Sr. Financial Planning & Analysis Associate

Challenge Mfg. Holdings, Inc.; Plant (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision insurance

HSA with employer contributions

Flexible Spending Accounts

Short-Term Disability

Life Insurance

ESOP shares

401k match

Tuition reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Incentive program

Paid time off

Job summary

Challenge Manufacturing is seeking a Sr. Financial Planning & Analysis Associate who will analyze financial data, build forecasts, and advise senior management on ways to improve performance. The role requires manufacturing experience, strong analytical skills, and clear communication.

The position supports budgeting processes, financial reporting, and strategic planning, with work across sales, marketing, HR, and operations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics or related field.
• Advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility.
• Strong analytical skills and Excel proficiency.
• Knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting standards in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed financial analysis to support business decisions, including profitability, cost reduction, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Develop financial models and forecasts to support budgeting; monitor and report on actual performance vs. budget.
• Prepare financial reports and presentations for senior management, board of directors, and external stakeholders.
• Participate in strategic planning to identify objectives and develop financial plans.
• Provide financial analysis and support to cross-functional teams (sales, marketing, HR, operations).
• Execute ad hoc analyses and provide recommendations to stakeholders.

Skills

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Budgeting

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Manufacturing knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics

Advanced degree or relevant certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Who We Are:

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

We are looking for highly skilled Sr. Financial Planning & Analysis Associate to join our finance team. The Financial Planning & Analysis Senior Associate will be responsible for analyzing financial data, creating forecasts, and providing recommendations to senior management on ways to improve the company's financial performance. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of financial analysis in a manufacturing environment, strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills and leadership experience.

What You’ll Do:

• Conducting detailed financial analysis to support business decisions, such as assessing the profitability of products, evaluating cost reduction opportunities, and identifying areas for cost optimization.
• Creating financial models and developing forecasts to support the budgeting process, as well as monitoring and reporting on actual performance compared to budget.
• Preparing financial reports and presentations for senior management, board of directors, and external stakeholders.
• Participating in strategic planning processes to help identify key business objectives and develop financial plans to support them.
• Search out and correct inconsistent data, solve problems, and develop new methods of analysis.
• Providing financial analysis and support to cross-functional teams, such as sales, marketing, human resources, and operations.
• Executing ad hoc financial analysis and providing recommendations to key stakeholders

When and Where:

This will be a 1st Shift, Monday-Friday position located at our Walker, MI corporate office.

What You Need to Have:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field.
• Advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
• At least 3-5 years of relevant experience, with a proven track record of success and increasing responsibility.
• Strong analytical skills, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting standards, with experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

Benefits:

We’re excited to offer a range of awesome benefits, including

• medical
• dental
• vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• company-paid Short-Term Disability
• Basic Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options
• Employer 401k Match
• ESOP shares
• tuition reimbursement
• Referral Bonus Program
• Challenge Incentive Program
• paid time off

Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.

Who We Are:

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!