Director Financial Planning and Analysis

Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION The Director of FP&A leads the organization’s financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. This role ensures strategic alignment of financial resources with corporate objectives, provides actionable insights to senior leadership, and drives process improvements through data-driven decision-making. This position will report to the AVP of FP&A and lead a small team working collaboratively across functions and key stakeholders.

Position Summary The Director of FP&A leads the organization’s financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. This role ensures strategic alignment of financial resources with corporate objectives, provides actionable insights to senior leadership, and drives process improvements through data-driven decision-making. This position will report to the AVP of FP&A and lead a small team working collaboratively across functions and key stakeholders.

• Strategic Financial Leadership
  • Lead and manage annual budget, long-range financial plan, and quarterly forecast processes, collaborating with key stakeholders and department heads to incorporate and validate key assumptions and drivers.
  • Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis to support strategic initiatives and capital investment decisions.
  • Lead and oversee the annual pricing strategy to optimize railcar financial returns and ensure alignment with corporate objectives.
• Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) Governance
  • Oversee AFE policy compliance, ensuring consistent analysis, approval, and monitoring of expenditures under Board Delegations of Authority.
  • Challenge and validate cost/benefit assumptions and ensure proper routing and documentation in Oracle PPM (Project Portfolio Management).
• Operational & Asset Analysis
  • Lead financial evaluations for asset lifecycle decisions, including railcar disposition and repair-versus-replace analyses.
  • Collaborate with Asset Management, Maintenance Planning, and Finance/Treasury teams to optimize fleet and capital allocation.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting
  • Deliver timely and accurate financial reports and dashboards for executive leadership, including preparation of quarterly board materials and ad hoc presentations.
  • Identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency and mitigate risks.
  • Partner with G&A functional leaders to budget and manage expenses, as well as drive optimal use of resources.
• Process, Data & Analytics Leadership
  • Champion advanced analytics, automation, and process standardization to enhance FP&A capabilities and insights generation, including exploring and leveraging AI tools.
  • Partner with IT and Finance Transformation to implement modern financial systems and tools, drive improvements to the forecasting process, and fully leverage Oracle EPM capabilities.
• Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and develop FP&A team members to build a high-performing, collaborative culture.
  • Foster cross-functional relationships to ensure alignment and transparency.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and key financial metrics.
• Experience with ERP and EPM systems (e.g., Oracle) as well as advanced analytics tools (e.g., Power
  
  BI).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Analytical rigor and attention to detail.
• Leadership and team-building capability.
• Ability to influence and drive change across the organization.

(The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

General office environment; may be required to travel. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk…