Senior Director of Finance & Accounting

About Us:

Carl Buddig and Company, a respected name in the meat manufacturing industry, boasts a legacy of over 80 years. Founded as a family-owned company, we have evolved into a leading producer of premium meat products, including renowned lunchmeats, ready-to-eat cooked meats under our Kingsford, LLC division, and savory snack meats from Old Wisconsin.

As a third-generation family business, our success is anchored in our commitment to quality, innovation, and community. With a workforce of 2,500 dedicated team members spread across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, we continue to expand, driven by a vision for excellence and a responsiveness to evolving consumer preferences.

At Carl Buddig and Company, we foster a culture centered around teamwork and innovation. We strive to create an environment that values creativity and collaboration, ensuring every team member is empowered to contribute to our collective goals.

Our dedication extends beyond our business operations. We actively support charitable initiatives and community organizations through direct contributions, volunteer work, and partnerships. We aim to make a positive impact and give back to the communities that have supported us over the years.

Join us at Carl Buddig and Company, where tradition meets innovation, and where our passion for quality meat products is matched by our commitment to our people and communities.

Position Summary:

As the Senior Director of Finance & Accounting, you will serve as a key senior leader within the finance organization, partnering closely with executive leadership to shape financial strategy, strengthen accounting operations, drive financial performance, and ensure compliance. This role is designed for a high-potential finance leader who can operate at a strategic level while building the leadership breadth, business partnership, and organizational influence needed to progress into the Vice President of Finance & Accounting role over time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide senior-level leadership and strategic direction to the finance and accounting departments, partnering with the VP/CFO and leadership team on enterprise priorities.

• Develop and implement financial policies and strategies that align with the company's overall vision and objectives.

• Oversee all aspects of financial planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial modeling.

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the company’s financial reporting.

• Lead the preparation of financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

• Manage cash flow and working capital and develop strategies to optimize financial resources.

• Coordinate with external auditors, ensuring compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with cross-functional leaders to identify and drive growth opportunities, cost efficiencies, and profitability improvements.

• Mentor and develop the finance and accounting team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.

• Act as a visible role model for the organization by demonstrating integrity, accountability, collaboration, and sound judgment; set the standard for how finance leaders should operate and be an example others can follow.

• Serve as a succession-development candidate for the Vice President of Finance & Accounting role by progressively expanding ownership of enterprise financial strategy, executive communication, talent development, and cross-functional decision support.

Education & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Master's degree and/or CPA strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting within the food CPG industry, with at least 5 years in a management role.

• Strong understanding of financial management and cost accounting principles, including GAAP.

• Proven track record in financial planning and analysis, strategic planning, and financial reporting, data analytics.

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to motivate and lead, coach and mentor teams effectively.

• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact at all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders.

• Proficiency in financial software and advanced Excel, Microsoft D365, Microsoft BI and other financial modeling tools. Drive technology focused initiatives.

• Strong cultural fit with the ability to build trust, model company values, influence positively across the organization, and reinforce a culture of accountability, respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Pay Range for this position $200,000 to $215,000, depending on experience.

Benefits for this role include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, FSA, HSA, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, Vacation & PTO, and Tuition Reimbursement.  There is also a potential for a discretionary bonus this bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Decisions Statement 

Carl Buddig and Company does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, performance evaluations, discipline, or termination. All employment decisions are made by trained HR professionals and company leaders to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act.