Operations Finance Manager

Vaco Recruiter Services; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco/Highspring is seeking a senior Finance business partner to lead forecasting, budgeting, and operating analytics for the manufacturing network. You will partner with Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain to drive performance KPIs and identify cost drivers.

The role emphasizes capital planning, ROI analysis, and strategic initiatives, with exposure to executive leadership and opportunities to influence important operational decisions through financial insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 6+ years of FP&A, Manufacturing Finance, Cost Accounting, Plant Finance, or Operations Finance in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budgeting/forecasting, manufacturing finance, and cost accounting principles.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and reporting tools (Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, OneStream, Planful, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly forecasting, annual budgeting, and long-range planning for manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain leaders to analyze financial performance and operational KPIs.
• Support plant P&Ls by identifying cost drivers and improvement opportunities.
• Develop financial models supporting productivity initiatives, operational improvements, and strategic decision-making.
• Oversee standard cost updates, cost rollups, and COGS modeling.
• Analyze manufacturing variances including material, labor, overhead, PPV, scrap, and inventory absorption.
• Support accounting team through financial analysis, reporting, and accrual review.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools that improve operational visibility.
• Support capital planning, ROI analysis, and major investment decisions.
• Participate in acquisition integrations and standardize forecasting and reporting across the manufacturing network.
• Drive process improvements focused on automation, reporting enhancements, and scalability.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

Oracle

SAP

NetSuite

OneStream

Planful

Job description

Company Overview

Our client is a private equity-backed, high-growth industrial manufacturing company experiencing continued growth through operational investment and strategic acquisitions. With multiple manufacturing and distribution locations across North America, the organization is focused on driving operational excellence, scalability, and long-term value creation.

Position Summary

Reporting to the VP of FP&A, this role serves as the finance business partner to Manufacturing and Operations, leading forecasting, standard costing, operational analysis, capital planning, and business performance across the manufacturing network.

This role offers significant exposure to executive leadership and the opportunity to influence operational decision‑making through financial insights and strategic analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Finance & Business Partnership

• Lead monthly forecasting, annual budgeting, and long‑range planning for manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain leaders to analyze financial performance and operational KPIs.
• Support plant P&Ls by identifying cost drivers and improvement opportunities.
• Develop financial models supporting productivity initiatives, operational improvements, and strategic decision‑making.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Oversee standard cost updates, cost rollups, and COGS modeling.
• Analyze manufacturing variances including material, labor, overhead, PPV, scrap, and inventory absorption.
• Support accounting team through financial analysis, reporting, and accrual review.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools that improve operational visibility.

Strategic Initiatives

• Support capital planning, ROI analysis, and major investment decisions.
• Participate in acquisition integrations and help standardize forecasting and reporting across the manufacturing network.
• Drive process improvements focused on automation, reporting enhancements, and scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 6+ years of combined experience inFP&A, Manufacturing Finance, Cost Accounting, Plant Finance,or Operations Finance roleswithin a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budgeting/forecasting, manufacturing finance, and cost accounting principles.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience working with ERP systems and reporting tool (i.e. Oracle, SAP,NetSuite, OneStream, Planful, etc.)

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.