Finance Director, UEV & Affordable Vehicles

The Finance Director, UEV & Affordable Vehicles is a critical leadership role responsible for partnering with the Vehicle Line Director, Chief Program Engineers and Product Development Functional Leaders to deliver some of Ford’s most important forward model vehicles. The Finance Director will be the driving force behind a team of Finance Managers, Supervisors and Analysts responsible for delivering Ford’s most technologically advanced BEV forward-models, working in Long Beach, CA,  to achieve Ford  vehicle profitability targets through material cost and investment target setting, financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes. This position is the Finance leader for all aspects of the new Ford UEV, guiding their teams through profitability delivering forward-model vehicles through Product Development gateways, while playing a Strategic role as the Finance voice to shape program decisions. Working on affordable vehicles and tech forward solutions will require an individual that is able to work in a dynamic environment having a non-traditional approach to problem solving.  This role requires strong influencing and business partnership skills, strong analytical skills, leadership capabilities, and a strong ability to collaborate effectively across all functions. 

• Program Profitability: 
  • Lead the establishment and development of initial program profit models to support initial vehicle milestones
  • Develop critical program assumptions based on Business Plan assessment
  • Drive program profitability target delivery through partnership with key operating partners
  • Drive optimization of all line items of the Vehicle Income Statement
  • Lead development of milestone financials to drive optimal leadership decision making 
  • Lead the preparation of management slides and other ad-hoc financial reporting and analysis. 
• Material Cost Target Setting & Delivery
  • Establish efficient material cost targets, partnering with Global Lifecycle Cost team to optimize physicals-based targets
  • Drive delivery of material cost targets through partnership and influence of Functional Engineering & Supply Chain Matched-Pairs
  • Support on-time sourcing and program timing delivery
• Investment Target Setting & Delivery
  • Establish efficient material investments targets, partnering with Global Vendor Tooling & Manufacturing Strategy teams to optimize physicals-based targets based on engineering assumptions
  • Drive delivery of Investment targets through partnership and influence of Functional Engineering & Supply Chain Matched-Pairs and Manufacturing Strategy team
  • Support required funding approvals to ensure on-time program delivery

You'll have... 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field is required. 
• 10+ years of experience in finance or accounting roles, with a strong focus on operational partnering, physicals-based budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, or financial systems. 
• Previous experience managing or leading a team is required. 

Even better, you may have...

• MBA or CPA (or equivalent) is preferred. 
• Strong understanding of automotive industry, particularly in a global context. 
• Proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Power BI or similar).   Having an innovative use of AI tools. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with and influence stakeholders at various levels, including senior finance leadership.
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and provide actionable insights. 
• Ability to manage international teams and working through different time zones/remote.