Accounting Manager III

Overview

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a global leader in the beauty industry, an organization celebrated for its innovative products and iconic brands. This renowned company stands at the forefront of shaping the future of beauty worldwide, driven by an unwavering commitment to financial excellence and strategic growth across its diverse portfolio.

Are you a highly analytical and business-minded finance professional ready to make a significant impact within a dynamic global finance team? This pivotal contract role offers you the opportunity to be instrumental in shaping financial strategy, optimizing resource allocation, and driving key commercial decisions that directly influence the success and growth of exciting product lines. You will build strong financial foundations, partnering closely with business units to ensure robust financial discipline and informed strategic choices. Your expertise will be crucial in translating complex financial insights into clear, concise recommendations for business leaders, directly contributing to the company’s strategic vision and market leadership.

What You Will Do

• Monitor budget performance, analyze variances, and provide actionable financial insights to guide critical business decisions that shape product line success.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting while upholding strong financial controls and integrity across all operations.
• Own recurring planning cycles, ensuring all deliverables are completed accurately, efficiently, and on time, driving the rhythm of financial operations.
• Drive continuous improvements in financial planning processes, reporting methodologies, and operational effectiveness, fostering a culture of innovation.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure sound financial governance and disciplined resource allocation across all strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal control teams to ensure full compliance with policies, audit requirements, and corporate governance standards, safeguarding financial integrity.
• Support audit activities by maintaining appropriate documentation, strengthening control processes, and ensuring timely resolution of audit findings.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Business Development, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to support critical business decisions and initiatives, acting as a trusted financial advisor.
• Develop comprehensive financial analyses and robust business cases to evaluate investments, new product launches, and cost efficiency initiatives, directly impacting profitability and growth.
• Translate complex financial insights into clear, concise, and compelling recommendations for senior business leaders, empowering informed decision-making.
• Proactively identify financial risks and opportunities, recommending strategic actions to mitigate risks and capitalize on growth potential.
• Support ad hoc strategic initiatives and special projects as business needs evolve and new challenges arise, demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach.
• Build sophisticated financial models and conduct scenario analyses to support strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance financial processes and overall business performance, leaving a lasting impact.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Engineering, Mathematics, or another quantitative discipline.
• 5-8 years of progressive experience in FP&A, Commercial Finance, Strategic Finance, Investment Banking, Management Consulting, or a related finance function.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and AI-enabled productivity tools, with a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to improve efficiency, automate routine tasks, and enhance the quality of financial analysis and business insights.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Highly proactive approach with a strong ownership mentality, taking initiative to drive results and exceed expectations.
• Demonstrates exceptional analytical rigor and intellectual curiosity, always seeking deeper understanding and innovative solutions.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adept at solving unstructured business problems with creative solutions.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills; ability to simplify complex analyses into clear, actionable business recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Collaborative mindset and thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, fostering strong partnerships.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience in consumer products, retail, beauty, or other fast-paced commercial environments.
• MBA and/or CPA is a plus.
• Experience working in complex, matrixed organizations.