Financial Analyst, Category Controlling

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson, Revel, Denon, and Bowers & Wilkins
• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development
• Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience
• Obtain 360-degree support throughout your career life cycle, from early-stage to seasoned leader

What You’ll Be Part Of

The Financial Analyst, Category Controlling plays an important role in connecting finance and the business, partnering with Product Category, Engineering, and cross-functional teams to drive financial visibility, accountability, and decision-making across the product portfolio. As part of the Sound United SBU finance team, the role provides analysis and insights that support profitable growth and the achievement of strategic and financial objectives.

The ideal candidate is analytical, collaborative, and proactive, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable business insights.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Analyze product category performance, including revenue, gross margin, pricing, product mix, profitability, and key business drivers providing actionable insights to support decision-making.
• Perform financial analysis and scenario modeling to support product category evaluation, prioritization, and category investment decisions.
• Partner with Product Category and Engineering teams to develop and evaluate business cases, validate financial assumptions, and assess investment opportunities.
• Evaluate post-launch product performance against business case assumptions, profitability targets, and return expectations.
• Compile, analyze, and reconcile actual results versus budget and forecast, identifying key variances, risks, and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain financial models, category performance reporting, dashboards, and key performance metrics (KPIs) to enhance business visibility.
• Support the development of the annual Global R&D budget across shared engineering resources and product categories.
• Ensure financial data integrity across ERP and reporting systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting efficiency and data visibility through automation and process improvements.
• Support special projects, strategic initiatives, and ad hoc analyses as requested.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 5-8 years of progressive finance, accounting, or related experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, and business performance analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams, departments, and management levels, translating complex financial data into meaningful business insights.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with SAP or other large ERP systems, including working with large datasets, reporting tools, and financial systems.
• Availability to engage in meetings, calls, and collaborative activities outside normal business hours as required to effectively support a global organization and ensure alignment across international regions.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or other business intelligence tools.
• Experience building profitability models, business cases, and KPI dashboards.

• Ability to thoughtfully utilize AI technologies to enhance understanding, support analysis, streamline workflows, and improve efficiency, while exercising independent judgment and critical thinking.

Things To Know

• You are willing to travel, if necessary.
• Be willing to work remotely in hybrid setting with commute to Carlsbad, CA, Northridge, CA, Stamford, CT, or Novi, MI offices.

• Due to the nature of global infrastructure, you understand that flexibility in working hours is required.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (post-offer).

What You Can Expect

• A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite three days a week.
• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being
• Tuition reimbursement support
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development