Director of Global Finance & Strategic Initiatives in Rochester, New York at Salzman Group Inc

We are seeking a highly strategic and execution-focused Director of Global Finance & Strategic Initiatives to support Salzman Group’s continued growth, with a strong emphasis on multi-currency operations, international expansion, and financial systems optimization.

This role is critical in addressing current operational and financial complexities, including ERP system inefficiencies, international duties and compliance, FX exposure, inventory and purchasing visibility, and cross-functional data alignment.

Working alongside the Accounting Operations Manager, this individual will act as the financial architect of our next phase, ensuring our systems, processes, and reporting infrastructure scale effectively with the business.

1. Multi-Currency & FX Strategy

Establish and manage processes for foreign currency transactions, revaluation, and reporting

Analyze and mitigate FX exposure across USD/CAD and international vendor payments

Partner with purchasing and leadership to protect margins impacted by currency fluctuations

Evaluate hedging strategies or operational alternatives where appropriate

2. Duties, Customs, and International Compliance

Own and optimize customs duty workflows, CBP payments (ACH Credit/Debit), and broker coordination

Improve visibility into true landed costs (duties, tariffs, freight, insurance, fees)

Partner with brokers to standardize reporting and reduce discrepancies

Identify and execute on duty recovery opportunities (e.g., refunds, drawback programs)

Ensure proper classification, documentation, and audit readiness

3. ERP Optimization & Financial Infrastructure

Lead financial ownership of ERP optimization, specifically:

Inventory and receiving accuracy

Purchase order visibility and forecasting accuracy

Financial reporting tied to operational data

Partner with IT/operations to fix data fragmentation between platforms

Build scalable workflows to eliminate manual workarounds and spreadsheet dependencies

Improve real-time visibility into inventory, costs, and financial performance

4. Inventory, Purchasing & Forecast Visibility

Develop financial frameworks to improve:

Inventory valuation accuracy

Forecasting by SKU / variant / warehouse

Purchase planning tied to demand and cash flow

Partner with purchasing to align incoming inventory timing with financial planning

Identify and reduce cash tied up in excess or misaligned inventory

5. Shipping, Claims & Cost Recovery

Analyze shipping-related financial leakage, including:

Damage claims (UPS, USPS, insurance gaps)

Declared value strategy vs. actual risk exposure

Partner with operations to improve:

Claims success rates

Documentation processes (photos, weights, packaging evidence)

Evaluate cost-benefit of current insurance structures (e.g., UPS Capital)

6. Strategic Finance & Growth Initiatives

Build financial models for:

International expansion

Distribution channels (retailers, partners, marketplaces)

Pricing and margin optimization

Analyze profitability across:

DTC (Shopify)

Marketplaces (Amazon/eBay)

Wholesale/distribution

Support leadership with data-driven decision-making and scenario planning

7. Reporting, KPIs & Decision Support

Develop clear, actionable reporting on:

Margin by channel, product, and geography

FX impact on profitability

Landed cost trends

Inventory turns and working capital

Build dashboards that connect financial + operational performance

8. Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Alignment

Eliminate inefficiencies across finance, accounting, purchasing, and operations

Create standardized, scalable processes for:

Returns and refunds

Inventory receiving and classification

International transactions

Act as a bridge between finance and operations, ensuring alignment and accountability

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA strongly preferred)
• 8–10+ years of experience in finance/accounting, preferably in e-commerce, distribution, or inventory-heavy businesses
• Direct experience with:
• Multi-currency environments
• ERP systems
• Inventory and supply chain finance
• Strong understanding of:
• GAAP
• International transactions and duties/tariffs
• Proven ability to fix broken processes and build scalable systems
• Advanced Excel / financial modeling skills
• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and execution-driven

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months):

• Financial workflows significantly improved (inventory, purchasing, reporting clarity)
• Clear visibility into true landed costs and margins
• FX exposure understood and actively managed
• Duty/payment processes streamlined (reduced fees, improved control)
• Reduction in manual workarounds and reporting inconsistencies
• Improved inventory planning and cash flow management
• Measurable improvements in claims recovery and cost leakage