We are Automotive Business Scientists. We empower our clients to turn overwhelming industry data into discovery, action and measured success.  We are unique market leaders because we find and examine possibilities through the clarity of a scientific lens. To solve the toughest client challenges, we need curious, creative and dedicated people to join our team. 

We search out individuals who align with our core values and who adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethics in everything they do.  Our company is filled with the brightest minds and the biggest hearts at every level. We recognize that personal success takes on many different forms of the course of our lives – both professional and personally – so we provide a myriad of benefits and programs focused on Wellbeing, Growth, Community and Recognition.  One size does not fit all, so we encourage every Urban Scientist to discover their own formula for success.  If this sounds like the kind of company you would like to work with, Apply Now!

Position Overview: This Regional Finance Manager opportunity will support Urban Science business objectives by providing accurate and timely consultation, expert analytical support, and the oversight of effective adherence to finance processes using tools and reports provided by corporate finance. The successful candidate will employ best practices and leverage them to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and productivity. In addition, this position will be responsible for ensuring consistency in reporting, and analytical approached and timely business decisions. In this role, the Regional Finance Manager will serve as a consultant to regional leaders on all finance related issues.

This role has current Hybrid Workplace flexibility local to our Detroit, MI office. Candidate must be available and willing to work in-person two to three days per week.

URBAN SCIENCE DOES NOT AND WILL NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

Business Partnership

• Act as a liaison between the regional offices and corporate finance.
• Provides corporate finance with recommendations that will enable the offices to more effectively manage their business.
• Oversees proper adherence to all corporate finance policies, required activities and requests for information.
• Participate in the proposal process and ensure accurate pricing, forecasting of profit, etc.
• Provide expert recommendations regarding ability to deliver work profitably – by identifying and implementing tighter
• controls on our financials and assisting the business in understanding how consistency in planning and actuals.
• Maintain an effective level of business literacy regarding the region’s financial position, strategic planning, and overall business objectives.
• Monitor and analyze financial data which summarize and forecast business activity for use in making business decisions.
• Interact with client purchasing departments, corporate finance, auditor, etc.
• Provide both regional and corporate finance management with timely and detailed information.

Analytical Support

• Assist management in understanding the content of standard monthly reports and provide guidance use in monitoring business performance.
• Use the monthly financial statements, variance reports and other standard monthly, weekly or daily reports to analyze financial and operating results in support of regional business management.

Process Implementation

• In conjunction with the corporate finance function, design and develop processes, procedures, tools, resources, and methodologies of leading the regional finance function.
• Working closely with corporate finance, track and evaluate the effectiveness of proposal pricing, identifying and analyzing variances in order to ensure profitability objectives are met.
• Support the implementation of a new corporate financial system.

Accounting

• Assist with monthly close procedures.
• Prepare monthly revenue journal entries.
• Assist with timely invoicing for the region.
• Assist with timely accounts receivable collections for the region.
• Compile and coordinate monthly, financial reports, statements and special analyses.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Conduct monthly analysis of income statements vs. budget, providing associated recommendations and action plans to budget leaders in support of timely adjustments to operations and/or necessary course corrections.
• Work collaboratively with client teams to develop annual and 5 year revenue, NOC, and independence budgets which align with corporate objectives (VMS 521)
• Monitor and analyze VMS 521 metrics monthly, taking appropriate actions to maintain metrics at or better than the budgeted VMS 521 levels.
• Assist budget leaders in forecasting of revenues and expenses down to project, team, department, office, or regional profitability.
• Provide expert level support during yearly budgeting process consolidating and submitting office and regional data as required in support of company budget planning and forecasting processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position may manage remote office finance staff and associated financial activities, as well as external accounting vendors in various assigned countries.
• Responsible for all aspects of supervision of selected staff, to include: recruiting and selecting, assigning and prioritizing work activities, performance management, compensation management, developing employee skills and abilities, providing career guidance, and supporting company policies and processes.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Solid experience and financial acumen in analytics, forecasting and financial modeling.
• Expert level reasoning and problem solving ability.
• Must possess ability to develop a deep understanding of the organization’s business – clients, solutions, Project Management processes and required tools, delivery methods, regional operating models, etc.
• Experience with international finance operations preferred.
• Ability to apply business knowledge to the finance puzzle.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in the use of Excel or other spreadsheet software required.
• Able to think creatively when developing new solutions or solving problems.
• Proven track record of successful client expectation management, collaboration, and performance monitoring.
• Executive level ability to be diplomatic, as well as an excellent negotiator and strategist.
• Deep regional awareness and ability to collaborate regionally.
• Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills and project management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively RSTMM (Recruit, Select, Train, Manage, Motivate).
• Verbal Communication: Requires the ability to compose and verbally deliver information of varying levels, using appropriate grammar, tone, inflection and non-verbal cues, while also listening to and correctly deciphering verbal communication delivered by others.
• Written Communication: Requires the ability and capacity to communicate ideas, facts and data in writing using appropriate grammar, syntax and sentence structure.
• Analytical Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation by breaking it apart into smaller pieces, and/or tracing the implications of a situation in a step-by-step causal way.
• Results Oriented: Requires the ability to strive for optimal results by taking responsibility for timeliness, commitment to task and adherence to performance standards.
• Ethics & Integrity: Requires the ability to behave in a trustworthy & transparent manner
• Teamwork & Cooperation: Requires the ability to work cooperatively with others and be part of a team.
• Self-Control: Requires the ability to keep emotions under control and to restrain from negative actions or behaviors.
• Information Seeking: Requires the drive to gain a deeper understanding of work related issues or events by making a concerted effort to gather information and seek out development opportunities.
• Initiative: Requires the drive to go above and beyond in order to improve or enhance job results.
• Quality Control: Requires the ability to monitor and check work related information and deliverables ensuring high quality and accuracy.
• Customer Service: Requires the ability to understand and help/assist both internal and external customers and meet their needs.
• Flexibility/Adaptability: Requires the ability to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations, individuals or groups, as well as understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives.
• Conceptual Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation or problem by putting the different pieces together to see the bigger picture.
• Interpersonal Understanding: Requires the ability to understand other’s feelings and concerns, and to value individual differences in people.
• Self-Confidence: Requires the ability to express confidence in dealing with challenging circumstances, in reaching decisions or forming opinions and in handling failures or set-backs constructively.
• Organizational Commitment: Requires the ability and willingness to align his/her own behavior with the needs, priorities and goals of the organization.
• Relationship Building: Requires the ability to effectively build and maintain friendly, warm relationships or networks of contacts with clients/customers.
• Assertiveness: Requires the ability and intent to appropriately display assertive behaviors to ensure others follow and comply with given directions.
• Strategic Influence: Requires the ability to effectively persuade, convince, and influence others in order to gain support to achieve work related goals/objectives.
• MS Office: Requires demonstrated knowledge and experience with Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Technical/Software: Requires the ability to understand and work with software tools & packages used by Urban Science.
• Time Management: Requires strong capability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple concurrent tasks and effectively manage meetings on schedule.
• Project Management: Requires full responsibility for the delivery of multiple, concurrent account projects that are on time, within budget and at high quality.
• Sales & Business Development: Requires advanced knowledge and experience with sales and business development processes.
• Budget/Finance: Requires the ability to understand and interpret income statements, revenues, margins, labor costs, profitability targets, impacts on profitability and develop pricing schedules that meet profitability targets.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree with a focus in accounting or finance required. MBA or other relevant graduate degrees preferred.
• 7 – 10 years’ experience in accounting, finance, and/or audit experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this position. It is NOT an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by a person so classified. The job will require additional hours beyond the normal 40-hour workweek and working off hours to accommodate global time zones.