Senior Financial Analyst

Senior Financial Analyst – Manufacturing Finance
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Department: Finance & Accounting
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience: 5–6 Years
Travel: Minimal

Position Summary

We are seeking a results-driven Senior Financial Analyst to support financial planning, cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. Reporting to the CFO, this role will partner closely with plant operations, supply chain, procurement, and other business leaders to provide actionable financial insights, improve cost efficiency, and drive profitability.

The ideal candidate has strong manufacturing finance and cost accounting experience, advanced Excel skills, and hands-on proficiency with SAP or a comparable ERP system. Experience in steel, metals, or heavy industrial manufacturing is highly desirable.

Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual budgeting and forecasting activities.

• Develop and maintain financial models for revenue, costs, cash flow, and profitability.

• Perform variance analysis comparing actual results against budgets and prior periods.

• Prepare management reports, executive presentations, and financial reporting packages.

• Identify financial trends, risks, and opportunities to support strategic decision-making.

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Manage standard costing processes, including cost rollups, bills of materials (BOMs), and overhead rate analysis.

• Analyze purchase price, labor efficiency, production, and overhead variances.

• Support inventory valuation, work-in-process (WIP) analysis, and cost of goods sold (COGS) reconciliation.

• Partner with plant operations to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve gross margins.

• Support month-end close activities and manufacturing financial reporting.

ERP, Reporting & Systems

• Use SAP FI/CO or an equivalent ERP platform to analyze and report financial data.

• Develop and maintain financial dashboards, reporting tools, and models using advanced Excel and Power BI.

• Improve financial data accuracy, reporting efficiency, and process automation in collaboration with IT and operations.

Business Partnering & Financial Analysis

• Partner with operations, supply chain, and procurement teams on financial performance and cost management.

• Conduct capital expenditure (CAPEX), return on investment (ROI), and project-level financial analyses.

• Support internal and external audits, internal controls documentation, and compliance activities.

• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable recommendations for non-finance stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.

• 5–6 years of progressive financial analysis experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing financial processes.

• Hands-on experience with SAP FI/CO or a comparable ERP system.

• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, Power Query, and financial modeling.

• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, inventory valuation, and month-end close.

• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in steel, metals, heavy industrial manufacturing, or related industries.

• Familiarity with oil and gas tubular products or line pipe manufacturing.

• Knowledge of GAAP inventory accounting, including FIFO, weighted average, and standard costing.

• Experience supporting multi-site or multi-entity manufacturing operations.

• Power BI or Tableau reporting experience.

• MBA, CPA, or CMA certification.