Business Manager

Lithia Motors; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

Paid Holidays & PTO

Short and Long-Term Disability

Paid Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Lithia Learning Center

Vehicle Purchase Discounts

Wellness Programs

Job summary

Lithia Motors in Walnut Creek seeks a Business Manager I to act as a strategic financial partner to dealership leadership. You will oversee specialists, cashiers, and accountants within a single-point structure and report to the Business Manager III or Area Controller.

Responsibilities include partnering with GM and store leaders to maintain financial guardrails, maximizing manufacturer incentives, ensuring internal controls, and conducting quarterly inventories.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of dealership Business Manager/Controller experience preferred.
• Experience leading teams in a dealership environment.
• CDK experience preferred.
• Strong Excel skills for complex spreadsheets and financial analysis.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance, or 5 years commensurate experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with dealership leadership (GM, Sales/Operations) to meet financial guardrails.
• Oversee dealership specialists, cashier staff, and accountants in a single-point structure.
• Communicate financial risks and opportunities to operational leaders.
• Ensure financial processes support new business plans and incentive programs.
• Maintain internal controls and conduct quarterly physical inventories.

Skills

CDK experience

Excel skills

Team leadership

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Tools

CDK system

Job description

Dealership: L0605 Southwest Finance Center Walnut Creek Accounting Processing Center Hiring: Business Manager I

Why Join Our Team?

At Lithia & Driveway, we're powered by people and driven to deliver results. As one of the largest automotive retailers in North America, we're focused on growing leaders who want to make an impact, both in their store and across the company. Here you'll find: Opportunities for advancement across a national network Development through our internal learning programs A culture that recognizes and rewards results You will lead store success with the autonomy to shape your team.

What You'll Do Business Manager I

Business Manager I is a mid-level Business Manager that provides financial thought partnership to Dealership – strategic partner to General and Department Managers. Oversee dealership specialists, and cashier personnel located in the dealerships. Oversee dealership accountants in the single point structure. Liaison with Dealership Accounting and Shared Service leadership. You will report to the Business Manager III or Area Controller.

Responsibilities

A financial partner to the dealership; develop and partner relationships with store leadership (GM, Sales and Operations) and Manufacturer Representatives. Ensure dealership is operating within financial guardrails. Communicate risks and opportunity with operational leaders. Ensure financial processes are in place to support new business plans. Understand manufacturers Excellence Goals and work with GM to ensure achievement. Maximize benefits from manufacturer incentive programs; understand program rules and payment structures, work with GMs to achieve results and work to ensure that the Shared Services team is up to date on program rules. Ensure compliance with internal controls. Responsible for accurate store financials ensures regular reviews of operational income statements, GL activity, supporting schedules and balance sheet accounts. Conduct quarterly physical Inventory: vehicles, parts, supplies.

What You'll Bring

2 or more years of experience as a dealership Business Manager/Controller (Required). Experience leading teams (Required). CDK experience (Preferred). Excel (can maintain complex spreadsheets) skills. Review, research and if necessary, resolve variances. Offer solutions or recommendations based on analysis and interpretation of financial results. Partner with Dealership leadership to achieve financial results. Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or 5 years commensurate experience (Preferred). Acceptable driving record and a valid driver's license in your state of residence.

Total Rewards

The salary range for this position is $63,250 to $132,250 annually; also, this position is eligible for an accounting operations bonus. Final compensation will be established through the interview process in accordance with applicable pay equity and transparency laws. Actual pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge, and physical location.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• Paid Holidays & PTO
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Lithia Learning Center
• Vehicle Purchase Discounts
• Wellness Programs

About Us

At Lithia & Driveway (NYSE: LAD) our success is fueled by our high performing teams delivering Auto Done Easy for our customers. We create simple, transparent, and convenient customer experiences throughout the vehicle-ownership lifecycle by leveraging our hundreds of store locations and our key adjacencies - Driveway, DFC, and GreenCars. We've built a retail model that champions entrepreneurial leadership, Growth Powered by People, and a strategy that creates possibilities and pushes us to reach our potential. High School graduate or equivalent, 18 years or older required. We are a drug-free workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity (regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. At Lithia & Driveway, we stand by our mission of Growth Powered by People, as we build a workplace that ignites ideas and opportunities to Earn Customers for Life. Our focus is on making the customer experience better; as we aim to meet our customers’ needs whether in person, online or a combination of both. Lithia & Driveway is the largest automotive retailer in North America and listed on the Fortune 500 (NYSE: LAD). Drive your career forward with roles in Sales, Finance, Service, Technology and Corporate. With thousands of vehicles and hundreds of locations, the career possibilities are endless. Join us as we accelerate towards growth in automotive and beyond!