Financial Planning and Analysis

SONJA J. COMMANDER, MBA

White Bear Lake, MN • 651-***-****

*****.*********@*****.*** • LinkedIn.com/in/Sonja-Commander

SENIOR FINANCE EXECUTIVE

Financial Strategy Business Partnership Operational Optimization

Dynamic and results-driven finance leader with a proven track record of driving financial strategy, optimizing operations, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Adept at Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), P&L management, and strategic decision-making to support business growth and operational efficiency. Strong business partner, well-versed in aligning financial objectives with corporate goals, guiding automation initiatives, and implementing cost-saving strategies. Experienced in managing high-performing teams, mentoring talent, and enhancing productivity through process improvements and data-driven insights. Known for working with executive leadership to deliver financial oversight, risk management, and impactful business solutions.

STRENGTHS

P&L Management

FP&A & Forecasting

Cost Optimization

Process Improvement

Market Expansion

Capital Investments

Team Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ECOLAB (SAINT PAUL, MN) • 2011 TO PRESENT

FINANCE DIRECTOR, PEST ELIMINATION • 2021 to Present

Act as the de facto CFO for North America’s $800M business, owning financial oversight, closing the books, and offering strategic insights that drive sustained double-digit revenue and profit growth. Steer the annual financial planning process, ensuring rigorous forecasting, resource optimization, and alignment with corporate objectives to fuel long-term profitability.

Served as a Trusted Financial Advisor to the NA General Manager and Senior Leadership Team, shaping high-stakes business decisions and heading executive-level Quarterly Business Reviews.

Governed the integration of two $10M acquisitions, facilitating seamless business alignment and operational continuity.

Spearheaded financial modeling for a groundbreaking $20M digital monitoring system, generating 100% accuracy and projecting 30% efficiency gains to revolutionize field operations.

Led cross-functional strategy for a 400-vehicle EV pilot in California, partnering with Fleet, Supply Chain, and Finance to maximize cost-effectiveness and operational impact.

Achieved the highest Internal Audit Rating in 2023—an elite distinction earned by less than 20% of business units—by enforcing rigorous compliance, accountability, and financial controls.

Championed automation and Power BI-driven reporting, unlocking 500+ hours in annual efficiency gains and securing a team member the prestigious Quarterly Finance Excellence Award.

Developed and mentored top finance talent, leading to multiple promotions and award-winning contributions while fostering a results-driven culture of operational excellence.

DIRECTOR, HR FINANCE • 2019 to 2021

Influenced executive decision-making by delivering high-impact financial presentations to the Controller, CFO, and CEO, providing data-driven insights that shaped corporate strategy. Led a global Workday transformation initiative, integrating P&L-based reporting and real-time headcount forecasting, improving financial transparency and workforce planning. Partnered with Corporate FP&A to identify cost-saving opportunities and mitigate financial risks, confirming HR spend was strategically aligned with business objectives.

Spearheaded the FP&A strategy for Ecolab’s $130M Global Management Incentive Plan, optimizing financial analytics and reporting for Senior HR and Finance Leaders across global divisions.

Directed financial forecasting and reporting for U.S. Benefits, overseeing a $500M+ annual budget and formulating cost optimization strategies that enhanced financial planning.

Built and supervised a high-performing team of seven, attaining a 5% increase in employee engagement, securing three internal promotions, and maintaining industry-leading retention.

Earned Executive Trust as a Key Advisor during COVID-19, navigating complex financial challenges, modernizing HR financial planning, and guaranteeing business continuity.

Orchestrated the seamless migration of benefits and bonus programs for the $1B+ Champion X spinoff, ensuring immediate financial and HR operational continuity.

Revamped G&A analytics, transforming raw data into actionable insights that advanced budgetary control and strategic financial planning for leadership and corporate finance.

Governed automation and digital transformation, replacing outdated manual processes with a centralized Workday analytics hub, amplifying forecast accuracy by 10%.

DIRECTOR, GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE PMO • 2017 to 2019

Steered the rollout of the Materials EPM system, transforming data consolidation and digital accessibility to raise operational productivity. Drove accountability and execution in EPM implementation, leading weekly strategy meetings to confirm seamless deployment within scope, timeline, and budget. Delivered high-impact financial insights to the Equipment VP, identifying cost-saving opportunities and advancing spending strategies.

Redesigned the Equipment team’s monthly OGSM reporting, offering sharper analytics and actionable intelligence to propel strategic decision-making.

Administered high-stakes production location optimization analysis, evaluating integration scenarios for three facilities and preventing a costly misalignment.

Orchestrated a company-wide overhaul of the Customer Returns Policy, achieving $1M+ in savings through tactical process improvements and better compliance measures.

Won the prestigious LSS Sponsor of the Year Award (2017) for championing the Electronic Leave Behind project, significantly uplifting workflow efficiency by 10%.

Headed multiple Lean Six Sigma (LSS) initiatives, directing a major digital transformation that eliminated printed reports and cut $500K+ in operational costs.

Conducted critical facility integration analysis, influencing executive decisions by uncovering system incompatibilities and averting potential disruptions.

CONTROLLER, ECOSURE • 2011 to 2017

Designed and launched real-time sales and productivity analytics, equipping leadership with actionable insights that enabled revenue and operational improvements. Managed financial oversight for a $30M revenue division, leading month-end close, financial reporting, and guaranteeing fiscal accountability.

Recognized with the Division’s Highest Honor, the General Manager Award, for propelling outstanding business growth by 20% and strategic financial leadership.

Fueled over 100% operating income growth in two years by enacting financial strategies that maximized revenue.

Refined the Annual Financial Plan, replacing outdated processes with a dynamic model that elevated forecasting accuracy and accelerated execution.

Engineered a high-impact financial model to support the division’s transformation from a contractor-based to a full-time workforce, turning negative growth into double-digit sales expansion.

Gained the highest Internal Audit rating in 2015, showing excellence in financial controls, risk management, and compliance.

Devised a unique HQ relocation strategy, cooperating with HR to sustain talent retention, implementing reimbursement plans, and executing a structured transition for 18+ months.

Automated and streamlined the annual financial planning process, integrating it into the corporate system, eliminating inefficiencies, and saving leadership a full workday per month.

Early Career: Manager, Financial Analysis (Shared Services), Accounts Payable Manager, Manager, Financial Analysis (Foodservice), Financial Reporting & Analysis Manager (Institutional), Corporate Accounts Finance Manager (Institutional), Sr. Financial Analyst (FP&A) • Ecolab Sr. Financial Analyst • The Pillsbury Company

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

MBA, Concentrations: Finance and Strategic Management • University of Minnesota

BBA, Concentration: Finance • University of Wisconsin

Professional Development: LSS Yellowbelt Certification

Technical Skills: Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) Blackline

Leadership & Community Involvement: Ecolab E3 Member Girl Scout Troop Leader Memorial Day Parade Coordinator Ecolab Development Committee Ecolab Nominating Committee Menttium 100, Mentee Neighborhood Involvement Program, Board Member Carlson School Alumni Advisory Council, Representative Carlson Graduate Women in Business – President, Co-Founder, and Alumni Chairwoman

“I have had the privilege of working with Sonja on multiple occasions across different businesses at Ecolab, and she has proven to be an exceptional business partner. Sonja excels in comprehending the operational drivers of a P&L and leveraging that knowledge to identify strategic opportunities."

– Jen G., VP Marketing, Ecolab

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