Director of Operations Finance & Margin Strategy

AmaWaterways, LLC; Calabasas (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AmaWaterways, LLC in Calabasas, CA is seeking a Director, Business Finance - Operations to partner with leaders across guest experiences and guide cost management for river cruises and package tours. The role translates operational activity into financial insight, enabling informed decisions while maintaining the guest experience.

The position focuses on budgeting, forecasting, margins, vendor negotiations, and leading a cost-focused FP&A team, with AI-enabled analytics shaping cost reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics (MBA or CPA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including operations finance, cost management or business partnering.
• Proven leadership of finance professionals.
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in NetSuite and BI tools.
• Interest in ship operations and guest service operations in hospitality.
• Ability to balance cost discipline with the quality of the guest experience.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence operations and senior leaders.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and qualityExperience in cruise, travel, hospitality or shipping environments is a plus.
• Interest in and practical experience with AI enablement, with the ability to apply AI-enabled tools and processes to improve how finance work gets done.
• Comfortable operating with imperfect information and exercising sound judgment to keep moving while data quality improves.
• High-energy, self-driven and collaborative, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growing company with private equity-style expectations for pace, accountability and results

Responsibilities

• Serve as the finance partner to leaders across all elements of the guest experience for river cruises and package tours, including ship operations, hotel and culinary, shore experiences, guest services and itinerary operations
• Own operating cost budgets and forecasts for river cruises and package tours in partnership with FP&A and operations leaders
• Manage package tour costs, including hotels, guides and transportation, from contracting and budgeting through actual results
• Manage margin for river cruises and package tours, analyzing performance by ship, sailing, itinerary, package tour and guest experience component; explain variances and recommend corrective action
• Identify and drive cost reduction and efficiency opportunities, tracking benefits through delivery while protecting the guest experience
• Develop operational KPIs and dashboards that connect operational drivers to financial results
• Support vendor and supplier negotiations, including hotel, guide and transportation arrangements, purchasing strategy and business case evaluations
• Partner on capital planning for ships and operational investments
• Lead and develop the cost-focused FP&A team members reporting to this role
• Work with Accounting to ensure cost actuals, accruals and reporting are accurate and aligned
• Present financial performance and recommendations to the CFO and senior leadership
• Champion AI enablement in operations finance, applying AI-enabled tools to cost analysis, forecasting and reporting
• Identify and help implement the changes needed to deliver quality, decision-useful operating cost and margin data

Skills

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics

MBA or CPA preferred

Tools

NetSuite

BI tools

Job description

AmaWaterways, LLC in Calabasas, CA is seeking a Director, Business Finance - Operations to partner with leaders across guest experiences and guide cost management for river cruises and package tours. The role translates operational activity into financial insight, enabling informed decisions while maintaining the guest experience.

The position focuses on budgeting, forecasting, margins, vendor negotiations, and leading a cost-focused FP&A team, with AI-enabled analytics shaping cost reporting.