Finance Manager

The Finance Manager at our Golden Valley, Minnesota location is responsible for developing financial models, strategic financial planning, leading analysis across all product lines, and improving financial processes. This position serves as a vital financial partner across Product Management, Engineering, and Customer Experience teams, focused on maximizing enterprise value and aiding in major business decisions.

To be considered for the Finance Manager position, candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant business domain experience and at least 7 years of advanced Excel experience in a business-facing role. Ideal candidates will also have strong modeling skills, a foundation in finance and accounting principles, and experience with data analysis tools such as Alteryx and SQL.

The Finance Manager plays a crucial role in aligning financial strategies with business goals by supporting strategic initiatives through detailed financial modeling, business case development, and return on investment analysis. This involvement is vital in promoting informed decision-making that drives growth and profitability.

As a Finance Manager, you can expect a collaborative and inclusive culture that values creativity and teamwork. You will work in a supportive environment with highly skilled professionals, ensuring that innovative ideas are shared and fostered to drive business success.

The Finance Manager will have significant exposure to senior leadership and high-level decision-making processes, enhancing both your professional network and skill set. You'll play an integral role in shaping the company’s financial future while receiving valuable feedback that can help you grow in your career.

When approaching financial modeling, especially for strategic planning, I emphasize clarity and simplicity. I ensure that the model is easy to understand and adaptable. This involves collaborating with various teams to capture diverse inputs and aligning the financial model closely with the company’s strategic goals to inform key decisions.

To improve financial reporting processes, I focus on automating manual tasks where feasible, ensuring that standard operating procedures are well-documented. Employing best practices and engaging cross-functional teams for insights allows us to create streamlined and efficient reporting processes that deliver timely and accurate information.

I believe clear communication is key in resolving conflicts. I would set up a meeting to openly discuss the differing viewpoints, ensuring everyone has a chance to express concerns. From there, we can work collaboratively to find common ground, aligning our objectives to move the project forward positively.

I've led multiple budget forecasting processes in my previous roles, which involved working closely with product leaders to gather insights on market trends and expected changes. Utilizing historical data, I create flexible forecasting models that allow us to adjust assumptions based on real-time data and insights to ensure our projections are as accurate as possible.

I am highly proficient in advanced Excel for complex financial modeling and have extensive experience with Alteryx for data analysis. Additionally, I have worked with SQL for managing large datasets and have familiarity with financial software like SAP and Hyperion for comprehensive financial reporting.

I ensure compliance with accounting principles by staying updated on GAAP standards and regularly reviewing processes with the finance team. Additionally, I implement strict internal controls to guarantee that our financial practices align with these principles and conduct regular audits to identify and rectify any issues.

In a previous role, I utilized data analytics to identify trends in sales performance across different regions. By analyzing various datasets, I was able to present actionable insights that led to targeted marketing strategies and improved our gross margins significantly, demonstrating the power of data-driven decision-making.

One of the most challenging aspects is balancing long-term financial planning with the immediate needs of the business. Being able to adapt quickly while remaining focused on strategic goals requires strong analytical skills and the ability to prioritize effectively. I work to promote collaboration to align tactical needs and strategic objectives.

When communicating complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders, I focus on breaking down the information into simpler components, using visuals like graphs and charts to illustrate key points. My goal is to connect the financial implications back to the stakeholders' domains to ensure they grasp how these concepts affect their areas.

For continuous process improvement, I establish clear KPIs to assess efficiency regularly, seek feedback from team members about pain points, and stay abreast of financial technology advancements. By fostering a culture of innovation, we can identify new methodologies and tools that enhance our finance operations.