General information

Entity

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's ""World's Best Companies 2025"" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high-technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on land, at sea, in the air and in space.  

Reference number

2026-190167  

Job details

Domain

Performance and Support

Job field / Job profile

Finance and management - Administration and finance manager

Job title

Director of Finance

Employment type

Permanent

Professional category

Professional, Engineer & Manager

Part time / Full time

Full-time

Job description

Safran seeks a strategically minded Finance Director to lead the Rockford finance organization and help shape the site's long-term growth strategy. Beyond traditional financial management, this leader will translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights, challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, manage risk, influence executive decisions, and coach and develop finance professionals.
The Finance Director serves as a strategic partner to the General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and site leadership team, balancing commercial priorities with financial discipline. Success requires strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, business acumen, communication, and the ability to operate in a dynamic, evolving environment.

Essential Job Functions
• Develop and execute financial strategies supporting the organization's short- and long-term business objectives.
• Advise site leadership through timely financial analysis supporting the upcoming Rockford site relocation.
• Partner with the General Manager, CFO, and leadership team on strategic planning, business transformation, investments, and growth initiatives.
• Evaluate business opportunities, investments, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic initiatives through rigorous financial analysis.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses that enable strategic decision-making.
• Identify trends, risks, opportunities, and emerging financial issues; translate them into actionable recommendations.
• Constructively challenge business assumptions and provide an objective financial perspective to senior leadership.
Financial Planning & Analysis
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial performance management.
• Establish meaningful financial and operational KPIs and develop reporting that enables timely decisions.
• Analyze revenue, profitability, cash flow, costs, margins, working capital, and return on investment.
• Deliver forward-looking analyses rather than simply reporting historical results.
• Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses for changing market, operational, and economic conditions.
• Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy, financial visibility, and management reporting.
Business Partnership
• Act as a trusted financial advisor to senior executives and functional leaders.
• Serve as the General Manager's principal day-to-day business partner, helping align priorities and organizational objectives.
• Support the establishment of operationally effective support functions following the recent divestment.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Marketing, Technology, HR, and other departments to improve operational and financial performance and financial acumen.
• Help leaders understand the financial implications of strategic and operational decisions and advise on prioritization.
• Promote accountability, financial discipline, and data-driven decision-making.

But what else? (advantages, specificities, etc.)

Performance & Value Creation
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through pricing, cost efficiency, and targeted capital expenditure.
• Support business-process reengineering to implement new processes and improve existing ones.
• Monitor performance against strategic objectives and recommend corrective actions as needed.
• Lead financial analysis of new products, markets, customers, and business models.
• Develop and monitor business cases for major initiatives.
• Support value-creation programs and ensure strategic investments deliver measurable returns.
Risk Management & Governance
• Identify and proactively manage financial, commercial, and operational risks.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, policies, and governance processes are maintained.
• Be accountable for compliance with Safran Group internal-control policies.
• Advise executive leadership on the financial impact of regulatory, economic, and market changes.
Leadership
• Lead and mentor the finance team, fostering high performance and commercial focus.
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and professional development plans for the finance team.
• Promote collaboration between Finance and other business functions.
• Encourage innovation, automation, and continuous improvement in financial processes and analysis.

Candidate skills & requirements

Required Competencies
Education / Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including FP&A, corporate or strategic finance, or investment analysis.
• Significant experience in finance leadership or at the Finance Director level.
• Expertise in financial statements, modeling, forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, and performance analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to connect financial performance to broader business strategy.
• Experience presenting financial analysis and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical-thinking, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with financial-planning, reporting, and analytical tools.
Preferred Qualifications
• MBA, CPA, CFA, or another relevant advanced qualification.
• Experience in a complex, high-growth, multinational organization.
• Experience implementing financial systems, automation, analytics, or business-intelligence solutions.
Leadership / Management / Personal Competencies
• Strategic Thinking — Sees beyond the numbers and connects financial decisions to the broader business.
• Commercial Acumen — Understands customers, markets, competitors, revenue drivers, and business economics.
• Executive Influence — Constructively challenges and influences senior leaders without relying solely on authority.
• Analytical Excellence — Converts complex information into practical insights and actionable recommendations.
• Forward Thinking — Anticipates emerging risks and opportunities rather than solely reacting to historical results.
• Decision Quality — Balances financial rigor, business opportunity, risk, and speed.
• Communication — Explains financial matters clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels.
• Leadership — Develops high-performing teams and future finance leaders.


The salary range for this position is based on experience, qualifications, and market practices. Actual compensation offered will be determined by a variety of factors, including education, skills, relevant experience, business needs, and location.

Safran is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices in accordance with applicable law.

Annual salary

The salary range for this position is $180,000 - $250,000 per year, based on experience

Job location

Job location

North America, United States, Illinois

City (-ies)

Applicant criteria

Minimum education level achieved

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum experience level required

More than 8 years

ITAR Controlled Position: Select "Yes" if role requires U.S. citizenship/permanent residency

No

Requesting party

Number of position(s)

1