Business Analyst - Manufacturing

Business Analyst - Manufacturing

Overview

This role sits at the intersection of finance and operations, owning the accuracy and transparency of product costing and manufacturing performance across the business. This individual will act as a key partner to finance and operations teams, developing and maintaining robust product costing models, analyzing manufacturing performance, and delivering actionable insights to improve margins.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on analyst who understands how to translate operational activity into financial outcomes. He/she will help the organization gain a deeper understanding of product costs, manufacturing variances, and plant-level profitability, while supporting more accurate forecasting and decision-making. Additionally, the analyst will play a key role in developing dashboards that enhance financial fluency and highlight priority areas for improvement. This role will require regular interaction with plant operations, providing direct visibility into manufacturing processes and cost drivers.

This individual will exhibit strong curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance costing accuracy, streamline processes, and unlock margin across the business.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as a business partner to finance, operations, and plant leadership teams
• Identify cost savings opportunities and support implementation of improvement initiatives
• Leverage analytics to identify trends, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
• Provide cost-based recommendations for pricing decisions through detailed cost and margin analysis
• Analyze customer and product line sales and profitability to highlight trends, margin performance, and strategic opportunities for growth, supporting commercial and operational decision making
• Provide clear performance insights by breaking down results into price, volume, mix, inflation, and productivity drivers, ensuring leadership understands the underlying levers impacting outcomes
• Analyze manufacturing variances (labor, material, overhead) and provide clear explanations of drivers
• Track manufacturing KPIs including OEE, cost per unit, inventory turns
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to improve visibility into manufacturing performance
• Partner in forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning
• Build product and plant profitability analysis
• Support capital investment analysis including ROI and payback modeling
• Participate in process improvement initiatives within finance and operations
• Assist in system enhancements related to costing, ERP, and reporting tools
• Prepare and present analysis to finance and operational leadership
• Lead or support high-impact special projects as assigned
• Act as a financial translator between finance and operations to drive better decision-making
• Assisting with scenario planning and ad hoc financial analysis
• This is an office-based role with limited remote flexibility, and travel may be required

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• 2-5+ years of experience in finance, cost accounting, or business analysis
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment with exposure to plant operations preferred
• Demonstrated progressive responsibility throughout career, with increasing scope and impact
• Strong understanding of standard costing and manufacturing finance concepts
• Advanced Excel skills with ability to analyze large datasets and build models, proficient in PowerPoint
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar)
• Experience with Power BI or other data visualization tools preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Strong communication skills with ability to partner across functions and influence without authority

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Focuses on delivering measurable cost improvements and operational insights
• Maintains strong attention to detail while meeting deadlines
• Analytical & Data-Driven
• Translates complex data into clear, actionable recommendations
• Uses data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Business Partnership
• Builds strong relationships with operations and finance teams
• Works collaboratively to drive improvements and influence outcomes
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Proactively identifies process inefficiencies and opportunities for optimization
• Supports automation and standardization of reporting and analysis
• Technology & Tools
• Leverages analytics, dashboards, and automation tools to improve decision-making
• Enhances data visibility and accessibility across the business
• Clear Communication
• Presents financial insights in a clear and concise manner
• Communicates effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders
• Key Personal Attributes
• Curious and inquisitive, always seeking deeper insights
• Detail-oriented with strong ownership of work
• Driven to improve processes and outcomes
• Strong work ethic with a hands-on approach
• Collaborative team player with a positive attitude
• Proactive and action-oriented with a sense of urgency
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
• Self-starter with a desire to learn and grow

What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)

• Establish clear visibility into manufacturing variances with actionable insights understood by both finance and operations
• Developed dashboards and reporting tools that are actively used by plant and finance leadership to drive decisions
• Identified and supported measurable cost savings and efficiency improvement initiatives
• Strengthened alignment between finance and operations through regular engagement and data-driven discussions
• Provided meaningful input into pricing decisions through accurate cost and margin analysis
• Enhanced forecasting accuracy by incorporating operational drivers and cost trends
• Streamlined and automated manual reporting processes to improve efficiency and scalability

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Occasionally travel as business needs arise.
• Physical demands include sitting for extended periods of time while frequently typing, viewing computer screens and use of mouse/keyboard.
• Operation of office equipment to include but not limited to telephones, printers, copiers, and scanners.
• Repetitive motion of data entry, hand, finger wrist motion and dexterity.
• May include filing and handling paperwork may involve reaching, grasping, or bending.
• Will require walking and standing during the office hours.
• Good vision for reading and screen use.
• Clear verbal communication and active listening, often over the phone or video calls.

Location

• Beachwood, OH
• Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am - 5pm ET. Currently, operating under a hybrid schedule with in-office days M-T-W and remote on Thursday and Friday. The hybrid schedule is subject

AUSTIN POWDER's Mission

To improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives.

AUSTIN POWDER's Vision

We will be the global leader of explosive products, services and technologies as defined by our Customers, our Family and our Communities.

AUSTIN POWDER's Values

Safety is our 1st priority; WE are customer focused; we leverage the Power of the Family; We treat everyone with respect.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader to celebrate the company's rich history beginning in 1833. This is a unique opportunity to drive future success through continued transformation of key manufacturing processes and lead the sites to best in class performance levels and culture.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.