About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Plant Controller, this role is responsible for focusing on financial planning and analysis across all activities to maintain and aid in the development of accurate, actionable, and insightful reporting and analysis. The ideal person for this role is data-driven, with the ability to understand the bigger picture and provide business partnering support across the Finance and Supply Chain teams. This support activity includes general accounting activities such as accruals and capital versus expense questions, financial analysis activities such as make versus buy decisions or investment payback calculations and internal controls activities such as inventory control and inventory adjustments approvals

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze manufacturing costs, on a monthly basis to provide analytical insights to key operational drivers
• Analyze inventory on a monthly basis, while overseeing key financial controls and working with the Operations team to drive improvements
• Support preparation of Operations budget and forecast, while monitoring versus actual spending and performing buy-versus-make analysis
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of monthly reports on actuals for operations/inventory variances and explanations of those variances and assist in budgeting and forecasting these costs.
• Review key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide meaningful analysis to cross functional teams to drive operational and financial improvements
• Participate in the preparation and compilation of the annual financial plan, which may include modeling, time-series analysis, and graphic presentation of both operating and financial data
• Assist in inventory planning, forecasting, reporting and analysis.
• Lead/support global finance initiatives as required
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge of accounting and operations finance activities
• Exercise judgment in financial, operational, or transactional analysis to identify and help resolve issues.
• Comfortable working in ERP systems to understand transactions at lowest detail and how they drive actual spending
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as variance analysis/root cause analysis
• Demonstrate ability to effectively work in a team environment both within and outside of assigned area of responsibility.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Suit, Excel, and Power BI

EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; Master's degree in Accounting/Finance preferred
• 2+ years' experience in a Finance Analyst role
• 1+ years' experience in manufacturing/supply chain finance

*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive.  They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Blue Bird’s winning culture is fueled by our ability to respect, encourage, celebrate and embrace the unique perspectives of all of our employees.  We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer who is committed to providing all of our employees with a work environment free of discrimination or harassment.  We base our employment decisions on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, national, social or ethnic origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, past or present military service, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.  

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.