Job Summary

As a Lean Process Improvement Specialist you'll have the exciting opportunity for modernizing a finance department and bringing in continuous improvement, culture and processes. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will hold a mandate to implement process changes, not merely recommending them. Core responsibilities include mapping current-state financial workflows (close cycle, AP/AR, reporting, reconciliations), identifying opportunities for improvement, redesigning processes using Lean principles, and evaluating and deploying tools, automation, and AI-driven solutions to support the team's work. You will partner closely with finance staff to build new skills, streamline day-to-day processes, implement new systems and technology, and establish standard operating procedures that set the team up for long-term success.

The ideal candidate for the Lean Process Improvement Specialist holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, has demonstrated experience modernizing finance or accounting operations, and has hands-on experience selecting and implementing finance software, automation tools, or AI applications (e.g., automated reconciliation, invoice processing, reporting). Success is measured by reductions in close-cycle time and error rates, hours freed up from manual work, and the number of processes successfully automated or tool-enabled, with quarterly reporting against a documented improvement roadmap. Candidates should be excited to lead change and build new ways of working in partnership with the existing team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Process Improvement

• Map current-state financial workflows (e.g., close cycle, AP/AR, reporting, reconciliations), identify opportunities for improvement, and redesign processes using Lean principles.
• Partner closely with finance staff to identify and understand pain points, build new skills, streamline day-to-day processes, and implement new systems and technology.
• Establish standard operating procedures that set the team up for long-term success.
• Identify and implement finance process improvements and leading practices that improve efficiency, accuracy, controls, and service levels.
• Assess opportunities to leverage existing and emerging technologies to reduce manual work, improve data quality, and increase process efficiency.

Technology, Data, and Transformation

• Incorporate technology as appropriate.
• Evaluate and deploy tools, automation, and AI-driven solutions to further improve optimized processes.
  • Identify technical partners and make recommendations.
  • Support system implementations.
  • Leverage existing systems and automation tools to streamline operations

Change Leadership

• Lead change and build new ways of working in partnership with the existing team.
• Support a continuous improvement mindset.
• Identify training opportunities to continue to educate the team on Lean and Six Sigma principles.

Project Leadership

• Create and manage a documented improvement roadmap, to be updated quarterly.
• Lead and implement organization-wide, cross-functional projects from concept to execution.
• Set project metrics for success and report quarterly against those metrics.
• Success can be measured by reduction in close-cycle time, error rates, hours freed up from manual work, and the number of processes successfully automated or tool-enabled, in addition to other metrics deemed important.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• 3+ years' experience working in a Lean/Six-Sigma/Process Improvement role. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification highly preferred.
• Preference for candidates having worked within a Finance department and/or a Manufacturing organization and/or an organization with $100M+ in revenue.
• Demonstrated experience modernizing finance or accounting operations, and has hands-on experience selecting and implementing finance software, automation tools, or AI applications (e.g., automated reconciliation, invoice processing, reporting).
• Proven track record of implementing change. Must have strong quantitative analytical skills, excellent project and planning abilities, as well as a proven ability to work effectively across functions.
• Excellent communication/telephone/presentation skills, and an ability to interact with all levels of management.
• Excellent organizational/project management skills/ability to multi-task and work independently.
• Must have advanced use of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook computer skills.
• Leadership requirements:
  • Demonstrates the ability to lead change without direct authority, build credibility with stakeholders, challenge existing practices constructively and influence decisions across the organization. Approaches problems with a business mindset, uses data to develop practical solutions and communicates complex information and data clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
  • This role requires strong intellectual capacity and the ability to operate with a business mindset. The individual must have a demonstrated ability to take in large amounts of data, simplify it, and communicate it to non-finance stakeholders. They must move with speed, urgency, and confidence, and be able to influence decision-makers and drive change

Location: North Hollywood, CA

Schedule: M-F, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Salary: $130,000 - 145,000.00
Benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Year-end Bonuses
• Life and AD&D
• Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid time off for vacation, sick and personal days
• Parental Leave
• Educational Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance