The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis will lead financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, and business performance analysis for a growing, complex organization. Reporting directly to the CFO, this individual will serve as a strategic finance partner to executive and operational leadership, providing financial insights that support profitability, working capital management, capital allocation, and strategic decision-making.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role responsible for strengthening the FP&A function, improving financial visibility, and developing scalable forecasting and reporting processes. The ideal candidate brings strong financial modeling capabilities, operational finance experience, and the ability to navigate a multi-entity environment while partnering closely with senior leadership and private equity stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Financial Planning, Forecasting & Cash Flow Management
- Direct the annual budgeting process, ongoing rolling forecasts, and long-term financial planning initiatives across the organization.
- Develop, maintain, and enhance integrated three-statement financial models covering the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow projections.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts, working capital projections, and liquidity assessments to support financial planning and strategic decisions.
- Collaborate with Treasury and Accounting teams to align financial plans with near-term cash requirements, including the 13-week cash flow forecast.
- Conduct scenario planning and sensitivity analyses to assess business performance, liquidity needs, potential risks, and strategic opportunities.
- Evaluate key working capital components, including inventory levels, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and capital expenditure requirements.
- Strengthen forecasting methodologies, improve model reliability, and enhance financial planning processes across business units.
Financial Reporting & Business Performance Analysis
- Oversee monthly and quarterly financial reporting for executive management, the Board of Directors, private equity investors, and lending institutions.
- Coordinate lender reporting requirements, financial covenant calculations, and supporting financial analyses.
- Consolidate financial statements, budgets, and forecasts across multiple legal entities, business segments, and financial platforms.
- Evaluate actual financial results against budgets, forecasts, and historical performance to identify trends, business risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Establish and track financial and operational performance indicators, including revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, working capital, and cash flow.
- Work closely with Accounting to maintain accuracy, consistency, and alignment between financial statements and management reports.
- Present financial performance findings, business insights, and practical recommendations to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
Operational Finance & Strategic Partnership
- Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and other business leaders to assess results, strengthen financial performance, and improve profitability.
- Analyze revenue, margins, and profitability across business units, customer segments, product lines, and operating locations.
- Assess pricing strategies, product costs, inventory performance, purchasing patterns, and other factors influencing financial outcomes.
- Prepare financial analyses to identify opportunities for better inventory utilization, improved working capital performance, and greater operational efficiency.
- Measure and monitor the financial benefits of cost-reduction programs, pricing adjustments, and strategic business initiatives.
- Develop financial models, investment analyses, and business cases to assess capital expenditures, expansion opportunities, and other strategic investments.
- Provide financial support for acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, and corporate development initiatives when required.
- Convert complex financial and operational information into clear, actionable insights that guide business planning and management decisions.
- Enhance financial planning, reporting, and analytical systems to improve productivity, data accuracy, and decision-making capabilities.
- Establish consistent financial modeling standards, forecasting practices, reporting formats, and performance measurement frameworks throughout the organization.
- Collaborate with Accounting, IT, and Operations to strengthen financial data quality, system integration, and reporting reliability.
- Identify and implement automation opportunities to simplify reporting activities, eliminate redundant tasks, and reduce manual processes.
- Support the implementation, optimization, and ongoing improvement of ERP systems, FP&A platforms, and business intelligence solutions.
- Develop scalable reporting processes and analytical capabilities that accommodate organizational expansion and increasing business complexity.
Leadership & Team Development
- Manage, coach, and develop the FP&A team while maintaining hands-on involvement in financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical activities.
- Define team objectives, establish priorities, and maintain clear accountability and performance standards across the FP&A function.
- Work in close partnership with the CFO, Controller, Treasury, and other finance leaders to coordinate financial planning, reporting, and business priorities.
- Build effective cross-functional partnerships and influence strategic and operational decisions through financial insights.
- Promote continuous improvement, analytical excellence, and consistent execution across financial planning and reporting activities.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related discipline is required. An MBA, CPA, or CFA designation is preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), corporate finance, or a related field, including senior-level leadership responsibilities.
- Extensive knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, management reporting, and operational finance.
- Proven ability to develop and manage integrated three-statement financial models, including detailed cash flow projections and working capital forecasts.
- Experience overseeing financial planning, analysis, and reporting across complex, multi-entity organizations.
- Strong understanding of financial statements, cash flow management, working capital, and the key factors influencing business profitability.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with executive leadership and communicate financial results, business insights, and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Previous experience leading, coaching, and developing finance and FP&A professionals.
- Experience in a private equity-backed business, particularly with Board reporting, investor communications, sponsor requirements, or lender reporting, is highly desirable.
- Background in manufacturing, distribution, industrial, or other inventory-driven industries is preferred.
- Strong expertise in gross margin analysis, inventory management, product costing, and working capital optimization.
- Advanced Excel proficiency and financial modeling capabilities, with experience using multiple ERP platforms and financial reporting systems.
- Familiarity with FP&A software, Power BI, and other business intelligence or financial analytics tools is an advantage.
- Experience contributing to acquisitions, business integrations, financial transformation, or process optimization initiatives is preferred.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and develop practical business recommendations.
- A hands‑on leadership approach, with the ability to balance multiple priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and deliver results in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.