Financial Analyst, FP&A

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®. With over 8,000 employees and U.S. headquarters in Chicago, we operate 31 sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. We’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the FP&A team and business partners to develop annual budgets and periodic forecasts, ensuring alignment with overall business goals and financial objectives.
• Conduct detailed analysis of departmental operating and SG&A expenses, identifying trends, variances, and opportunities for cost optimization.
• Provide insights to drive improved financial performance across departments such as sales, product, marketing, IT, HR, and general administration.
• Compile, review, and analyze actual SG&A results versus budget and forecast on a monthly basis; provide detailed variance explanations and recommendations for corrective actions.
• Work closely with key stakeholders across departments to understand variance drivers and ensure accurate forecasting and reporting of all relevant expense categories.
• Perform business scenario modeling for departmental initiatives and projects, such as new product launches, branding investments, headcount planning, departmental spending initiatives, and efficiency improvements.
• Support decision-making with data-driven insights.
• Leverage tools like SAP, Smartview EPM, JDE, BI, and Excel to mine and analyze data, ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial information for decision-making.
• Develop custom reports in collaboration with IT to meet specific departmental operating expense analysis needs.
• Support the month-end close process with a focus on accurate departmental operating expense reporting and reconciliation.
• Ensure that all operating and SG&A-related expense entries are properly recorded and aligned with financial policies.
• Maintain appropriate internal controls and safeguards over financial reporting to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Perform additional ad-hoc financial analysis as needed to support business initiatives and strategic decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting; MBA preferred.
• One to three years of experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience with cost management, budgeting, and financial reporting is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and common database reporting tools; JDE, EPM, and BI experience is preferred.
• Strong time management and deadline orientation; ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in financial data and thorough analysis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial data clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and interact with various departments to align on financial objectives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus eligibility.
• Day-one health coverage: medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Paid time off: vacation and company holidays.
• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match.
• Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP).
• Work-life balance: parental leave, wellness programs.
• Sustainability initiatives and community impact programs.

Pay

A good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $71,000 to $85,000. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography, and internal equity and may change over time.