Position Summary
The Senior Director, Finance & Operations serves as the right-hand to business unit leadership on all financial matters, providing the financial analysis, accounting integrity, and business insight needed to run and grow the business unit. This position works daily with business unit leadership, operations, project and field teams, and corporate accounting to translate financial results into clear recommendations, and to maintain strong internal controls, in accordance with company policy and GAAP. The role balances commercial support with the independence to escalate and say no when financial risk or policy requires it, and has a matrix-line relationship to Finance and Business Unit leadership for day-to-day priorities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Project Mgt & Performance, Budget, Forecasting & Analysis
- Partner with the Business to review projects, compare margin performance to as-bid margins, provide analytical insight into project, indirect and SGA spend and KPI's; support new bid estimates from financial perspective
- Lead the annual budget process for the business unit, partnering with FP&A, leadership, and operations to develop revenue, margin, headcount, and capital assumptions.
- Prepare and maintain rolling forecasts; analyze changes in outlook and communicate risks and opportunities to leadership.
- Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support pricing, bid estimates, capital investment, and staffing decisions.
- Track performance against budget and forecast and prepare variance analyses with clear explanations of key drivers.
Month-End Close & Financial Reporting
- Lead the business unit's month-end close, including managing the accounting team for the Business, close calendar, deadlines, and deliverables with corporate accounting.
- Review and approve journal entries, accruals, revenue and cost recognition, deferrals, and account reconciliations for accuracy and completeness.
- Review and challenge work-in-progress, job cost, and percent-complete schedules to ensure revenue and margin are properly recorded.
- Prepare monthly financial statements, management reporting packages, and commentary for business unit leadership and corporate stakeholders.
- Review accounts receivable aging and collection status, and partner with leadership on collection strategy and reserve needs.
- Support quarterly, year-end, and external audit activities, including preparation of schedules and responses to auditor requests.
Business Partnership & Leadership Support
- Serve as the trusted financial advisor and right-hand to business unit leadership, attending leadership meetings and providing timely, decision-ready financial insight.
- Develop and present KPIs, dashboards, and performance reviews that highlight trends, profitability, and cash flow.
- Evaluate contracts, customer agreements, and proposed pricing for financial impact, risk, and compliance with company policy.
- Support business development and strategic initiatives with financial analysis and ROI evaluation.
- Shape pricing, bid, and investment decisions by challenging assumptions and presenting options, risks, and tradeoffs before commitments are made.
- Share accountability with operations for margin, cash flow, and job profitability outcomes, including bid-to-actual reviews and lessons learned.
- Hold the line on company policy and financial discipline while keeping the business moving, escalating to the Corporate Controller when needed.
Internal Controls, Compliance & Process Improvement
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, company accounting policies, and internal control and authorization requirements.
- Oversee approval and review of vendor, expense, corporate card, and banking activity within established authorization limits.
- Coordinate with the company's insurance, tax, and treasury departments on business unit reporting, insurance data, and compliance requirements.
- Identify and implement improvements to financial processes, systems and reporting to increase accuracy and efficiency.
Team Leadership & Oversight
- Direct, coach, and develop accounting support staff, setting priorities and reviewing work product.
- Delegate and oversee routine transactional activities, including cash application, vendor and customer setup, contract and insurance documentation, and administrative support, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Strong knowledge of GAAP, month-end close, account reconciliation, and financial statement preparation.
- Advanced skills in budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial modeling.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with SharePoint.
- Experience with ERP and accounting systems and corporate expense management platforms.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial leaders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines.
- Ability to lead, coach, and influence others, and to build credible partnerships with senior leadership.
- Strong business acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to connect financial results to operational drivers.
- Ability to push back constructively and uphold policy and controls while remaining a collaborative partner to the business.
- Sound judgment and the ability to handle confidential financial and employee information with integrity.
- Experience in construction, utilities, or a related project-based industry preferred.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics, Concur, OneStream or similar applications preferred.
- Experience with job cost accounting and percent-complete revenue recognition preferred.
Experience/Education
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting and/or financial planning and analysis experience, including month-end close and budgeting/forecasting responsibility.
- Prior experience supporting business unit or operational leadership as a finance partner preferred.
- Supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.
Certifications/Licenses
- CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.
This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the Company
