Operations and Business Case Lead

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We're a global, multi-disciplinary team that's putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.

• Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience
• Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence
• Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment

You will be responsible for Business Unit's financial planning and P&L management, end-to-end sales operations & governance, and customer business cases - ensuring leadership team has the clarity and confidence to make data driven business decisions. You will lead a team and operate as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders across Finance, Sales, Product, and Business Growth.

As the Operations Lead, you will play a central role in shaping how the Software Products Business Unit plans, performs, and grows. This is a high-impact position that sits at the intersection of finance, sales, and business strategy - requiring equal parts analytical depth, operational discipline, and cross-functional leadership.

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning, with clear performance tracking & variance analysis
• Own product level P&L analysis, across R&D, CoS, and SG&A (in alignment with product management)
• Prepare monthly P&L reporting across revenue, COS, gross margin, EBIT, discounts, rebates, and cost allocations for senior stakeholders
• Lead reconciliation of SAP CO-PA outputs with local controlling results to ensure consistent, reliable management reporting
• Anchor the annual planning cycle, aligning headcount, cost structures, and investments with 5-year strategic goals

• Own end-to-end governance across the full opportunity lifecycle - early pursuits, active deals, change requests, extensions, and renewals
• Maintain business unit-wide pipeline visibility through Salesforce dashboards and analytics, tracking pipeline value, maturity, stage integrity, and risk
• Chair and drive Win Room and PreGRO governance forums, ensuring discussions are decision-oriented, inputs are complete and evidence-based, risks are surfaced early, and clear outcomes and next steps are established
• Manage large scale Qlik Sense & Excel dashboards and derive actionable insights for leadership team

• Lead end-to-end business case development across new opportunities, renewals, pricing changes, and commercial decisions - driving alignment with CAMs, Controllers, and cross-functional stakeholders on key assumptions including volumes, pricing, margins, service years, and EBIT targets
• Orchestrate cross-functional partnerships with Engineering, Product, Program Management, and Sales Operations to integrate scope, effort estimates, cost assumptions, quote-to-cash inputs, contract financials, and revenue recognition into robust, deal-ready financial frameworks

• 8-10 years of experience in business operations, financial planning, or a similar function within a technology or software organization
• Strong financial acumen across P&L management, forecasting, profitability analysis, and cost controlling
• Experience with SAP, and related finance systems; proficiency in Salesforce for pipeline management and reporting
• Advanced Excel and data visualization skills
• Proven ability to manage pursuits or deals governance in a B2B environment, with familiarity with formal deal review forums
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills - able to simplify complexity and influence without authority across a matrixed, global organization
• High attention to detail, strong process orientation, and a track record of driving governance and operational discipline
• Experience leading and developing small-to-mid-sized teams and operational improvements

• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Finance, Business, or Strategy
• Professional finance certifications (CPA, CMA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• Exposure to formal deal approval processes such as Win Room or GRO reviews. Advanced proficiency in financial systems and tools (e.g., SAP, advanced Excel, data visualization tools like Power BI)

• Be willing to work a minimum of 3 days per week in a hybrid office environment in our Novi, MI location
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
• Access to employee discounts on world-class products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, and more)
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness benefits
• "Be Brilliant" employee…