Cost Finance Business Partner

This role provides dedicated financial support to Mexico Operations. Reporting to the Global Customer Operations Finance Controller. The individual is expected to make a full contribution to the management of Mexico Operation’s manufacturing and assembly activities. This will include being a key contributor in all Mexico Operations financial planning, in addition to developing and maintaining strong financial controls for capital expenditure, procurement and supply chain.

Duties & Responsibilities

- Overall responsibility for consolidation of Mexico Operation’s monthly financial performance, as well as financial planning process for all rolling, annual, and strategic financial plans (including working capital and cost saving targets).
- Ensure the Mexico Operations function is provided with high quality financial forecasting, analysis and that focuses on decision making to maximise labour utilisation, P&L absorption, and cash.
- Manage the communication and presentation of financial data, including monthly reviews, forecasts, and budget presentations to the operational stakeholders.
- Robust and consistent cost control policies and processes, including full oversight of the transfer pricing and costing structure across the Mexico Operations entities; and understanding of monthly variances giving rise to under/over absorption within Mexico Operations and supporting Mexico Operations Management’s action plans to address variances.
- In conjunction with Mexico Operations Management define inventory plans, support its implementation, and manage performance against the plan.
- Manage and develop the Mexico Operations Finance Team and contribute to the success of the John Crane finance function through the support and implementation of key initiatives
- The individual will be expected to make a full contribution to the management of Mexico Operations, ensuring close commercial interaction between the finance functions and the operations teams, to understand and influence commercial activities and business decision-making.
- Working closely with the Global Customer Operations Finance Controller to conduct regular reviews of all aspects of the manufacturing and assembly operations to monitor and drive performance and identify areas requiring greater focus.
- Assessing on a regular basis whether Mexico Operations have sufficiently aligned their operational resources to achieve its strategic and commercial objectives.
- Ensuring that commercial projects, such as investment proposals and capital projects meet both the needs of the organization and have received an appropriate financial evaluation.
- Ensuring the operational decision making for projects such as sourcing and distribution strategies, vendor choice and Value-Added Value Engineering have a focus to maximise profit and cash for John Crane.
- Supports ad-hoc John Crane initiatives, projects or M&A activities including integration and information requests as directed by the Global Customer Operations Finance Controller
- Overall responsibility for ensuring that all aspects of Mexico Operations are compliant with relevant Operations financial policies and processes, including: commercial projects, such as investment proposals and capital projects, meet both the needs of the organisation, and receive appropriate financial evaluation covering verification of cost, benefit assumptions and post completion reviews; having adequate financial controls in place that are sufficient to protect its manufacturing assets, including asset verifications; being compliant with all Smiths Group financial Operations related policies and procedures, such as operation’s approvals, spending limits, expense procedures, Capex applications, etc; and effective risk management process in place to mitigate key problems and issues that may impact Mexico Operations.
- Support both Transparent Gross Margin and transfer pricing analyses as appropriate for statutory account purposes and taxation requirements.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

The Individual

Education/ Training:

- An undergraduate degree in a related field with an advanced degree or accreditation a strong plus (MBA, CPA)

Experience:

- A minimum 5+ years of relevant professional experience with a strong focus on Operational and / or Strategic Business Analysis
- Leadership of a team whether directly or indirectly
- Demonstrated ability to persistently pursue and achieve results. Uses data / analytics to proactively monitor and review plans to hit or exceed targets and drives continuous improvement
- Ability to make good judgments in an increasingly complex global business by effectively sourcing and analysing critical information and making effective, timely decisions; considering the needs and impacts on business stakeholders.
- Work closely with other areas of the business to develop a clear understanding of the implications their decisions have both in the short and long term
- Effective written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate and present to senior level management Key internal and external relationships
- Reports to Global Customer Operations Financial Controller, dotted line to the Mexico Operations site leaders and NAM Regional Operations Director

Knowledge /Skills:

- Professional accounting qualification.
- Effective written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate and present to senior level management Key internal and external relationships
- Excellent Microsoft Excel skills and experience of using financial consolidation systems and ERPs (SAP knowledge strong plus).
- Fluent English
- Self-starter with flexibility and willingness to balance multiple, changing priorities and work under tight deadlines.
- Work closely with other areas of the business to develop a clear understanding of the implications their decisions have both in the short and long term.

About Smiths

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver market-leading innovative solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs, and touch the lives of millions of people every day. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 14,600 colleagues, based in 50+ countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customer s’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with a 170+ year history of innovation, and five global divisions, all experts in their field.

About John Crane

John Crane is a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, supplying engineered technologies and services to process industries. The company designs and manufactures a variety of products, including mechanical seals and systems, couplings, filtration systems and digital diagnostics technologies. John Crane customer service is accessed through a global network of more than 200 sales and service facilities in over 50 countries. Global reported revenue for fiscal year 2021 was in excess of $1 billion USD. John Crane is part of Smiths Group, a global leader in applying advanced technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications, and engineered components.

Additional Information

According our mission, vision and Global Policies:

- Under no circumstances shall Staff be charged any fee or other costs in relation to their recruitment to work at Smiths, whether directly or indirectly. Any recruitment fees shall be paid by Smiths.
- Smiths will not employ anyone below the age of 18. Smiths will take reasonable steps to satisfy itself of the member of Staff’s age before that person starts work at Smiths. When persons under the age of 18 are employed, they must not do work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous or harmful or interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school.