Finance Director - Operations

Overview

The Finance Director – Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for serving as the primary finance partner to Kemin's global Operations group. This position goes beyond traditional financial oversight: the Finance Director will dig deeply into the details of operational accounting and cost structures, translate those insights into clear and actionable language for business unit leaders, and actively drive efficiency improvements and cost savings initiatives alongside the Operations team.

The Finance Director – Operations is positioned specifically to enable influence and collaboration across business units without requiring direct hierarchical control.

This individual will hold formal direct reports as well as dotted-line accountability over finance personnel embedded in operations locations worldwide. The role requires both technical depth and executive presence — someone equally comfortable in the weeds of a costing model and in front of senior leadership articulating the financial story of operations performance.

This position is highly preferred to be onsite at our Des Moines Headquarters location.

Join the Kemin Team and Transform Lives!

We are a privately held, family-owned-and-operated global biotechnology company driven by curiosity and committed to transforming the quality of life for people, pets, and the planet.

We create solutions that strengthen health and wellbeing, provide nutrition and immune support for pets and production animals, safeguard the planet’s natural resources, and protect the global food supply chain for generations to come.

We supply over 500 specialty ingredients for various industries, including human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textiles, biofuels, and animal vaccines.

We employ 3,500 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

As a valued member of our team, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial, physical, and professional well-being:

• Competitive Financial Package
  :
  Enjoy a rewarding salary, uncapped bonus opportunities, a 401k match program, and generous paid vacation and holidays.
• Health and Wellness Support
  :
  Stay fit and healthy with our fitness reimbursement for the whole family, access to an on‑site fitness center, a restaurant offering seasonal fresh food options, and free fresh fruit in break areas.
• Career Development and Advancement
  :
  Unlock your potential with opportunities for growth and development throughout your entire career.
• Continued Learning Opportunities
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  Grow your skills with our in‑house learning platforms, offering thousands of training resources both live and online, and take advantage of tuition reimbursement for external post‑secondary pursuits.
• Service Opportunities
  :
  Make a positive impact with paid time off for service, partnerships with The World Food Programme and Habitat for Humanity, and local community initiatives.

Operations Finance Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as the dedicated finance leader and strategic business partner to Kemin's global Operations group, building trust‑based relationships with Operations leadership across all sites and regions.
• Translate complex operational financial data — including cost variances, absorption, COGS trends, and capital spend — into clear, digestible insights that Operations managers can act on.
• Challenge the Operations team constructively to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve cost savings targets; bring structured financial rigor to operational decision‑making.
• Lead the development of financial models for investment decisions, capital projects, make‑vs‑buy analyses, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Drive accountability for operational KPIs by monitoring performance against budget and forecast, explaining variances, and partnering with Operations to course‑correct.

Cost Accounting & Financial Accuracy

• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, local GAAP, and the Kemin WW Accounting Manual…