Financial Analyst, HYBRID, Holdrege​/Kearney, NE

We are seeking an experienced Financial Analyst to support manufacturing operations at a well-established organization. This position will serve as a key finance partner to plant leadership and cross-functional teams to evaluate financial performance, improve operational efficiency, and support strategic business decisions.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in manufacturing finance and cost accounting, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to financial planning, capital investment decisions, cost management, and continuous improvement initiatives within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

• Partner with manufacturing, operations, and supply chain teams to evaluate financial performance and identify opportunities to improve plant efficiency.
• Analyze production volumes, operating costs, productivity metrics, and manufacturing variances to assess performance against financial targets.
• Develop, maintain, and improve standard costing processes and product costing methodologies.
• Investigate material, labor, and overhead variances to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor inventory levels, valuation, and accuracy across raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, including days inventory on hand (DIOH).
• Support month-end close activities, financial reporting, and variance analysis.
• Lead or contribute to annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and three-year financial planning.
• Prepare financial reports and communicate key findings, risks, and opportunities to plant leadership.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to evaluate capital investments and develop financial models using ROI, IRR, and NPV analyses.
• Monitor capital expenditures and assess the financial impact of investments, including depreciation.
• Support Lean and continuous improvement initiatives through financial analysis and performance tracking.
• Work with Strategic Sourcing to evaluate material cost increases and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Identify ways to improve financial processes, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with SOX requirements and internal financial controls while supporting internal and external audits.
• Maintain accurate financial documentation and follow established corporate policies.
• Contribute to special projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of relevant experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in plant finance, cost accounting, and product costing methodologies.
• Knowledge of financial modeling, capital budgeting, and investment evaluation, including ROI, IRR, and NPV.
• Understanding of month-end close procedures, inventory accounting, and financial reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and complex formulas.
• Experience with SAP or another ERP system, preferably in a manufacturing environment.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret financial data and communicate meaningful recommendations to non-finance stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive, collaborative approach to identifying opportunities and improving business performance.
• Flexibility to work occasional non-standard hours during month-end close, budgeting cycles, and other key business needs.