buildout
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• Experience within a globally managed organization
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• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments
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• Experience supporting production ramp-ups or facility scaling initiatives
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• Experience building finance processes in developing organizations
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By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact View email address on ziprecruiter.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

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• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
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• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
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• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
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• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
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• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here .
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Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).