Overview

Position: Finance Manager Location: Raleigh, NC (3 days) and Wilson, NC (2 days) About the Role A growing global manufacturer is seeking a Manufacturing Finance Manager to serve as a key finance business partner to plant and operations leadership. This role owns production controlling, product costing, forecasting, operational analytics, and capital investment analysis, with a clear focus on driving financial performance and cost transparency across manufacturing operations. This is not a close-heavy or transactional accounting role. It is a true manufacturing FP&A seat that requires someone sharp, analytical, and confident enough to sit with plant managers, decipher the numbers, and drive action. The right candidate blends strong product costing knowledge with the communication skills and business instincts to influence operational decisions. The role reports to a highly supportive and development-focused finance leader who prioritizes coaching, autonomy, and career growth. Key Responsibilities - Production Controlling and Performance Management Analyze manufacturing performance and develop action plans to close gaps against budget and forecast Control headcount, labor efficiency, overhead absorption, cost centers, and site spending Partner with plant managers and operations leadership to improve cost, productivity, margins, and service levels Develop, maintain, and optimize KPIs and dashboards for operational reviews Identify and drive cost reduction opportunities across maintenance, consumables, labor, materials, and overhead Key Responsibilities - Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting Lead annual operating budgets, rolling forecasts, and long-range plans for manufacturing operations Provide structured variance analysis with root-cause insights and corrective actions Monitor actual performance versus budget and forecast and prepare financial commentary for leadership reviews Support business case evaluations, scenario analysis, and financial modeling for operational decisions Key Responsibilities - Cost Accounting and Product Costing Own and optimize standard costing systems including BOMs, routings, labor rates, overhead rates, and revaluations Perform purchase price, labor, overhead, and material variance analysis and drive corrective actions Estimate product costs and support quoting, pricing, and offer development in partnership with sales and operations Analyze unit cost development, cost trends, and profitability drivers Key Responsibilities - Inventory and Working Capital Monitor material price developments and supplier impacts on the P&L Oversee cycle counts and physical inventories and review and approve adjustments Analyze slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory and drive reduction plans Lead monthly inventory and working capital reviews with plant leadership Key Responsibilities - Capital Expenditure and Investment Controlling Support Capex planning, ROI analysis, capitalization, depreciation, and post-investment reviews Track Capex spend versus budget and ensure governance and adherence to approval processes Provide financial evaluation and recommendations on proposed investments Key Responsibilities - Business Partnering and Special Projects Serve as a trusted finance partner to plant and operations leadership Act as finance subject matter expert in continuous improvement initiatives including OEE, scrap reduction, yield, and inventory turns Lead or support cross-functional cost improvement, pricing, and strategic initiatives Conduct ad hoc financial analysis and special projects as required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field 5 to 10 years of experience in manufacturing or industrial finance Strong background in cost accounting, product costing, and manufacturing FP&A Experience with standard costing, variance analysis, budgeting, and capital investment analysis Advanced Excel skills and experience working in ERP systems in a manufactu