Operation Finance

Applied Materials; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA, seeks a Senior Manager, Operational Finance to serve as the primary finance partner for a new organization. You will provide financial leadership, decision support, and governance across operating expenses, capital investments, and resource planning.

The role requires 10–15 years in operational finance, an MBA or advanced degree, strong financial modeling, and the ability to translate complex data into clear recommendations for senior leaders while

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in operational finance or senior finance business partnership roles.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary finance partner to the leadership team with timely, practical financial guidance.
• Lead planning, forecasting, and financial review processes with focus on Opex and Capex.
• Evaluate investment proposals through financial analysis and risk assessment.
• Coordinate with Finance, Operations, Engineering and other business functions to ensure funding and accountability.

Skills

Financial Modeling

Strategic Thinking

Cross-functional Collaboration

Executive Communication

Education

MBA

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.

What We Offer

Salary: $154,000.00 - $212,000.00

Location: Santa Clara,CA

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible-while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits.

Role Summary

The Senior Manager, Operational Finance will serve as the primary finance business partner for a newly established organization with broad operational and strategic responsibilities. This role will provide financial leadership, decision support, and governance across operating expenses, capital investments, and resource planning. The successful candidate will bring strong operational finance experience, establish greater accountability for financial commitments, and help leadership make well-informed decisions in a complex, cross-functional environment. The role also supports the SPG Group CFO as the FP&A lead for groups reporting under her. The role requires a hands-on finance leader who can operate effectively across organizational boundaries, constructively challenge assumptions, and translate complex financial and operational information into clear recommendations for senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Finance Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary finance partner to the organization’s leadership team, providing timely, practical, and objective financial guidance.
• Develop a strong understanding of business priorities, operating requirements, and investment needs.
• Translate organizational strategies into clear financial plans, funding requirements, and decision frameworks.
• Support leadership reviews with concise financial narratives, scenarios, risks, and recommendations.
• Provide independent financial perspective and constructively challenge assumptions to improve business outcomes.

Financial Planning and Operational Control

• Lead planning, forecasting, and financial review processes, with particular focus on Opex and Capex.
• Establish clear ownership and accountability for budgets, spending decisions, and financial commitments.
• Provide visibility into actual and forecasted performance, including key variances, emerging risks, and required corrective actions.
• Drive disciplined bottoms-up planning and ensure resource and investment requests are supported by clear business rationale.
• Partner with leadership to balance operational priorities with affordability, financial prudence, and broader enterprise objectives.

Investment Governance and Decision Support

• Evaluate investment proposals through financial analysis, scenario modeling, and risk assessment.
• Ensure significant spending decisions are supported by appropriate financial diligence, approvals, and ongoing performance tracking.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost, scope, timing, and resource allocation.
• Help leadership prioritize investments across competing requirements and constrained budgets.
• Strengthen financial discipline by ensuring commitments remain aligned with approved plans and expected business outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with finance and business teams across the organization where responsibilities, resources, or financial ownership overlap.
• Clarify funding responsibilities, cost ownership, and financial accountability for cross-functional activities.
• Build effective relationships across Finance, Operations, Engineering, and other business functions.
• Partner with centralized finance teams to ensure planning accuracy, reporting consistency, and effective financial execution.
• Navigate organizational complexity and resolve financial issues through influence, transparency, and fact-based recommendations.

Qualifications And Experience

• 10-15 years of progressive experience in operational finance or senior finance business partnership roles.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of Opex, Capex, forecasting, financial controls, investment analysis, and management reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to support complex organizations and initiatives that span multiple business units or functions.
• Experience working with senior business and finance leaders in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to convert complex information into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations.
• Experience with enterprise planning, reporting, and financial systems preferred.

Leadership Attributes

• Confident and constructive in challenging assumptions and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Able to operate effectively when organizational structures, priorities, or processes are evolving.
• Collaborative and skilled at navigating competing priorities across organizational boundaries.
• Proactive and capable of identifying financial risks before they require escalation.
• Strong executive communication skills and the ability to maintain composure and credibility in high-visibility discussions.
• Consistent commitment to quality, accuracy, and disciplined execution.

Additional Information

Time Type

Full time

Employee Type

Assignee / Regular

Travel

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible

No

The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.

For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at [e-mail], or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.