Director Finance - Manufacturing Operations

Hexion; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 121,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Hexion is seeking a Director of Finance – Manufacturing & Operations in Columbus, OH to partner with plant leadership and the Operations executive team. This role drives transparency into manufacturing cost performance, efficiency, asset utilization, and capital execution.

The director provides financial insight to support cost transformation, throughput optimization, and network competitiveness, while leading budgeting, forecasting, and performance management.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills and financial modeling ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to the executive team.
• Proven leadership experience in FP&A or finance for manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Strategic finance partner to Manufacturing & Operations leadership, providing analysis and decision support on production strategy and cost structure.
• Oversee plant cost trends, throughput, yield, waste, and opportunities for cost improvement.
• Lead capital investment evaluations using ROI, NPV and payback analyses; govern capex spend.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting

MBA or CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Director Finance - Manufacturing Operations

Columbus, OH, US

Company Overview

Imagine Everything. Build the Future with Hexion.

At Hexion, we push boundaries, rethink possibilities, and create real impact. We activate science to deliver progress—developing breakthrough solutions that strengthen industries, protect communities, and drive a more sustainable future.

This is where bold thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators come together to shape what’s next. Whether you're engineering advanced materials, transforming manufacturing technologies, or leading strategic innovation, your ideas and actions leave a lasting mark. We cultivate an inclusive culture of growth, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring every contribution propels us forward.

We don’t follow the status quo—we challenge it, disrupt it, and improve it. Every role at Hexion is part of something bigger.

We invest in innovation, sustainability, and continuous development—equipping you with the tools, training, and opportunities to excel. With an unwavering commitment to safety, partnership, belonging, and impact, we empower you to lead change and strengthen industries worldwide.

Your Future Starts Here.

If you’re ready to push limits, reimagine what’s possible, and create the extraordinary, Hexion is where you belong.

Anything is possible when you imagine everything.

Position Overview

The Director, Finance – Manufacturing & Operations is the primary finance partner to plant leadership and the Operations executive team. This role is responsible for driving transparency into manufacturing cost performance, operational efficiency, asset utilization, and capital execution. The leader provides financial insight to support cost transformation, throughput optimization, and network competitiveness.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partner to Manufacturing & Operations

• Serve as the key financial advisor to Manufacturing and Operations leadership, providing analysis, scenario planning, and decision support on production strategy, capacity utilization, cost structure, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Translate operational strategies—technology upgrades, footprint decisions, yield improvements, workforce planning—into clear P&L, cost, cash flow, and ROI implications.

Manufacturing Cost, Plant Performance & Productivity Management

• Lead financial oversight of plant performance, including fixed/variable cost trends, throughput, OEE, yield, waste/scrap, and absorption; identify improvement opportunities through data-driven insights.
• Partner with operations on productivity programs, process optimization, cost competitiveness, and operational performance dashboards that highlight trends, variances, and actionable opportunities.

Capital Planning, Investment Analysis & Asset Performance

• Lead financial evaluation of capital investments, maintenance strategies, technology upgrades, and capacity expansions using ROI, NPV, and payback methodologies.
• Oversee capital spend governance, project tracking, asset utilization metrics, and performance against approved capital plans.

Planning, Forecasting & Manufacturing Performance Management

• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and monthly performance processes for Manufacturing and Operations, providing clear variance analysis and forward-looking insights on production costs and operational KPIs.
• Develop standardized performance scorecards across plants, ensuring consistent measurement of cost, productivity, safety, quality, asset efficiency, and working capital tied to inventory.

Governance, Controls, Systems & Team Leadership

• Ensure strong financial controls across manufacturing processes including inventory valuation, cycle counts, cost accounting, labor/material standards, and audit compliance.
• Develop high-impact manufacturing finance team while driving improvements in ERP utilization, reporting automation, cost accounting processes, and digital manufacturing analytics.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Strong analytical skills, proficiency in data analysis and financial modeling
• Ability to clearly communicate and present ideas, perspectives both in writing and in conversation to all levels of the organization including the Executive Team
• Curiosity to understand business and explore/ offer new ways to improve the business
• Ability to scan business horizon and look for opportunities and risks to be proactively managed
• Manage work and team through leading FP&A practices
• Ability to vocalize new ideas or options; thought partner to Manufacturing and Operations leaders who challenges the status quo
• Ability to coach team members

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or related field. MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred
• At least 5 years of leadership/supervisory experience
• 10+ years of relevant experience; chemical/ manufacturing experience a plus
• Ability to travel up 25% of the time to global facilities

Other

We are an Equal Opportunity, Aff… All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, pregnancy, race, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nearest Major Market: Columbus
Nearest Secondary Market: Dublin