About Excelligence Learning Corporation
Excelligence Learning Corporation is the world's leading tech-enabled platform company in early childhood and elementary education. Educators, parents, and children in more than 40 countries use our 20,000+ innovative, high-quality educational products and teaching solutions to teach, learn, and grow.
With over 30 years of experience, Excelligence is a developer, manufacturer, distributor, and multi-channel retailer serving early childhood learning centers, elementary schools, PTAs, and consumers. Our portfolio includes industry-leading brands such as Discount School Supply®, Really Good Stuff®, Children's Factory®, Angeles®, Learning Carpets®, Colorations®, BioColor®, and Frog Street®.
Position Overview
The Director of FP&A – Operations is a senior finance leader responsible for financial planning, forecasting, and performance management across Excelligence's operational cost centers, with a strong emphasis on fulfillment, distribution, and supply chain operations.
Reporting directly to the VP of Finance and partnering closely with Operations leadership, this role serves as the primary owner of operating expense (OPEX) visibility, cost discipline, and variance management. The position combines strategic FP&A leadership with hands-on operational engagement in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
This role reflects an expanded mandate for ownership, accountability, and executive-level impact and is designed to drive measurable cost reductions, efficiency gains, and improved financial decision-making across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning, BudgetingForecasting
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Own enterprise-level financial planning processes for operations, including annual operating plans (AOP), budgets, and rolling forecasts.
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Develop and maintain detailed OPEX models aligned to labor, logistics, fulfillment, and supply chain cost drivers.
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Partner with Operations leadership to align financial plans with capacity, productivity, and service-level objectives.
OPEX ManagementVariance Analysis
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Monitor actual spend versus budget and forecast; identify, explain, and escalate material variances.
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Proactively surface cost risks, trends, and optimization opportunities with clear financial impact.
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Develop, track, and support corrective action plans for over-budget areas, ensuring accountability and follow-through.
Performance ReportingExecutive Communication
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Deliver executive-ready reporting packages, dashboards, and financial narratives for senior leadership.
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Translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights that influence decision-making.
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Support monthly business reviews, operating reviews, and ad-hoc executive requests.
Cross-Functional Partnership
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Serve as the primary finance partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Distribution leaders.
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Support spend reviews, productivity initiatives, vendor cost management, and cost-reduction programs.
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Provide financial guidance on operational initiatives, process improvements, and investment decisions.
Governance, ControlsContinuous Improvement
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Support audit activities related to operational spending and cost controls.
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Ensure consistent financial rigor, documentation, and compliance across assigned cost centers.
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Improve FP&A processes, tools, and reporting scalability over time.
ExperienceQualifications
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10+ years of progressive experience in Financial PlanningAnalysis, operations finance, corporate finance, or a related discipline
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OR
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Fewer years of experience with demonstrated, sustained impact equivalent to a senior FP&A leader, evidenced by:
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Material cost savings, margin expansion, cash flow improvement, or operating efficiency gains
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Ownership of enterprise-level forecasting, budgeting, and variance management processes
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Direct influence on executive decision-making, capital allocation, or operational strategy
What "Equivalent Experience" Looks Like
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Led or materially contributed to cost reduction initiatives with significant annual financial impact
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Built, owned, or redesigned forecasting and financial models supporting large-scale revenue or spend environments
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Partnered with senior leadership to drive measurable improvements in margin, EBITDA, working capital, or operating leverage
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Demonstrated progression in scope, complexity, and decision authority ahead of typical tenure timeline.
Additional Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (MBA or CPA preferred).
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Strong expertise in OPEX management, variance analysis, and cost discipline.
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Experience supporting fulfillment, distribution, supply chain, manufacturing, or logistics operations strongly preferred.
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Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; experience with ERP and BI tools (e.g., Oracle, SAP, JD Edwards, Power BI, Tableau).
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Strong executive communication skills with the ability to challenge assumptions and influence cross-functional leaders.
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Proven ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities, and drive outcomes in ambiguous environments.
What Success Looks Like
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Improved cost predictability and financial discipline across operations.
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Measurable cost reductions, efficiency gains, or margin improvement driven by financial insight and partnership.
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Strong, trusted relationships between Finance and Operations leadership.
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Clear visibility into operational cost drivers that enables faster, better business decisions.
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Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples of cost savings, margin improvement, or financial impact they have personally driven.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Excelligence Learning Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.
