Commercial Controller

The Role

The Commercial Controller acts as a strategic financial partner providing hands-on leadership to ensure timely and accurate product quoting, improved commercial financial reporting and support of strategic pricing initiatives. This role, which reports to the Chief Financial Officer, ensures accurate, competitive, and profitable cost models that align with Company margin targets, operational capabilities, and long-term customer strategies. The Commercial Controller partners closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Purchasing, and Program Management to support new business awards and major commercial changes.

• Drive the vision, transformation and standard work for the commercial finance team, which supports organic growth opportunities through the pursuit of automotive OEM programs.
• Ensure the quality and reasonableness of financial and cost information used in quoting, make/buy and other program decisions and proactively surface risks and opportunities.
• Develop and mentor a team, driving consistent use of procedures and tools and the ability to summarize complex data into clear decision points for leadership.
• Develop constructive relationships with leadership and influence cross-functional outcomes through strong business acumen and communication.
• Lead commercial reporting and forecasting (customer/product profitability) and annual budgeting process for commercial inputs.

Responsibilities

Quoting, Costing & Estimating

• Review and evaluate the reasonableness of product costs across the breadth of products; challenge inputs, assumptions, and estimating methodologies.
• Provide transparency of cost assumptions by participating in quote review meetings and summarizing risks/opportunities to decision points.
• Manage team responsible for product cost development (e.g., labor and cycle time, overhead, equipment requirements, tooling and capital) for new business and changes to existing programs.
• Ensure lessons learned from launches and serial production are fed back into future quotes.
• Oversee annual quoting rate development and ensure timely, accurate inputs into quoting.
• Review complex bills of material and manufacturing/process assumptions for reasonableness; ensure product and process knowledge is applied appropriately.
• Lead benchmark cost model development, make/buy analysis and purchasing negotiation support, including target setting for purchased items (as applicable).
• Aid innovation team in developing product cost targets and market pricing.

Commercial Finance & Program Health

• Financial leadership for new business opportunities and development programs, ensuring disciplined financial management throughout the development cycle prior to launch.
• Lead budgeting, planning and forecasting with the commercial team (e.g., volume, LTA’s, pricing, ED&D etc), and tracking of actual price realization.
• Actively monitor and manage accounts receivable past due (trade, ED&D, and tooling); work with commercial team to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Actively contributes to departmental initiatives and process improvements to enhance effectiveness, quality, and cycle time.

Qualifications

• Strong leader and financial partner, demonstrating the ability to build teams and having strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Solutions-oriented approach, comfortable partnering with other leaders across the Company and a positive change agent.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and thriving in a fast-paced environment.
• Previous commercial financial leadership experience in a Tier 1 automotive supplier.
• Minimum of 15+ years of experience with a history of supporting growth and business transformation.
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting from a four-year college or university.

Benefits

Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and life outside of work. Competitive compensation package, including base pay, regular salary reviews, and short-term incentive opportunities. Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage with eligibility starting day one. Paid time off for vacation, holidays, sick time, and bereavement for eligible employees. 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match up to 5 percent and immediate vesting. Company-paid life insurance coverage to support you and your beneficiaries. Wellness program supporting physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing, plus opportunities to volunteer and give back to your community. Additional local benefits may apply depending on location or facility.