Director, Finance, Cleco & Apex

The Finance Director is responsible for driving the overall financial performance, strategic planning, capital allocation, and business decision support for the global business unit. As a key member of the leadership team, this individual serves as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the General Manager, helping translate financial results into clear actions that drive growth, profitability, cash generation, and accountability. This role requires strong business acumen, operational understanding, and the ability to simplify complex financial information into practical decisions. The successful candidate will challenge assumptions, influence outcomes, and help drive a culture of ownership, transparency, and execution across the organization. The Finance Director will lead all financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, performance management, and business analysis activities, while ensuring strong governance and compliance.

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Strategic Business Partnership:

Serve as a key member of the leadership team, helping shape business strategy, resource allocation, and growth initiatives.Translate financial results, trends, and risks into actionable recommendations that improve business performance.
Provide independent, fact-based perspectives that support timely decision making and organizational accountability.
Drive a culture of ownership by ensuring business leaders understand the financial impact of decisions and commitments.

Financial Planning & Analysis:

Lead annual budgets, forecasts, strategic plans, and long-range financial planning.
Improve forecast accuracy and drive meaningful insights into revenue, margin, SG&A, working capital, and cash performance.
Develop clear reporting tools and metrics that focus the organization on the few measures that matter most.

Performance Management:

Monitor KPIs and financial performance across commercial, operational, and functional teams.
Identify opportunities for profitable growth, productivity improvements, margin expansion, and cost optimization.
Partner with leadership to establish corrective actions and ensure follow-through against commitments.

Commercial & Operational Decision Support:

Support pricing, capital investments, sourcing initiatives, product portfolio decisions, and growth investments.
Partner closely with sales, operations, supply chain, and product management teams to evaluate business opportunities and risks.
Ensure business cases are financially sound and aligned with strategic objectives.

Financial Control & Governance:

Ensure accurate financial reporting, forecasting, and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.
Maintain a strong internal control environment and protect company assets.
Partner with corporate finance and accounting teams to ensure consistency and compliance.

Leadership & Organizational Development:

Establish a culture of simplicity, accountability, continuous improvement, and business partnership.
Develop future finance talent capable of influencing decisions beyond the finance function.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, or Economics; MBA or Master's degree preferred
• Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, or CFA a plus
• 10-15+ years of progressive corporate finance experience, with at least 3-5 years supporting a specific business unit, division, or operational matrix
• Advanced proficiency in SAP and advanced financial modeling via Excel/BI tools
• 15-25% within the region and internationally
• Executive presence and influence, capable of operating as the General Manager's trusted advisor and right-hand partner