Finance Manager

COMPANY OVERVIEW

This is a leading importer and multi-state distributor. The company utilizes customized management tools to optimize the logistics network for its retail customers.

SUMMARY

Finance Manager (FP&A and Operations)

Lead the built out of finance functions of a private-equity-backed beverage business with an impressive growth trajectory.

As a key leader with the company, the finance manager will partner with the operations team, CEO, and CFO to build and continuously improve operations-finance processes (pricing strategy, margin analysis and improvement, etc.) and FP&A processes (board reporting, KPI tracking, budgeting, forecasting, etc.). This finance leader will also leverage their background, analytic expertise, and drive for results to partner closely with the business development director and CEO to develop and execute against the strategy to achieve the company’s ambitious growth targets.

Success requires an energetic and inquisitive individual who is eager and able to learn the intricacies of importing and distributing wine and spirits, a natural leader who is excited to create and deliver change/improvements, and an analytic and strategic mind with a willingness to get into the details and excitement for solving ambiguously defined business challenges. While this individual will not immediately have any direct reports, the ability to collaborate with the operations and accounting teams is critical to success.

The finance manager will be a sounding board/thought partner to operations leaders, business development director, and the CFO, and will be trusted collaborator/resource of the CEO.

The candidate must be excited to drive change, put in extra work during busy periods, and promote team comradery and a fun office culture.

Core Responsibilities

· Build and manage recurring monthly and quarterly reporting of KPIs, financial performance, and variance analysis that will be presented to senior management and to the board of directors/PE investor. The focus will be on informing decisions, “telling the story” effectively and succinctly, automating to the extent possible, and continuous improvement.

· Build, coordinate, present, and defend a robust annual budget and periodic forecasts. This will entail collaboration with operations and accounting teams.

· Manage and coordinate the company’s pricing strategy, which entails continuous analysis of all import and logistics costs, foreign exchange, retail constraints, etc. The finance manager will revamp the end-to-end process and suite of reports as a top priority after joining the team.

· Lead efforts to continuously improve profit margins and drive sales volumes with existing customers. This will entail detailed analysis in Excel, leveraging the company’s internally developed operations management system, and a good understanding of import logistics and distribution across states, which have varying requirements and restrictions around alcohol sales and distribution.

· Initiate and manage a range of strategic projects to drive continuous improvement of operational processes. Identify and drive opportunities to improve profit performance.

· Monitor, analyze, and review (and as needed create or modify) company KPIs reports and address, with appropriate team leads, variations in performance, deviations from budgets, and areas for improvement.

· Partner closely with the business development director and CEO to develop and execute against the strategy to achieve the company’s ambitious growth targets.

Collaborate closely with CFO on strategic and financial priorities. Ensure monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reporting is prepared to the highest standards.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

An excellent candidate for this role will have the following skills and experience. If you have some but not all the below, please apply anyway. We are an equal-opportunity employer, prohibit discrimination of any kind, and value diversity and inclusion. We look forward to considering all strong candidates.

· 5+ years of experience in an FP&A, operations finance, and/or commercial/sale finance at a business or company division with at least $50mm of revenue.

· Meaningful experience supporting operations and/or logistics, beverage alcohol sales distribution, CPG retail sales, or a related operational business.

· Experience helping a company to achieve significant growth (>40% sales growth).

· Strong Excel modeling skills (experience managing pricing/margin models, investment models with NPV/IRR, etc.).

· Experience with budget preparation and forecasting and presenting monthly/quarterly variance analysis to management.

· Profit-margin modeling (exceeds if total portfolio analysis down to SKU/customer level)

· Experience implementing or optimizing the use of systems to enhance data-driven decision-making.

· Undergraduate degree in accounting or finance. Relevant advanced degree and or certifications (such as a CPA, CFA, or MBA) are a plus.

Personal Characteristics

· A quick learner who is inquisitive by nature and can think strategically, analytically, and creatively to solve complex problems with a sense of urgency. Able to thrive in an agile and results-oriented environment.

· Strong financial and analytical background with the ability to understand commercial drivers and make thoughtful and objective recommendations.

· Ability to use, implement and manage a team using advanced systems, data management tools, etc.

· A strong leader with highly developed EQ and interpersonal skills. Able to inspire and motivate people at all levels within the Company.

· Unquestioned honesty and integrity. Flexible, straightforward, and willing to go the extra mile to support the scale of the business.

· Determined, persistent yet not overbearing or divisive – ability to diplomatically yet firmly push back or hold onto and defend position.