Director of Finance - Manufacturing Operations

This position is responsible for providing financial leadership, strategic direction, and analytical support for Harley-Davidson's global manufacturing operations. This role serves as the primary finance business partner to Manufacturing leadership and is responsible for financial planning, forecasting, reporting, operational performance analysis, capital investment support, and cost management across manufacturing facilities.

This position leads a team of manufacturing finance professionals and plant controllers, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, effective decision support, and alignment with enterprise financial objectives. This position partners closely with Operations, Supply Management, Engineering, Quality, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to improve profitability, drive productivity, optimize working capital, and support strategic manufacturing initiatives.

The successful candidate will combine strong financial acumen with operational leadership, influencing business decisions through data-driven insights and effective partnership across the organization.

• Serve as the primary finance partner to Manufacturing leadership and provide financial guidance and strategic decision support through financial analysis and business case development.
• Drive financial transparency and accountability across manufacturing organizations.
• Present monthly financial results, forecasts, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership.
• Lead annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, monthly estimates, and long-range planning activities for manufacturing operations.
• Lead financial oversight of manufacturing cost performance, including direct labor, manufacturing overhead, fixed cost absorption, inventory performance, productivity initiatives, labor efficiency, and cost reduction programs.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances and operational performance metrics.
• Partner with operations leadership to identify and execute cost improvement opportunities.
• Support development of manufacturing cost standards and operational reporting.
• Partner with operations leaders to prioritize capital spending and ensure appropriate return on investment.
• Provide leadership for working capital optimization initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies and financial controls and maintain strong governance over forecasts, financial results, and planning processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, systems, and reporting capabilities.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing manufacturing finance organization.

• This position requires a Bachelor's Degree in finance, accounting or related field. An advanced Degree and/or CPA certification is Preferred

This positiion typically requires a minimum of 12 years related experience. Minimum of 5 years of management experience. In addition, the qualified candidate will have demonstrated the following:

• A minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible financial experience is required. A minimum of 5 years of financial management experience.
• Communication skills necessary to provide effective presentation of ideas, plans and processes to other departments and senior management.
• Proven management skills and the ability to lead and develop finance teams.
• Readiness to proactively drive and deliver high impact results through both individual and team efforts. Strong organizational skills, with ability to self-motivate and successfully work on multiple projects.
• A skilled approach to building strong working relationships with business partners. Strong and independent analytical thinker and influencer.

Preferred

• Experience in a global manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP.
• Experience with business intelligence and analytics tools including Power BI.
• Experience supporting capital-intensive operations.
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence exposure.