Overview
Finance and Business Operations Manager
Freeland, Michigan | Full-time, on-site
Salary: $64,000–$75,000 per year, depending on experience
Clearbrooke Companies is seeking an experienced Finance and Business Operations Manager to oversee our day-to-day financial and administrative operations, strengthen internal accountability, and serve as a primary business contact for designated customers and professional partners.
This position reports directly to ownership and will play an important role in helping our growing group of companies operate more efficiently, consistently, and professionally.
Because we are a small company, this is a hands-on leadership position. The right person will be comfortable moving between financial review, employee supervision, customer communication, problem-solving, and process improvement. This is not a corporate finance role limited to reports and spreadsheets, nor is it solely a bookkeeping or data-entry position.
The primary goal of this role is to ensure that financial, administrative, and customer-related responsibilities are handled accurately, professionally, and on time, without requiring constant involvement from ownership.
Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Oversight
- Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing documentation, credit-card records, expense reporting, and other routine financial processes
- Establish and maintain an organized process for receipts, approvals, purchasing records, and supporting documentation
- Review financial activity for accuracy, completeness, and proper classification
- Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial closing activities
- Assist with budgeting, cash-flow planning, forecasting, and financial reporting
- Monitor customer accounts, aging reports, vendor payments, and outstanding financial issues
- Review financial statements and clearly communicate concerns, inconsistencies, and trends to ownership
- Coordinate with the company’s outside accountant, insurance representatives, retirement-plan provider, and other professional partners
- Develop practical internal financial controls appropriate for a small, growing company
- Help ownership better understand the company’s financial position and operational performance
Business and Administrative Operations
- Supervise and provide direction to designated administrative and office personnel
- Establish clear responsibilities, priorities, deadlines, and performance expectations
- Hold team members accountable for completing assigned work accurately and on time
- Address performance, communication, and follow-through concerns directly and professionally
- Improve coordination between administration, production, quality, inventory, sales, and ownership
- Develop and maintain practical procedures, documentation, and internal controls
- Identify inefficiencies and implement solutions that reduce delays, confusion, and repeated problems
- Ensure important administrative responsibilities are handled consistently and do not remain dependent upon ownership
- Track open projects and issues through completion
- Support company growth initiatives and special projects as needed
Customer and Account Management
- Serve as a primary business contact for designated key customers
- Coordinate customer orders, documentation, scheduling, specifications, concerns, and follow-up
- Manage routine customer issues professionally and independently
- Bring ownership into customer matters when an executive-level decision is genuinely required
- Ensure customer commitments and deadlines are communicated clearly throughout the company
- Work closely with production, quality, inventory, sales, and administrative personnel to resolve customer needs
- Maintain strong customer relationships while also establishing reasonable expectations and professional boundaries
- Track outstanding customer concerns and ensure they are resolved rather than repeatedly passed between departments
Leadership and Accountability
- Provide steady, professional leadership within a small-company environment
- Build effective working relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
- Make decisions within the authority of the position
- Recognize the difference between an issue that can be resolved independently and one requiring ownership involvement
- Escalate significant financial, legal, customer, personnel, or operational risks promptly
- Encourage a culture of ownership, follow-through, communication, and continuous improvement
- Handle confidential financial, employee, customer, and company information with discretion
Qualifications
- Five or more years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, business operations, office management, or a related leadership role
- Strong working knowledge of accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, financial statements, budgeting, cash-flow management, and internal controls
- Experience assisting with or managing monthly and year-end financial closing processes
- Experience supervising employees and addressing performance or accountability concerns
- Experience communicating directly with customers, vendors, accountants, and other professional partners
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow issues through to completion
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of discretion and professional judgment
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, accounting software, and general business systems
- QuickBooks and inventory-management experience are preferred
- Experience in manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, contract packaging, industrial services, or a regulated environment is beneficial
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field is preferred. Significant relevant experience may be considered in place of a degree.
The Right Person for This Role
The strongest candidate will be someone who:
- Understands both numbers and people
- Is comfortable working directly with business owners
- Can create order and accountability without adding unnecessary bureaucracy
- Does not avoid difficult conversations
- Is willing to be hands-on rather than simply delegating every task
- Notices important details while also understanding the broader business picture
- Communicates calmly and professionally with customers and employees
- Takes responsibility for outcomes
- Can make sound decisions without requiring constant direction
- Enjoys helping a growing company build stronger systems and processes
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated salary range is $64,000–$75,000 per year, depending on the candidate’s education, financial knowledge, leadership experience, and ability to assume the responsibilities of the position.
After the initial 90-day period, eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability insurance
- Company-matched IRA retirement plan
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Employee use or discounts on products manufactured by Clearbrooke
- On-the-job training and opportunities for professional growth
About Clearbrooke Companies
At Clearbrooke Companies, we are people-centric. Our team members come to work ready to support one another, serve our customers, and provide safe, high-quality products and services.
We maintain high expectations while investing in the personal and professional development of our employees. We value people who take ownership, communicate clearly, solve problems, and follow through without requiring constant direction.
Clearbrooke Companies provides innovative products and services to customers throughout the United States. Our mission is to enhance the everyday safety of our customers, team members, communities, wildlife, and the environment.
We operate from an FDA- and EPA-registered facility and include three business entities:
Clearbrooke Technologies provides comprehensive, environmentally responsible wastewater treatment programs using pH-neutral chemistry. Clearbrooke Technologies also provides industrial processing, cleaning, and customer-site services backed by more than 20 years of experience.
Clearbrooke Enterprises is a woman-owned contract manufacturing company specializing in personal care products and household chemical products.
Clearbrooke Products is a woman-owned company producing innovative household cleaning products designed with people, homes, and the environment in mind.
Learn more about us at Clearbrookeco.com.
Application Requirements
Please submit a résumé and a brief introduction describing:
- Your experience overseeing accounting or financial operations
- Your experience supervising employees
- Your experience managing customer, vendor, or professional relationships
- Why you are interested in a hands-on leadership position within a growing, privately owned company
Final candidates must be able to pass a comprehensive background check and pre-employment substance screening, including screening for marijuana, as permitted by applicable law.
Job type: Full-time
Work location: In person
Salary: $64,000–$75,000 per year, depending on experience
Clearbrooke Companies is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, business needs, and the ability to perform the responsibilities of the position.
Pay: $64,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
