Sr Director Finance - Americas

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will manage a financial organization of 50 employees, in the Americas Region, with an organizational structure to support all financial aspects supporting manufacturing sites in the regions. In addition, this individual will have a close working relationship with the Senior Vice President – Operations CPE.

The Sr. Director will be the point person and partner for the VP Finance & CFO and all finance related responsibilities for the region. This position will also ensure necessary and timely reporting requirements are met as requested by Crane Co. S/He will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling all financial-related activities for the Region.

The Sr. Director will ensure that credible, ethical and accurate financial control systems exist for the continued viability of the regional business. This position will also be responsible for Regional SOX compliance, audit requirements (internal and external), expansion and growth initiatives, strategic development and implementation of financial planning including operational budgeting, sales reporting and analysis, inventory management and assessment, cost accounting, credit and collections, monthly, quarterly and yearly reporting and financial planning and analysis for all manufacturing sites in the region.

The Sr. Director will be a member of the finance leadership team working in a high energy, team-oriented organization. Though all department resources are currently in place, part of the successful candidate's role will be to continue to assess, recruit and build a highly energized, skilled and goal-oriented team focused on supporting business growth.

- Responsible for achieving the organization's overall strategic goals and profitability requirements as determined by the strategic and operating plan as the key leadership team member from the Finance function.

- Collaborate with Site Leaders and Site Controllers to assess and improve manufacturing site financial performance and provides leadership on financial matters.

- Provide Strategic Leadership to the regional finance team to establish short and long-term departmental goals, objectives, policies and operating procedures that increase efficiency and reduce waste in the processes.

- Develop and enhance the team’s intellectual capital by fostering growth in current employees and attracting top talent. Utilize the Intellectual Capital review process to set clear, organization-wide performance goals and create comprehensive development plans for managers and their teams, driving overall growth and maximizing contributions across the organization.

- Initiate and administer plans for the financial control of operations. Such plans provide profit planning, sales forecasts, expense budgets, accounts receivable, cost standards, saving opportunities, and capital investing, together with the necessary controls and procedures to effectuate the plans.

- Compare performance with operating plans and cost standards. Provides reports and interprets the results of operations to all levels of management. This includes the formulation of accounting policies, the preparation of financial statements and operating data, the coordination of systems and procedures, and special reports as required.

- Assure protection for the assets of the business through internal control, internal auditing, and timely financial analysis and reporting. Ensures the financial policies and processes are in accordance with Crane Corporation’s policy and US GAAP.

- Lead the development of the regional annual operating plan, monthly business reporting to Crane Co. to present results and countermeasures, ownership of forecast accuracy and overall governmental and financial compliance.

- Monitor credit and collection applications. Approve terms above a predetermined dollar amount as required in your capacity as Sr. Director Americas

- Assist Regional Sales & Marketing in establishing and maintaining product-pricing policies.

- Ensure optimum regional performance of the function. Recommends and implements techniques to improve productivity, increase efficiencies, cut costs, take advantage of opportunities, and maintain state-of-the-art practices.

- Participate actively in the Crane Business System processes including project team involvement, problem solving, and recommending solutions to enhance and improve the quality of departmental and/or company-wide business activities.

- Assume other special activities and responsibilities as required.

YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

- Establish successful strategic partnership with the Crane CPE Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President - Operations.

- Drive functional excellence throughout the Americas Finance organization utilizing the Crane Business System tools and processes.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

- The successful candidate must be technically excellent, an outstanding communicator, a creative thinker and business leader who can leverage his/her experience and unique "know how" to develop a winning short term and long term integrated financial growth strategy.

- At the same time, s/he must be a hands-on pragmatist, grounded in facts, establishing productive and credible connections across the entire business.

- This person likely will have rotated through or is currently a Regional business unit Finance Lead within a division of a publicly held global manufacturing company and possess operational finance responsibilities that include strategy development, as well as business planning and analysis.

- Responsibility leading a finance organization within a complex global business of significant size is strongly desired.

Qualifications/Experience:

- Minimum of ten years of Finance/Accounting experience in a global manufacturing environment.

- Minimum of five years of management experience (direct reports).

- Strong financial and business acumen; advanced analytical skills.

- Demonstrated partnership with business leaders and CFO or senior finance functional executive.

- Working knowledge of applicable accounting practices and law.

- Foundational career experience in the fundamentals of controllership as well as more recent responsibility for FP&A is ideal.

- Exposure to best-in-class industrial manufacturing finance organizations within a strong business process, performance improvement and lean manufacturing culture.

COMPETENCIES:

- Track record of leading the finance function, driving functional excellence, making process improvements, and incorporating business and financial tools into the workflow.

- Ability to interpret data and communicate at the appropriate level for the audience to understand.

- Ability to influence across the business and in different environments.

- Integrity and ethical qualities of the highest standard and comfort in raising concerns to the highest level.

- Self-starter with desire to foster a sense of urgency when addressing customer and business concerns.

- A demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and financial productivity.

- Independent thinker possessing resilience, passion, and high-energy.

- Must demonstrate strong analytical and excellent communication skills (oral and written).

- Finance experience across a group of complex businesses.

- Excellent manager of people, able to strike an appropriate balance between empowerment, delegation and hands-on involvement, and able to build, direct and coordinate a capable team.

- The ideal candidate will have interest and ability for continued professional growth. S/He will possess the competencies and aspirations to progress in functions and levels beyond the regional Director of Finance.

EDUCATION

Accounting or Finance undergraduate degree required. MBA and/or CPA preferred.

This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Crane Company. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.