Finance Director (fm)

The Industrial Automation Solutions (IAS) Business Unit (BU) Finance Director is the finance business partner to the IAS BU General Manager with full responsibility for the business unit P&L. He/she will report functionally (solid line) to the Industrial Segment Unit CFO and have a strong dotted line to the IAS BU GM.

IAS Business is a global engineering solutions provider helping our customers to optimize and upgrade their installed base of engine system controls for power and industrial applications.

IAS BU is a key contributor to the Industrial segment growth and margin improvement.

Through analysis and recommendations this role will have a meaningful impact on helping to shape the strategic direction and to grow this strategic business unit and improve its performance.

In addition to financial support to the IAS BU this role will also serve as a single point of contact to oversee and coordinate all Woodwards financial activities for the European region working closely with other finance leaders in the region to implement standard processes strengthen financial controls and reporting and support corporate initiatives.

What You Will Be Doing

• Provide overall financial support and guidance to the General Manager of the IAS BU with full P&L responsibility

• Partner with extended management team to develop fact-based long-range strategic plan identify and implement strategic initiatives to substantially grow this business

• Responsible for annual budgeting quarterly forecasting monthly management reporting weekly pulse and variance analysis for the IAS BU. Prepare accurate and timely management reporting package and lead monthly financial operational reviews with the IAS team

• Improve BU P&L forecast accuracy by implementing standard work spearhead business process improvements and actively monitor risk & opportunities

• Work closely with Product Lines team to model service grow potential by developing a full understanding of the installed base and the integrated product lifecycle profitability (product and services profitability at product and customer level)

• Improve Inquiry to Order reporting of orders pipeline conversion metrics win/loss order intake and backlog reporting for the IAS BU

• Support project contract negotiation and own the commercial finance items (contractual milestones definition project cash flow payment terms currency fx tax items etc) working closely with the Industrial Commercial Finance Director

• Support in the upcoming SAP rollout and new consolidation tool implementation (Tagetik)

• Manage a team of financial analysts and coach them in meeting performance expectations and career progression

• Identify and leverage resources best practices and processes across the European sites

• Senior finance leader in the region to support business leaders when issues need escalation

What We Are Looking For

• 7-10 years of financial leadership experience managing a Business Unit P&L. Overall a 10 year progressive career across finance roles (FP&A Manufacturing Finance Commercial Finance experience preferred) within a global manufacturing or engineering field service company

• Bachelors degree in finance accounting or business required

• Strong knowledge and understanding of general accounting principles and cost accounting

• Strong working knowledge of business reporting tools such as Power BI

• Ability to work cross functionally in a highly matrixed global team process improvement mindset operationally oriented

• Fluent in English (required); German AND/OR Polish would be an asset