FP&A Manager

Connect Search, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC is seeking an FP&A Manager to lead budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis across manufacturing operations in the US. You will partner with operations, sales, supply chain, and executives to deliver insights that drive profitability and cost control.

The role focuses on production costs, inventory performance, capital expenditures, and long-range planning, with strong emphasis on ERP tools and SAP-based processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field required.
• MBA and/or CPA/CMA designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting across all departments and locations in the US.
• Develop monthly/quarterly/annual forecasts including revenue, labor, OPEX, capex, and cash flow projections.
• Analyze variances vs budget/forecast and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Prepare monthly BU-level presentations explaining results and variances to corporate management.

Skills

Power BI

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Variance analysis

Excel

ERP systems

Communication

Cost accounting

Financial modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field

MBA and/or CPA/CMA designation preferred

Tools

SAP

SAP BPC

Job description

The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager is responsible for leading the company’s financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analytical activities to support strategic and operational decision-making. This role partners closely with operations, sales, supply chain, manufacturing leadership, and executive management to provide financial insights that drive profitability, cost control, and business performance. In a manufacturing environment, the FP&A Manager plays a critical role in analyzing production costs, operational efficiency, inventory performance, capital expenditures, and financial trends while supporting long-term business planning initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual budgeting process and periodic forecasting activities across all departments and locations in the US.
• Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual financial forecasts, including revenue, labor, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and cash flow projections.
• Analyze variances between actual results, budget, and forecast and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Construct monthly BU-level presentation explaining results and budget/forecast variance to corporate management and finance.
• Support long-range strategic planning and financial modeling initiatives.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Coordinate with the IT team to build and interpret Power BI dashboards for operational improvement.
• Conduct profitability analysis by product line, customer, and industry.
• Participate in monthly financial statement review with Controller and CFO, providing insight into monthly and annual variances.
• Analyze manufacturing and operational performance metrics, including labor efficiency, raw material consumption, inventory turns, activity absorption, and overhead utilization.
• Develop ad hoc financial analyses to support strategic business decisions and operational improvements.
• Monitor and report on key trends affecting company performance and profitability.

Business Partnership & Operational Support

• Partner with operations, supply chain, sales, and production leadership to evaluate business performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Support pricing analysis, cost reduction initiatives, and margin improvement strategies.
• Assist with capital investment analysis and return-on-investment (ROI) evaluations of strategic initiatives.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Enhance financial reporting tools, forecasting models, and analytical capabilities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within financial planning and reporting processes.
• Ensure data integrity and consistency across ERP and financial systems.
• Assist in implementing automation and reporting efficiencies where applicable.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Support internal and external audit processes as needed.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, and internal financial controls.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive financial and business information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.
• MBA and/or CPA/CMA designation preferred.
• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, or accounting.
• Manufacturing, industrial, or steel industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling.
• Experience working with ERP systems (SAP) and financial reporting tools (SAP Business Planning and Consolodation).
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate financial information effectively to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting manufacturing operations, ideally in heavy industry or metals.
• Production cost analysis, ideally with an activity-based costing (ABC) system.