Hirebridge
Location:
Hybrid
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Chicago, IL or Union City, CA Role Overview The Finance Business Partner – Commercial Finance plays a pivotal role in supporting the commercial front end of our bespoke, project-based manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for delivering strategic financial insights and proactive guidance during the early stages of the project lifecycle. Key responsibilities include validating cost estimates, planning working capital for complex contracts, and managing the creation and reporting of bookings and pipeline data that directly inform cash flow forecasting. This role requires close collaboration with Sales, Project Management, and Senior Leadership to ensure bids are financially sound, risks are clearly understood, and commercial strategies align with broader business objectives and liquidity needs. Key Responsibilities Pre-Project Financial Analysis & Estimating Collaborate with Sales, Estimating, and Project Management to develop accurate cost estimates for bespoke projects. Rigorously challenge assumptions to ensure estimates reflect realistic material, labor, subcontractor, and overhead costs. Assess working capital requirements for large or long-duration projects, including milestone payments, retention terms, and funding needs. Provide insights to inform company-wide cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning. Identify financial risks related to project scope, duration, and contractual terms; propose mitigation strategies. Sales Performance & Forecasting Monitor pipeline health and booking forecasts through structured reporting and forecasting routines. Highlight risks, track changes, and deliver actionable insights to Sales leadership to enhance forecast accuracy. Analyze sales performance against targets, identifying trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement. Prepare and distribute commercial performance reports for senior leadership, emphasizing key drivers and risks. Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of bookings and pipeline data. Partner with Sales to maintain up-to-date, reliable pipeline information that supports realistic forecasting. Track order conversion rates and cycle times to support resource and capacity planning. Business Partnering & Continuous Improvement Serve as a trusted advisor to Sales, Operations, and Project teams, promoting a proactive approach to commercial planning. Drive improvements in the accuracy and reliability of estimates, bookings, and pipeline data. Contribute to the development of scalable commercial finance processes and tools tailored to a bespoke manufacturing environment. Support monthly close activities by analyzing actuals versus forecasts and budgets, providing clear commentary on variances and commercial drivers. Forecasting & Planning Collaborate with Finance on weekly cash flow projections, ensuring visibility into expected customer activity. Provide accurate, sales-driven inputs for financial planning and budgeting cycles. Work closely with FP&A to integrate commercial insights into broader forecasts and ensure cross-functional alignment. Qualifications & Experience Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Certifications: MBA or professional accounting certification (CPA, CIMA) preferred. Experience: Minimum 5 years in commercial finance, sales finance, or project financial planning within a bespoke manufacturing, engineering, or project-based environment. Proven experience in cost estimating, sales pipeline reporting, or working capital analysis for large-scale contracts is highly desirable. Skills & Competencies Financial Expertise: Deep understanding of cost estimation, project cash flow dynamics, and commercial contract structures. Analytical Proficiency: Advanced modeling and forecasting capabilities; strong command of Excel and ERP/CRM reporting tools. Business Acumen: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence and support cross-functional stakeholders. Detail-Oriented & Proactive: High attention to detail with a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving and risk management. Reporting & Communication: Skilled in crafting clear, concise reports and presenting complex financial data to non-financial audiences.
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Hybrid
-
Chicago, IL or Union City, CA Role Overview The Finance Business Partner – Commercial Finance plays a pivotal role in supporting the commercial front end of our bespoke, project-based manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for delivering strategic financial insights and proactive guidance during the early stages of the project lifecycle. Key responsibilities include validating cost estimates, planning working capital for complex contracts, and managing the creation and reporting of bookings and pipeline data that directly inform cash flow forecasting. This role requires close collaboration with Sales, Project Management, and Senior Leadership to ensure bids are financially sound, risks are clearly understood, and commercial strategies align with broader business objectives and liquidity needs. Key Responsibilities Pre-Project Financial Analysis & Estimating Collaborate with Sales, Estimating, and Project Management to develop accurate cost estimates for bespoke projects. Rigorously challenge assumptions to ensure estimates reflect realistic material, labor, subcontractor, and overhead costs. Assess working capital requirements for large or long-duration projects, including milestone payments, retention terms, and funding needs. Provide insights to inform company-wide cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning. Identify financial risks related to project scope, duration, and contractual terms; propose mitigation strategies. Sales Performance & Forecasting Monitor pipeline health and booking forecasts through structured reporting and forecasting routines. Highlight risks, track changes, and deliver actionable insights to Sales leadership to enhance forecast accuracy. Analyze sales performance against targets, identifying trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement. Prepare and distribute commercial performance reports for senior leadership, emphasizing key drivers and risks. Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of bookings and pipeline data. Partner with Sales to maintain up-to-date, reliable pipeline information that supports realistic forecasting. Track order conversion rates and cycle times to support resource and capacity planning. Business Partnering & Continuous Improvement Serve as a trusted advisor to Sales, Operations, and Project teams, promoting a proactive approach to commercial planning. Drive improvements in the accuracy and reliability of estimates, bookings, and pipeline data. Contribute to the development of scalable commercial finance processes and tools tailored to a bespoke manufacturing environment. Support monthly close activities by analyzing actuals versus forecasts and budgets, providing clear commentary on variances and commercial drivers. Forecasting & Planning Collaborate with Finance on weekly cash flow projections, ensuring visibility into expected customer activity. Provide accurate, sales-driven inputs for financial planning and budgeting cycles. Work closely with FP&A to integrate commercial insights into broader forecasts and ensure cross-functional alignment. Qualifications & Experience Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Certifications: MBA or professional accounting certification (CPA, CIMA) preferred. Experience: Minimum 5 years in commercial finance, sales finance, or project financial planning within a bespoke manufacturing, engineering, or project-based environment. Proven experience in cost estimating, sales pipeline reporting, or working capital analysis for large-scale contracts is highly desirable. Skills & Competencies Financial Expertise: Deep understanding of cost estimation, project cash flow dynamics, and commercial contract structures. Analytical Proficiency: Advanced modeling and forecasting capabilities; strong command of Excel and ERP/CRM reporting tools. Business Acumen: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence and support cross-functional stakeholders. Detail-Oriented & Proactive: High attention to detail with a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving and risk management. Reporting & Communication: Skilled in crafting clear, concise reports and presenting complex financial data to non-financial audiences.
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