Director of Finance

The Director of Finance is a vital business partner who collaborates closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to implement strategic initiatives aimed at business growth. This role is crucial in shaping Hudsonville Ice Cream’s long-term strategy by analyzing data, systems, and financial models to uncover insights that drive informed, strategic decisions. Additionally, the Director of Finance will assist in contract evaluation and negotiation, support debt and financing decisions, and serve as a project manager for the finance and accounting teams. In this capacity , they will work with the entire company to ensure that strategic objectives are achieved company wide .

Success in this role also requires a commitment to The Hudsonville Way by demonstrating leadership rooted in teamwork, a positive approach, and a strong work ethic in every aspect of financial oversight and collaboration. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, communicates clearly , and brings analytical rigor and a proactive mindset to identify opportunities for financial optimization and innovation.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Financial Planning and Analysis

• P roject manager for the finance team, coordinate efforts for the annual financial planning process and the capex financial planning process, ensuring alignment with long-range planning.

• Provide strategic b usiness planning and decision support through financial analysis, forecasting and collaboration with various departments.

• Support the Accounting and FP&A teams as needed with audit work, tax work, period-end close, analytics , and insights for business leaders .

Strategic Support and Decision Making

• Support debt and financing decision making as a key advisor to the CFO.

• Support CFO on strategic and ad-hoc projects that are key to company performance and long-term growth objectives .

• Partner with operations managers, business leaders, and others to analyze key financial, operational, and strategic decisions.

• Drive actions to improve performance across financial, operational, and strategic areas.

Tax and Compliance

• Be an internal tax advisor for the business and support annual tax reporting efforts.

• Evaluate customer and supplier contracts to ensure consistency.

Process Improvement and Internal Auditing

• Conduct internal audits and report findings to company leadership.

• Drive process, efficiency, and cost improvements for the company.

• Develop and maintain a list of projects to enhance company profitability, prioritize them, and collaborate with company leaders to ensure their completion .

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate cross-functionally and effectively communicate the organization's financial priorities with other teams and departments .

Team Development & Leadership

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing finance team that reflects The Hudsonville Way.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Promote professional growth and clear communication across departments.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and/or Finance required .

• Minimum 7 years of accounting or finance experience, preferably in private equity, food manufacturing, CPG/retail, or tax accounting.

• CPA or CMA certification required .

• Public accounting tax experience preferred .

• 7+ years of e xperience with financial modeling preferred.

• 7+ years of e xperience with contracts, organizational structures, agreements, and negotiations is a plus .

• Working knowledge of GAAP .

• Prior experience with Anaplan is a plus .

Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and familiarity with Power BI .

• Mentor, coach, and share prior experiences with a rapidly growing organization.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment by adeptly managing multiple priorities and rapidly changing directions

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail .

Physical Requirements

• Mobility: Ability to stand, walk and sit for long durations, with most of the workday spent at a desk.

• Manual Dexterity: Ability to use both hands for fine motor skills, such as operating a computer keyboard and mouse efficiently.

• Physical Strength: Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. May need to lift and carry light items (e.g., laptops and files . )

• Vision: Visual acuity for reading detailed documents, viewing screens, and analyzing data. This includes close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, with or without correction.

• Communication: Ability to speak clearly and hear within the normal audio range, with or without correction, to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.

• Work Environment: This role primarily operates in a professional office setting with a collaborative and dynamic team. The environment is typically climate controlled.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this role . They should not be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required . T eam members may be required to perform duties outside of their usual responsibilities as needed .