Financial Analyst - Food Manufacturer - Elmhurst, IL

Financial Analyst Responsibilities:

• Monitor and analyze production variances, collaborating with manufacturing teams to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Track and evaluate production KPIs, reconciling daily production and shipping data using SAP.
• Ensure the accuracy of finished goods reporting and maintain accountability in production data capture.
• Calculate and communicate weekly plant performance metrics.
• Deliver in-depth labor cost analysis on a weekly basis.
• Manage close activities related to the general ledger and inventory, including journal entries for accruals and expense allocations.
• Perform comprehensive expense reviews and ensure costs are accurately reflected in the income statement.
• Prepare post-close financial reports for plant leadership and complete reconciliations in a timely manner.
• Lead reporting of production KPIs and support corporate requirements for environmental, safety, and compliance metrics.
• Partner with department leaders to analyze results and support action planning for future performance.
• Assist in the development of annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, including updates to standard costing models.
• Analyze trends in labor and material usage, validate planning assumptions, and participate in scenario planning and operational modeling.
• Coordinate information flow and data collection across teams to support an efficient planning process.
• Conduct internal control reviews and audits to ensure the accuracy of inventory and financial processes.
• Review and validate SAP system data, including production recipes and consumption rates.
• Support resolution of accounting and control issues across plant functions.
• Provide accounting guidance and onboarding support for new team members at the plant, ensuring continuity during periods of transition.
• Analyze inventory variances and support cycle counting processes, ensuring compliance with company policies on slow-moving and obsolete materials.
• Oversee transactional accuracy for product holds, disposals, and related activities.
• Act as a financial lead for plant-wide improvement initiatives, partnering with operations on lean manufacturing efforts and process optimization projects.
• Contribute to various strategic initiatives and special assignments, such as union negotiations, procurement support, and cross-functional task forces.

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