Assistant Controller/Senior Financial Analyst

Flender; Elgin (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 18 days

Paid Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

FSA

HSA

401k Match

EAP

Job summary

Flender seeks an Assistant Controller / Senior Financial Analyst in Elgin, IL to partner with operations and leadership on planning, forecasting, and cost management. The role blends FP&A, manufacturing cost accounting, and data analytics to drive profitability and business efficiency.

The candidate should have 5–10 years in financial analysis or FP&A, strong Excel skills, SAP S/4HANA experience, and proficiency in Python, Power BI, and SQL. On-site with potential hybrid flexibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 5–10 years of progressive experience in financial analysis, FP&A, manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or controlling.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and business performance analysis.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations, including standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills and ERP experience; SAP S/4HANA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with sales, operations, and leadership to provide financial insights supporting profitable growth.
• Lead annual budgeting and monthly forecasting; perform variance analysis and develop corrective actions.
• Develop financial models for strategic planning and scenario analysis.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, standard costing, inventory trends, and variances; support cost accounting improvements.
• Develop dashboards and analytics using AI tools to improve visibility and decision-making.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cost accounting

Operations partnering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Excel

Python

Power BI

SQL

Microsoft Fabric

Job description

Company DescriptionFlender is a leading global supplier for mechanical drive systems and has the reputation for highest performance, innovation, quality, and reliability of mechanical components for 125 years.We're now hiring an Assistant Controller / Senior Financial Analyst in Elgin, IL on a full-time basis. If you're eager for your next challenge, Flender is a great place to grow your career.For more information on Flender, please see website: www.flender.comEqual Employment Opportunity StatementFlender is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, other categories protected by federal, state, or local law, and regardless of whether the qualified applicants are individuals with disabilities.Position SummaryWe are seeking a highly driven finance professional who wants to do more than report numbers—they want to influence business decisions, improve processes, and help shape the future of the organization.This role serves as a strategic partner to the Controller and business leadership team, combining financial planning and analysis, manufacturing cost accounting, business performance management, and advanced data analytics. The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, highly accountable, and energized by identifying opportunities to improve how work gets done.The successful candidate will leverage modern analytics, AI-enabled tools, automation, and process mining technologies to uncover insights, improve decision-making, and drive operational efficiency. This individual will play a critical role in forecasting, budgeting, profitability improvement, and business performance management while helping build scalable financial processes that support continued growth.This is an exceptional opportunity for a high-performing finance professional seeking a long-term leadership path.This position is based on site at our Elgin, IL facility to enable strong partnership with operations and business leadership. Over time, a hybrid work arrangement of up to 2 remote days per week may be available based on performance, business requirements, and organizational needs.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Finance & Business PartnershipServe as a trusted business partner to sales, operations, and leadership teams by providing financial insights that support profitable growth and strategic decision-making.Partner with business leaders to evaluate opportunities, risks, investments, pricing initiatives, and operational improvement efforts.Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations for executive management.Financial Planning & AnalysisLead the annual budgeting process and monthly forecasting cycles across the business segment.Perform variance analysis to identify key business drivers and develop corrective action plans.Prepare and present monthly and quarterly business reviews highlighting financial performance, risks, opportunities, and key trends.Develop financial models that support strategic planning, scenario analysis, and business performance improvement.Manufacturing Finance & Cost AccountingAnalyze manufacturing costs, standard cost performance, inventory trends, and operational variances.Validate and improve bill of material costing structures to ensure accurate product costing and inventory valuation.Support enhancement of cost accounting methodologies and reporting processes.Identify cost optimization opportunities through detailed financial and operational analysis.Data Analytics, AI & Process ImprovementUtilize advanced analytics, AI tools, automation technologies, and process mining platforms such as Celonis to identify inefficiencies and drive process improvements.Develop scalable dashboards, reporting solutions, and analytical models that improve visibility and decision-making.Lead finance transformation initiatives that reduce manual work, improve data quality, and increase organizational efficiency.Champion a culture of continuous improvement by challenging existing processes and implementing best practices.Leadership & Organizational ImpactInfluence cross-functional teams and drive initiatives without direct authority.Support the Controller in strengthening financial controls, reporting processes, and operational workflows.Contribute to long-term finance organization development and succession planning.Act as a change agent who promotes accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.What Makes Someone Successful in This RoleThe ideal candidate:Constantly asks "Why?" and challenges conventional thinking.Demonstrates a strong ownership mentality and follows through on commitments.Uses data to drive decisions rather than relying on assumptions.Sees opportunities where others see obstacles.Is energized by solving complex business problems.Has the confidence to engage with executives and the humility to learn continuously.Balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution.Operates with a high level of integrity, accountability, and professional excellence.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.5–10 years of progressive experience in financial analysis, FP&A, manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or controlling.Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and business performance analysis.Experience supporting manufacturing operations, including standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling and large data-set analysis.Experience with ERP systems; SAP S/4HANA preferred.Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and drive change across functions.Proven track record of identifying and implementing process improvements using advanced analytics, AI tools, or other automation technologies,Proficiency in Python, Power BI, SQL, Microsoft Fabric, or other advanced analytics tools.Flender Benefits:Paid Time Off (18 Days)Paid HolidaysTuition ReimbursementMedical, Dental, Vision, Life InsuranceFlexible Spending AccountHealth Savings Account401k (6% Employer Match)Employee Assistance ProgramYour contact person(s) for this job posting is/are:AnnMarie DayFlender is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, sex stereotyping, order of protection status, protected veteran or military status, or an unfavorable discharge from military service, and other categories protected by federal, state or local law.