Interim Finance Director

THE COMPANY

Our client, with 150 years of heritage and over 10,000 employees in over 50 countries, is a sector focused organization at the forefront of delivering motion and fluid control technologies that create a more sustainable world, improving the quality of life for our customers and communities and ultimately delivering our purpose of Breakthrough Engineering for a Better World.  Driving cleaner, greener futures for commercial vehicles, they specialize in OEM engineered solutions that reduce emissions and improve efficiency, safety, and comfort, helping create a healthier and safer environment for all. Together, they pave the way towards a more sustainable future.  

THE POSITION

The Finance Director, based in Queretaro, Mexico, overseeing the Transport sector, will play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support to the regional Team. Your responsibilities will include steering processes and timelines for key financial activities such as budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting and variance analysis. The Finance Director will be instrumental in supporting and guiding the finance teams at the plant level, ensuring strategic financial success across the Americas region. This is an interim assignment that has the potential to become permanent depending on multiple factors.  This position is not responsible for Statutory Accounting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support growing the Americas region profitability and cash flow.
• Lead and manage the Finance function, developing efficient structures and strong capabilities.
• Support the business strategy by ensuring the provision of financial & business analysis and acting as a key business partner to the Mexico Area General Manager and the leadership team.
• Responsible for monthly closing, including developing and preparing and approving all financial reports, performance measurement, key indicator reports while providing needed information and analyses to efficiently run the business.
• Ensure appropriate internal financial controls are in place and managed correctly in line with company policy
• Own and manage the relationship with external and internal audit functions to ensure the appropriate controls are in place and to ensure swift action is taken to mitigate any control deficiencies.
• Enable business decision capability by providing top quality decision support analysis for internal clients.
• Deliver high quality business financial and metrics support via Business Reviews and other key meetings.
• Ensure Vendor financial reporting and transactions processes are robust.  Manage the audit of financial systems, physical inventory and controls in place at key vendor sites.
• Effectively manage “cost control” through structured cost reduction programs.
• Supervise the analysis of absorption levels, manufacturing, and SG&A cost. Identify and lead activities to optimize both.
• Coordinates the business unit annual budget process as well as weekly, monthly and quarterly revenue and profitability forecasting.
• Achieving increased growth of the business on a profitable and cash generative basis.
• Developing high performance finance team; developing profile of finance team and building strong working relationships with other company’s functions.
• Support Accounting team with filing taxes and tax strategy, ensuring a robust tax compliance process is in place.
• All other duties as assigned

THE CANDIDATE

Candidate Critical Competencies for Success:

• Possess an advanced University bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field.
• Experience as a Director of Finance or experienced Controller in a manufacturing environment.
• CAPEX and ROI knowledge.
• Ability to communicate financial insights effectively with an English-speaking global team.
• Proven experience in a finance or accounting role within the manufacturing sector.
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and inventory control.
• Experienced with Financial reporting.
• Familiarity with financial regulations and accounting standards relevant to Mexico.
• Proven ability to implement effective internal controls and risk management practices.
• Able to influence vertically (corporate leadership and also manufacturing floor).
• Resilient, strong execution gets things done.
• Fluent in English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiar with ERP.