Manager -Industrial: Manufacturing & Distribution - Private Equity Advisory

Job description

From the beginning, our goal was to establish an advisory firm that stands apart from the rest – one that is grounded in our Core Values and dedicated to creating a positive experience not just for our clients, but for our people too. We firmly believe in the strength of collaboration, enthusiasm, generosity, and perseverance as the driving forces behind our success. With advisory solutions spanning accounting and risk, technology-enabled transformation, and transactions, we partner with our clients to solve today’s challenges and deliver present and future value. Our commitment to our people has earned us numerous awards including Inc5000's Fastest Growing Companies and Glassdoor's Best Places to Work. Explore what our employees have to say about our unique culture by clicking [here](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/CrossCountry-Consulting-Reviews-E610881.htm). By joining our rapidly growing Private Equity practice you will serve as a trusted partner to our clients. You’ll bring your first-hand experience, unique perspectives, and functional knowledge to deliver tailored integrated solutions that solve today's challenges and set the foundation for future success. With support from experienced leaders and a dedicated coach, you will join a collaborative community that invites you to contribute beyond the scope of client delivery. In today’s competitive deal market, Private Equity is increasingly turning to operational enhancements as a driver for value creation in their investment portfolio. It is essential for Private Equity funds to have a portfolio support team, either internally or externally, to guide CFOs as they build a scalable accounting and finance function that supports the investment thesis. We are experienced operators, who serve as an extension of leading Private Equity sponsors to drive meaningful and sustainable operational changes across their portfolios. ### What You'll Do: - Serve clients across the "Office of the CFO" at private equity portfolio companies specializing in manufacturing and distribution by evaluating current practices and providing recommendations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the accounting, finance, and operations functions. - Provide expert advice and guidance to private equity-owned portfolio companies on inventory management strategies, operational efficiency, and financial performance. - Help companies develop and operationalize US-GAAP compliant inventory accounting policies including appropriate capitalization thresholds, reserve methodology, and best-in-class month-end close procedures. - Design, implement, and improve standard costing systems to help management teams better assess product level profitability. - Develop and implement frameworks for budgeting, cost control, and performance evaluation by comparing actual costs to standard costs, identifying variances, and advising on corrective actions to enhance efficiency and profitability. - Develop and maintain relationships with portfolio company representatives and Private Equity sponsors, collaborating with CrossCountry team members to scope, clarify, and deliver excellent client service. - Contribute to developing and implementing firm-approved, AI-enabled solutions for clients, in accordance with company policies on data protection, intellectual property, and professional standards. - Stay informed about emerging AI tools and techniques and collaborate with firm leadership to identify compliant opportunities to enhance client solutions and internal processes. - Cultivate new client relationships and deepen existing ones. - Mentor team members by coaching colleagues, providing regular ongoing feedback and annual performance reviews, and helping project teams resolve multi-faceted issues. ### What You'll Bring: - 6+ years of experience in or plant controllership and/or FP&A, preferably in a Private Equity backed environment. - Experience in both operations analysis and cost accounting (standard costing, activity-based costing, and variance analysis), with a deep understanding of controllership responsibilities in a manufacturing/distribution environment. - Demonstrated experience driving improvements and optimizing performance across manufacturing and distribution operations. - Experience working with the Controller group and accounting team, with strong knowledge of key income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow drivers. - Experience mentoring and developing junior team members and helping project teams resolve multi-faceted issues. - Consistent success in building and developing strong client relationships. - Advanced expertise of Microsoft Excel (e.g., macros, pivot tables, etc.) and PowerPoint - Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems commonly used in manufacturing, such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics. - Comfort with AI: Demonstrated ability to responsibly explore and adopt firm-approved AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation. - Continuous Learning Mindset: Openness to learning and applying emerging technologies including AI and automation in alignment with firm policies and client standards. - Knowledge of data analytics and related tools (e.g., Tableau, Alteryx, SQL) is a plus, but not required. - Client Services experience (e.g., Audit, Advisory, Management Consulting) is a plus, but not required. ### Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance. - Willingness to travel up to 50%; travel varies based on client preferences.