Director of Finance

Safran seeks a strategically minded Finance Director to lead the Rockford finance organization and help shape the site's long-term growth strategy. Beyond traditional financial management, this leader will translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights, challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, manage risk, influence executive decisions, and coach and develop finance professionals.

The Finance Director serves as a strategic partner to the General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and site leadership team, balancing commercial priorities with financial discipline. Success requires strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, business acumen, communication, and the ability to operate in a dynamic, evolving environment.

• Develop and execute financial strategies supporting the organization's short- and long-term business objectives.
• Advise site leadership through timely financial analysis supporting the upcoming Rockford site relocation.
• Partner with the General Manager, CFO, and leadership team on strategic planning, business transformation, investments, and growth initiatives.
• Evaluate business opportunities, investments, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic initiatives through rigorous financial analysis.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses that enable strategic decision-making.
• Identify trends, risks, opportunities, and emerging financial issues; translate them into actionable recommendations.
• Constructively challenge business assumptions and provide an objective financial perspective to senior leadership.

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial performance management.
• Establish meaningful financial and operational KPIs and develop reporting that enables timely decisions.
• Analyze revenue, profitability, cash flow, costs, margins, working capital, and return on investment.
• Deliver forward-looking analyses rather than simply reporting historical results.
• Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses for changing market, operational, and economic conditions.
• Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy, financial visibility, and management reporting.

• Act as a trusted financial advisor to senior executives and functional leaders.
• Serve as the General Manager's principal day-to-day business partner, helping align priorities and organizational objectives.
• Support the establishment of operationally effective support functions following the recent divestment.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Marketing, Technology, HR, and other departments to improve operational and financial performance and financial acumen.
• Help leaders understand the financial implications of strategic and operational decisions and advise on prioritization.
• Promote accountability, financial discipline, and data-driven decision-making.

• Education / Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including FP&A, corporate or strategic finance, or investment analysis.
  • Significant experience in finance leadership or at the Finance Director level.
  • Expertise in financial statements, modeling, forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, and performance analysis.
  • Demonstrated ability to connect financial performance to broader business strategy.
  • Experience presenting financial analysis and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical-thinking, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Advanced proficiency with financial-planning, reporting, and analytical tools.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • MBA, CPA, CFA, or another relevant advanced qualification.
  • Experience in…