Job Description
The Finance Business Partner R&D, IT and Product is a critical strategic role responsible for partnering with leadership across Research & Development (R&D), Information Technology (IT), and Product organizations. This role will lead the capital allocation process for innovation investments, ensuring optimal returns and challenging the status quo to drive efficiency and strategic alignment. Given the significant interplay between software and hardware development, the partner will provide deep financial insights to R&D and IT teams as they collaborate on the development and maintenance of our products and systems. A key aspect of the role involves supporting the Product organization in defining strategic product development direction and ensuring that financial considerations are central to transforming vision into reality. This role is instrumental in reducing "sustain and maintain" spend, redirecting resources towards innovation, and is directly linked to key success metrics such as improved business case quality, increased Return on Investment (ROI), and a reduction in sustain and maintain spend as a percentage of sales. Success in supporting the go-live and adoption of critical systems like SAP and Windchill is paramount. The role operates under limited supervision.
Your role:
- Acts as a financial SME for R&D, IT, and Product innovation, leading capital allocation and business case development to maximize ROI. Partners with senior leaders to embed financial insights into strategic decisions, identify risks and opportunities, and drive accountability. Supports efforts to reduce operational spending and redirect resources toward high-impact innovation.
- Operates with limited supervision to shape and execute financial policies impacting R&D, IT, and Product functions, while contributing to broader investment strategies. Drives continuous improvement of financial tools and processes, leading cross-functional initiatives to enhance planning accuracy and strategic alignment. Delivers high-level financial presentations on investment performance and ROI to executive leadership, translating complex data into clear insights. Monitors detailed financial performance, identifying trends and partnering with leaders to optimize outcomes.
- Ensures financial practices across R&D, IT, and Product meet the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and governance, while proactively identifying areas for improvement. Mentors junior finance team members, sharing expertise in analysis, strategic thinking, and business partnering within innovation-driven environments. Leads or supports cross-functional initiatives involving product development, system implementations, and software/hardware integration, ensuring financial goals are embedded in broader strategies. Provides financial oversight during enterprise system rollouts like SAP and Windchill, supporting successful adoption and benefits realization.
You are the right fit if:
- You’ve acquired 5+ years of experience with Bachelor's OR Minimum 3 years of experience with Master's in areas such as Business Partnering, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), R&D Finance, IT Finance, or equivalent. Experience with capital allocation and investment analysis in a technology-driven environment is highly preferred.
- Your skills include financial modeling—particularly for R&D, IT, and capital investment alongside strong capabilities in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), forecasting innovation spend and ROI, and capital allocation. You excel in business case development, investment appraisal, and risk management, with a sharp focus on continuous improvement and strategic implementation, especially in innovation-driven environments. Your expertise spans budget management for R&D and IT, a deep understanding of software and hardware development cost structures, and hands-on experience supporting SAP and Windchill implementations.
- You have a Bachelor's / Master's Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting or equivalent.
- You must be able to successfully perform the following minimum Physical, Cognitive and Environmental job requirements with or without accommodation for this position.
- You’re a strong communicator who works effectively across a matrix organization. You are a trusted partner to stakeholders across R&D, IT, Product, and executive leadership, known for your commercial acumen, ability to challenge and influence at all levels, and your strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills. Your documentation and reporting proficiency ensures clarity and alignment across financial initiatives.
How we work together
We believe that we are better together than apart. For our office-based teams, this means working in-person at least 3 days per week. Onsite roles require full-time presence in the company’s facilities. Field roles are most effectively done outside of the company’s main facilities, generally at the customers’ or suppliers’ locations.
This is an office role.