Senior Plant Business Finance Analyst

Senior Plant Business Finance Analyst

Schneider Electric has an onsite opportunity (5 days a week) for a Senior Plant Business Finance Analyst in Columbia, SC. The role requires an on-site, in-plant presence – remote work will be allowed situationally and on an as needed basis, but the expectation of this position is that your on-site in plant presence will be required 5 days per week. This role is ideal for an experienced finance professional who wants to directly influence plant performance, drive financial governance, and partner closely with operations.

The position emphasizes ownership, business impact, and leadership across controlling, compliance, and operational finance activities.

The Plant Business Finance Senior Analyst serves as a key finance partner to plant leadership, driving financial performance, governance, and decision support across the Columbia facility. This role focuses on:

• Leading internal controls and compliance for the plant
• Driving performance through deep financial and operational analysis
• Owning key controlling processes (plant, inventory, and projects, where applicable)
• Enabling data-driven decision making and influencing outcomes
• Participating in special projects and ad hoc financial requests

• Governance, Controls & Compliance
• Lead monthly governance and compliance activities for the Columbia plant
• Own and continuously improve internal controls aligned with company policy and SOX requirements
• Act as primary support for internal and external audits, including issue resolution
• Ensure financial controls are embedded within plant and supply chain processes
• Serve as the finance point of contact for audit, tax, and accounting topics
• Plant Controlling & Performance Leadership
• Own month-end close coordination with shared services and ensure accuracy of financial results
• Lead cost center reviews, variance analysis, and forecasting processes
• Analyze manufacturing performance, including labor, overhead, and productivity drivers
• Translate financial data into clear insights and recommendations for plant leadership
• Drive accountability and performance visibility across the site
• Operational & Project Controlling
• Lead project- or order-level financial analysis (where applicable), including actual vs. plan, forecasts, and margin tracking
• Develop and enhance controlling processes to improve cost visibility and decision making
• Partner with operations and engineering to identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions
• Support end-to-end performance reviews and continuous feedback loops
• Capital Expenditure & Investment Control
• Own Cap Ex tracking, reporting, and governance for the site
• Partner with stakeholders on investment justification and financial evaluation
• Monitor spend vs. approved budgets and proactively manage risks
• Lead post-investment reviews to ensure value realization and accountability
• Inventory & Manufacturing Finance
• Own inventory controlling processes, including WIP, excess and obsolete, and cycle count governance
• Analyze material flow and supply chain impacts on financial performance
• Ensure accuracy, compliance, and transparency of inventory-related financials
• Business Partnership & Continuous Improvement
• Act as a trusted advisor to plant leadership, influencing business decisions
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost, productivity, and efficiency
• Lead or contribute to cross-functional and site-level projects
• Mentor or guide others less experienced in the financial perspective
• Promote a strong culture of financial discipline and operational excellence

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field

3–5 years of experience in manufacturing finance or other analytical roles

Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills

SAP S/4 experience preferred

Fluent in English

Strong business acumen with the ability to connect financial results to operational performance

Strong communication skills; ability to extract and "tell the financial story" to leadership

Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority

Advanced analytical skills with the ability to synthesize large data sets into actionable insights

High ownership, accountability, and ability to manage competing priorities

Adaptability, curiosity, and a continuous improvement mindset

Willingness to be coached and openness to candid feedback

Ability to work collaboratively across teams, including plant project controlling, shared services, other analysts, and plant operations

CPA, CFA, or relevant Master's degree

Experience in manufacturing or supply chain environments

Advanced data capabilities (data visualization, large data sets, or SQL familiarity)

French or Spanish language skills

Ability to adapt to new systems as finance tools and business priorities evolve

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