Associate Manager, Operations Finance

Cesna Recruitment; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cesna Recruitment seeks an experienced Operations Finance professional to support design and improvement of plant accounting processes, including general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, asset tracking, and cost allocations. The role focuses on driver-based COGS modeling and timely month-end close to drive profitability insights.

The candidate will partner with Operations, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to lead budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives, ensuring accuracy and actionable

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years in operations finance or cost accounting, plant finance or related COGS role.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or related field is required
• Strong understanding of cost drivers (materials, labor, overhead, logistics, etc.)
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel; SAP HANA and Power BI a plus
• Manufacturing/CPG or co-packing experience preferred
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and self-motivated
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (15–20%)

Responsibilities

• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Procurement to analyze COGS drivers and profitability.
• Own monthly COGS and manufacturing variance analysis including volume, yield, usage, mix, rate and conversion cost variances.
• Support cost optimization initiatives across manufacturing and co-packing operations.
• Lead the annual operating plan and forecasting for Operations, COGS and cost drivers.
• Develop driver-based models linking volume, yield, COGS components to financial outcomes.
• Participate in the month-end close to ensure accuracy of Operations and COGS results.
• Lead monthly COGS and plant performance reviews with stakeholders.
• Support financial evaluation of operational initiatives and manufacturing-related investments.
• Support capital planning and post-implementation reviews for manufacturing initiatives.
• Partner with operations to evaluate capacity, automation, co-packing and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Conduct ad hoc analyses and projects to support Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and business management decisions related to COGS, plant performance and co-packing economics.

Skills

Analytical

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Self-motivated

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or related field

Tools

SAP HANA

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Description

• Support Operations Finance Manager with design standardized & improved plant accounting operations in support of general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, capital assets, raw materials, and finished goods accounting.
• Support Operations Finance Manager with development of consistent and improved activity- based costing metrics and cost allocations for insightful plant performance analysis.
• Support and create streamlined plant financial accounting processes, reporting, and analysis.

Job Responsibilities

• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Procurement to analyze COGS drivers, including raw materials, packaging, ingredients, conversion, labor, overhead, logistics and co-packing costs, and identify impacts to profitability.
• Own monthly COGS and manufacturing variance analysis, including volume, yield, usage, mix, rate and conversion cost variances, explaining deviations vs AOP and forecast.
• Support cost optimization initiatives across internal manufacturing and co-packing operations, including plant efficiency, yield improvement, sourcing decisions and margin improvement opportunities.
• Lead the annual operating plan and forecasting for Operations, COGS and related manufacturing cost drivers, highlighting key risks and opportunities while driving potential mitigating actions.
• Develop driver-based models linking volume, yield, COGS components, co-packing assumptions and operational KPIs to financial outcomes.
• Participate in the month-end close to ensure accuracy of Operations and COGS results, timely understanding of variance drivers and appropriate follow-up with Accounting and Operations teams.
• Lead monthly COGS and plant performance reviews with stakeholders to ensure accountability, alignment on cost targets and timely action plans for performance gaps.
• Support financial evaluation of operational initiatives and manufacturing-related investments, ensuring assumptions, benefits and cost impacts are appropriately reviewed.
• Support capital planning and post-implementation reviews for manufacturing and operations initiatives, with focus on COGS impact, productivity benefits and execution against approved assumptions.
• Partner with operations to evaluate capacity, automation, co-packing and cost reduction initiatives, including make-versus-buy considerations and financial impact on COGS.
• Conduct ad hoc analyses and projects to support Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and business management decisions related to COGS, plant performance and co-packing economics.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of experience in operations finance, or cost accounting, plant finance or a similar COGS-focused role
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or related field is required
• Strong understanding of cost drivers (materials, labor, overhead, logistics, etc.)
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel required - SAP HANA and Power BI a plus
• Prior work experience in Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing, Consumer Packaged Goods or co-packing environments is preferred
• Analytical, ability to multi-task, attention to detail and self-motivated
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (15 – 20%) to support plant visits, operational reviews and cross-functional collaboration