Director of Strategic Initiatives

Wayne Farms•Oakwood, GA

About The Position

The Dir, Strategic Finance Initiatives will be responsible for leading the modernization and integration of the finance function, building advanced analytics capabilities, and coordinating mergers and acquisitions efforts. This role is critical to driving operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and managing our M&A pipeline.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in finance transformation, analytics, and/or project management.
Demonstrated success in leading large-scale change initiatives in complex, multi-site organizations.
Strong knowledge of finance operations, shared services, and analytics tools.
Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams across multiple disciplines.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.
Bachelors' degree in Finance, Business, or related field

Nice To Haves

MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Finance Transformation Assess and redesign the current decentralized finance operating model to improve standardization, efficiency, and scalability.
Lead the creation and implementation of a “mini-hub” for centralized finance operations (e.g., accounts payable, cost accounting, KPI tracking), starting with a scalable pilot (~50 FTEs) and expanding based on results.
Lead the development of a “Commercial Finance” capability with the goal of providing decision-making support for the Sales organization during contract negotiations.
Identify and deploy technology and automation tools to streamline transactional processes, especially in resource-constrained locations.
Develop and execute change management strategies to ensure successful adoption of new finance processes and structures.
Data Analytics and Insights Oversee the development of enterprise-wide data analytics capabilities, moving the organization from descriptive and diagnostic analytics toward predictive and prescriptive insights.
Implement modern analytics platforms (e.g., Tableau) to automate data capture, visualization, and reporting.
Partner with operational and finance teams to ensure analytics tools deliver actionable insights that drive business performance.
Lead training and capability-building initiatives to foster a culture of curiosity, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
Mergers and Acquisitions Coordination Lead end-to-end financial strategy and execution for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, ensuring alignment with corporate growth objectives.
Manage financial due diligence processes, including valuation modeling, risk assessment, and synergy analysis to support informed decision-making.
Partner with legal, tax, treasury, and business unit leaders to structure deals, negotiate terms, and drive integration planning.
Monitor industry trends and identify potential acquisition targets through financial analysis and competitive benchmarking.
Oversee financial integration activities, including reporting alignment, performance tracking, and realization of deal value.