Job Title: Director of Manufacturing Finance
Industry: Food Production
Job Location: Chicago, IL (near train station)
Compensation (target): $160,000 base salary plus a bonus
Work Environment: Hybrid (3 days in the office per week; 2 days from home)
Position Summary
Lead strategic financial operations for high profile food production company. This role offers the opportunity to shape financial strategy across a multi-facility operation, collaborate and work with a talented finance team, drive continuous improvement across all plants, and partner with executive leadership on strategic planning. You’ll have direct impact on profitability and operational excellence in a dynamic, growing food manufacturing environment.
About the Role
Lead operational finance strategy and team across four manufacturing facilities (3 domestic, 1 international). Own the strategic direction for standard costing, variance analysis, cost accounting, inventory management, and financial reporting systems that drive profitability and operational excellence. Report to VP Finance; manage a team of 2-3 Manufacturing Cost Accountants / Plant Controllers. This position is based in Chicago, where you will work closely with the VP of Operations to collaboratively review costing standards, conduct variance analysis, and establish inventory management approaches across all facilities.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Strategic Direction
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team across at manufacturing facilities. Establish and enforce standardized cost accounting policies and best practices across all plants.
- Play a key strategic role in leveling up the business and financial acumen of the Operations Leadership Team, including Plant Managers, Supply Chain, and Logistics leaders.
Multi-Plant Cost Accounting & Variance Analysis
- Oversee consolidated monthly manufacturing variance analysis (material, labor, overhead, yield, waste) across all facilities. Identify trends and systemic issues; lead root cause analysis and corrective action planning. Direct annual standard cost roll processes; ensure accuracy and consistency of BOMs, routings, labor, and overhead standards across all plants.
Profitability & Continuous Improvement
- Lead company-wide cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives. Oversee product costing models and profitability analyses to support product development and pricing decisions. Benchmark facilities against each other and industry standards; drive standardization of efficient processes and best practices.
Financial Reporting, Planning & Controls
- Oversee period close activities for all facilities. Direct development of annual operating budgets and periodic forecasts for all manufacturing operations. Prepare consolidated variance reports and operational finance dashboards for executive leadership. Ensure compliance with accounting policies, regulatory requirements, and internal control frameworks across all locations.
Inventory Management & Accounting
- Establish and oversee standardized inventory accounting policies and controls across all four facilities. Direct cycle count programs, physical inventory processes, and reconciliation procedures. Analyze consolidated inventory reserves, obsolescence risk, and slow-moving inventory across plants.
Systems & Technology Leadership
- Own the operational finance technology roadmap. Lead ERP system maintenance, optimization, and strategic upgrades to support standardized costing across all plants. Develop and maintain operational finance dashboards and reporting tools. Identify and implement automation opportunities and process improvements to increase efficiency and data accuracy.
Required Experience & Education
- 10+ years of cost accounting and/or operational finance experience in a manufacturing environment
- 7+ years of leadership experience managing and developing teams; proven track record of driving organizational change and process standardization
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (required)
- Master’s degree (MBA, Finance, or Accounting) strongly preferred
Key Technical & Leadership Skills
- Expert-level knowledge of standard cost accounting, variance analysis, and manufacturing cost methodologies
- Advanced proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Sage, or equivalent); experience with ERP implementation and optimization
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; proficiency with Excel, SQL, and financial planning tools
- Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management; ability to present complex financial data to non-finance audiences
- Leadership capability: ability to build teams, foster continuous improvement culture, and drive change in multi-site environments
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA or CMA certification
- Food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or other regulated multi-site manufacturing experience
- Experience managing operations finance in international facilities or multinational environments
- SAP or Oracle EBS expertise; proficiency with Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent business intelligence tools
- Track record of successful system implementations, cost reduction initiatives, and process improvements in manufacturing environments