Finance Manager, Operations
Location: New Troy, MI
Department: Finance
Reports To: Director of Finance
Join Our Team
Vickers Engineering is seeking a highly motivated and analytical Finance Manager, Operations to serve as a key business partner to plant leadership and operations teams. This position plays a critical role in driving financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, inventory accounting, reporting, cost analysis, and internal controls within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate will have strong manufacturing finance experience, a deep understanding of inventory and cost accounting, and the ability to collaborate across departments to improve operational and financial results.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Analysis
- Lead the annual budgeting process and support cost center managers through detailed financial analysis and insights.
- Develop and manage monthly forecasts, annual operating plans, and long-range financial planning activities.
- Analyze plant financial performance and provide recommendations to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
- Deliver weekly, monthly, and annual financial reporting packages for plant.
- Perform detailed variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior-year performance.
Financial Reporting & Close Process
- Manage and support month-end close activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, financial analysis, and reporting.
- Ensure financial results are accurate, timely, and in compliance with GAAP and company policies.
- Analyze income statement and balance sheet results to identify key business trends and risks.
- Support internal and external audit activities.
Cost Accounting & Inventory Management
- Oversee inventory valuation and costing activities, including standard costing, usage variances, and reserve calculations.
- Manage inventory reserves, including Excess & Obsolete (E&O), and other inventory-related reserves.
- Monitor capitalization variances, PPV, inventory adjustments, and scrap reporting processes.
- Ensure inventory accounting practices comply with company policies and internal controls.
- Partner with operations and inventory control teams to improve inventory accuracy and reduce waste.
Operational Business Partnership
- Build strong relationships across operations, engineering, supply chain, human resources, and plant leadership teams.
- Serve as a trusted financial advisor to operations leadership.
- Drive transparency and accountability through key performance indicators and operational metrics.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, productivity improvement, and process optimization.
Internal Controls & Compliance
- Maintain a strong internal control environment through controls testing, balance sheet reviews, and process standardization.
- Support compliance initiatives and process documentation efforts.
- Assist with the optimization and maintenance of financial systems, procedures, policies, and reporting tools.
- Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and business controls.
Special Projects
- Complete ad hoc financial analyses and special projects requested by leadership.
- Support ERP system improvements, reporting enhancements, and other finance-related initiatives.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related business discipline required.
Qualifications
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting or finance experience in a manufacturing, corporate, or plant environment.
- Previous experience as a Plant Controller, Finance Manager, Senior Financial Analyst, Cost Accountant, or similar role preferred.
- Experience supporting:
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
- Manufacturing financial reporting
- Variance analysis
- Business planning
- Cost accounting and inventory valuation
Technical Knowledge
- Strong understanding of GAAP and manufacturing accounting principles.
- Experience with inventory valuation and standard costing methodologies.
- Understanding of BOM’s, Process Routings, and part(s).
- Knowledge of capitalization variances, scrap accounting, inventory reserves, and cost analysis.
- Strong background in internal controls and audit support.
- Proficiency with Plex ERP system or similar manufacturing systems.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required.
- Experience with financial consolidation.
Leadership Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
- Ability to influence decisions through data-driven financial analysis.
- Proven ability to work effectively across multiple departments and levels of the organization.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Why Join Vickers Engineering?
- Opportunity to directly influence plant performance and profitability.
- High visibility role with regular interaction with plant and corporate leadership.
- Collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Being a part of a team who wants to continue successes within a growing manufacturing organization.
If you are a finance professional who enjoys partnering with operations, solving complex business challenges, and driving results in a manufacturing environment, we encourage you to apply.