Overview

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential pool equipment, with a growing presence in the commercial pool market. We offer innovative, sustainable solutions and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, we have facilities across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and China.

As the Senior Finance Manager - Product Management, Engineering and NAM SG&A, you will lead the business case assessments for New Product Introductions and investments in RD&E ensuring we are investing our resources in product opportunities that will provide the largest ROI and are aligned to our strategic imperatives. In addition, you will be responsible for the execution of the operating expense planning cycle including annual operating plans, quarterly forecasts, and monthly variance analysis while serving as a trusted financial advisor to senior leadership. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance for North America, you will play a critical role in optimizing investments, driving operational efficiency, and fostering a strong data-driven culture across the organization.

Strong communication skills are essential, as you will collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, conveying complex financial concepts clearly and effectively. The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment is crucial as you navigate ambiguity, adapt to changing priorities, and deliver insights that drive results aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.

This role will have people management responsibilities, with a Senior Finance Analyst reporting into position.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted and strategic business partner to the Product Management, Engineering and NAM SG&A teams, translating financial data into actionable business insights.
Partner with the Product Management and Engineering organizations to develop business cases to drive investment decisions, ensuring alignment with the budgeting process – for both OPEX and CAPEX requests. This should include KPI’s and metrics that can be tracked after the project is completed, enabling post mortem analysis.
Partner with the Operations Finance to ensure solid understanding of COGS position for New Product Introductions.
Develop a prioritization process to guide investment decisions across the portfolio.
Serve as a strategic finance business partner to VP-level leaders, supporting effective investment decisions and operating expense (Opex) management.
Own the quarterly forecast and annual operating plan cycles, providing insightful commentary on cost drivers, variances, and performance trends.
Drive financial accountability by identifying cost risks, operational inefficiencies, and cost-savings opportunities.
Partner with North America Finance team to prepare monthly deliverables for expense reporting and insights that should be driven forward.
Provide mentorship, performance feedback, and coaching to Senior Finance Analyst, fostering high-performance and a learning-driven environment.

Qualifications

Exceptional communication and influencing skills, particularly in cross-functional and leadership-facing environments.
Strategic thinker with the ability to align financial objectives to business priorities and identify levers to drive margin improvement.
High degree of ownership, analytical curiosity, and resilience when managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.
Demonstrated success in partnering across functions.
Passion for challenging the status quo, driving transparency, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Demonstrated leadership skills, with a focus on developing talent and building high-performing, collaborative teams.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or a related analytical field; MBA preferred.
8+ years of progressive experience in FP&A or as a finance business partner, ideally within a matrixed organization.
Experience in mentoring junior team members and creating an environment that encourages ownership, learning and accountability.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong PowerPoint and storytelling capabilities.
Proficiency with ERP and reporting tools such as Microsoft D365, Masterpiece, OneStream, or similar systems.
Experience with Power BI or other data visualization/automation tools strongly preferred.

Reports to: VP of FIN NAM