Operations Finance Manager/ Responsable des finances des opérations

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Strategic Finance

Department: Finance

Position Summary:

The Manager, Operations Finance partners with Operations leadership to drive efficiency, scalability, and cost discipline across the organization. This role combines hands-on financial management – overseeing AP/AR and operational spend – with advanced modelling and analysis to evaluate initiatives, track KPIs, and identify performance trends. This role will also support the Senior Manager, Strategic Finance with board reporting, variance analysis, budgeting, and forecasting to enable data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Analysis

- Build, maintain, and refine financial models to evaluate operational initiatives and business cases.
- Conduct monthly variance analysis to identify key performance trends, risks, and cost drivers.
- Support budgeting and forecasting cycles, collaborating with operational leaders to align assumptions and targets.
- Assis the Senior Manager in preparing monthly board and management reporting packages.

Operational Finance & Cost Management

- Partner with operations leaders to provide financial insights that improve efficiency, scalability, and cost control.
- Act as the primary financial point of contact for operational inquiries and cost-related decisions.
- Monitor and analyze KPIs such as landed cost, labour cost per unit, and other COGS-related metrics to ensure accuracy and accountability.
- Reconcile inventory balances across multiple systems and locations, ensuring accurate valuation and alignment with financial reporting.
- Identify and address performance gaps or cost issues, ensuring timely corrective action and measurable results.
- Oversee the AP/AR teams, ensuring strong financial controls, accuracy, and efficient processes that support day-to-day operations.

Process Improvement, Systems & Automation

- Support ERP system upgrades, ensuring financial processes and reporting are optimized.
- Identify opportunities to automate and streamline financial workflows.
- Evaluate and model the financial impact of initiatives designed to streamline operations and reduce costs.
- Lead and track progress on cross-functional cost-saving and process improvement initiatives, ensuring accountability and measurable outcomes.
- Recommend and implement enhancements to strengthen financial controls, reporting quality, and data integrity.
- Perform other ad hoc financial analyses, projects, and tasks as assigned by the Senior Manager.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

- 5-8+ years of progressive experience in Finance, FP&A, or operational finance roles, ideally within product or cost-driven industries such as manufacturing, logistics, or distribution.
- Public accounting background (Big 4 or equivalent) highly preferred.
- Proven track record of partnering with operations and supply chain teams to drive optimization and efficiency.
- Advanced financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights.
- Proficiency with ERP systems (Business Central 365).
- Strong technical acumen, including advanced excel, Power BI for analysis and visualization, and PowerPoint for executive-level presentations.
- Experience leading direct reports preferred.
- CPA designation highly preferred; MBA or other advanced business education considered an asset.

Core Competencies

- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of cost structures, COGS drivers, and key operational metrics.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, capable of influencing non-finance stakeholders and presenting complex financial insights clearly.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Proactive, resourceful, and results-driven, with a demonstrated ability to take ownership and follow through on key initiatives.