North America Finance Director

Confidential Careers; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers is seeking a Finance Director to partner with a senior business unit leader, shaping strategy and translating complex data into actionable insights that drive growth and profitability.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of progressive finance experience, strong P&L ownership, and exceptional communication, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience with P&L ownership.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive strategic decisions.
• Strong communication and analytical skills with a collaborative leadership style.
• Experience leading high-performing finance teams in a global organization.

Responsibilities

• Own the business unit’s end-to-end P&L, from gross sales to operating profit.
• Lead annual operating plan, quarterly forecasts, and long-range planning.
• Translate financial results into actionable recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate profitable growth and strengthen financial performance.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing on business cases and pricing strategies.
• Develop performance metrics linking financial objectives with business priorities.

Skills

P&L ownership

Strategic financial leadership

Forecasting & budgeting

Cross-functional partnership

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

Tools

Financial planning tools

Financial systems

Job description

An established global consumer products organization is seeking a strategic, commercially minded Finance Director to serve as a trusted financial partner to a senior business unit leader. This high-impact role will shape business strategy, strengthen financial performance, and translate complex financial data into actionable insights that drive sustainable growth and profitability.

Working in close partnership with commercial leadership and regional and global finance teams, the Finance Director will oversee business unit financial performance, lead planning and forecasting, and identify opportunities to optimize revenue, margins, commercial investments, and operating profit.

This is an opportunity for a forward-thinking finance leader who combines strong financial and operational expertise with commercial instincts, executive presence, and a passion for continuous improvement. The successful candidate will help influence strategic decisions, strengthen financial discipline, and lead and develop a high-performing finance team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Own the business unit’s end-to-end P&L, from gross sales through operating profit, including oversight of key balance sheet accounts and working capital performance.
• Lead the annual operating plan, quarterly forecasting cycles, and long-range strategic planning in partnership with cross-functional business leaders.
• Translate financial results, market trends, and business performance drivers into clear recommendations that inform strategic and operational decisions.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate profitable growth, improve margins, optimize costs, and strengthen overall financial performance.

Commercial Finance & Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted finance partner to senior business and commercial leaders, providing forward-looking analysis, financial guidance, and decision support.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to evaluate business cases, new product launches, pricing strategies, customer opportunities, and commercial initiatives.
• Develop and enhance performance metrics that connect financial objectives with business priorities.
• Assess market dynamics, competitive trends, and market share performance to identify opportunities for growth and stronger commercial execution.

Investment Effectiveness & Profitability

• Evaluate the financial impact and return on investment of commercial initiatives, ensuring resources are allocated to the highest-value opportunities.
• Partner with revenue growth and commercial finance teams to assess trade and promotional investment effectiveness.
• Analyze marketing expenditures and commercial spending to improve returns and optimize resource allocation.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability across the P&L while balancing growth ambitions with financial discipline.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead monthly financial reviews, sales performance analyses, and profitability assessments, clearly explaining variances and establishing accountability for results.
• Strengthen financial planning, reporting, reconciliation, and business review processes to improve accuracy, consistency, and decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, simplify workflows, and eliminate non-value-added activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve working capital, operational efficiency, and financial performance across the business unit.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and other business partners to align financial plans with commercial strategies and operational priorities.
• Collaborate with regional and global finance teams to support strategic initiatives and ensure consistency across planning, forecasting, reporting, and financial governance.
• Influence senior stakeholders through clear financial narratives, thoughtful challenge, and practical, data-driven recommendations.

Leadership & Team Development

• Serve as a key financial advisor to the business unit’s senior leadership team.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering accountability, collaboration, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Build financial capabilities across the organization and encourage a forward-looking, commercially focused approach to decision-making.
• Champion productivity, operational effectiveness, and purposeful leadership while supporting the business’s broader strategic objectives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including significant financial management responsibilities and direct P&L and working capital ownership.
• Demonstrated success in a finance leadership role, including developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial and operational acumen, with the ability to connect financial performance to business strategy.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders, challenge assumptions constructively, and navigate complex, matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate complex financial analysis into clear business recommendations.
• A track record of driving process improvements, strengthening financial discipline, and simplifying ways of working.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to assess market trends, competitive dynamics, and business performance to inform strategic decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the consumer packaged goods (CPG), consumer products, or a related industry.
• MBA or other advanced degree; CPA or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with commercial finance systems, financial planning tools, and analytical applications.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a commercially oriented finance leader who can move seamlessly between detailed financial analysis and executive-level strategic discussions. They bring intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style, with the ability to challenge conventional thinking, influence business decisions, and turn financial insights into measurable results.

• They are motivated by the opportunity to shape business performance, develop talent, and build a stronger, more forward-looking finance organization.