Commercial Finance Manager 

Coventry, UK  

 

 

Company Overview 

 

Lear, a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, enables superior in-vehicle experiences for consumers around the world. Lear’s diverse team of talented employees in 37 countries is driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability. Lear is Making every drive better™ by providing the technology for safer, smarter, and more comfortable journeys. Lear, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, serves every major automaker in the world and ranks 189 on the Fortune 500. Further information about Lear is available at lear.com or on Twitter @LearCorporation.

 

 

 Position overview:

Reporting directly to the finance director, the Commercial Finance Manager is responsible to drive business case development, cost analysis, and pricing strategy across the operations. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams—including commercial, operations, purchasing, and plant finance in ensuring accuracy and competitive quotations for new business opportunities. The ideal candidate will lead cost optimization initiatives and support strategic planning.

 

Main Missions:

Lead commercial finance efforts by partnering with cross-functional teams including Commercial, Operations, Purchasing, ER&D, and Plant Finance to develop robust business cases for new business quotes. Review program cost development to ensure accuracy and reliability, leveraging inputs from Purchasing and benchmark data. Collaborate with Operations to design cost-effective manufacturing strategies, considering factors such as JV relationships, manufacturing footprint, volume, and vertical integration. Actively participate in quote discussions to ensure key assumptions are clearly reflected and risks are mitigated. Maintain close communication with Operations and Plant Finance to understand labor and overhead cost structures. Oversee costing, analysis, and planning for the plants, ensuring timely and accurate cost information. Interface with the region Commercial team to evaluate product inquiries and quotations. Analyze market competition and cost structures to ensure quotations are competitive and reasonable. Maintain and optimize the quotation database to improve process efficiency and response time. Serve as a key commercial finance leader , driving talent development and functional excellence. Align with Commercial leadership on pricing strategies and secure necessary approvals for APRs and quotations. Support strategic planning initiatives with Manufacturing and Commercial teams. Provide ad-hoc financial analysis to support management decision-making. Drive cost improvement initiatives and enhance operational margins through cross-functional collaboration. Ensure integrity and financial control throughout the business case development process.  

 Key Skills and Qualifications:

 

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Accounting, Finance, or Economics; an MBA, CMA, or CPA certification is a strong advantage. Minimum of 5 years’ experience in finance within a MNC, with solid expertise in financial planning & analysis or quotation management. Experience with top 500 US/ European companies is a plus. Background in the automotive industry and commercial finance is highly desirable. Proven people management experience is an added advantage. Demonstrates a proactive mindset, resilience under pressure, and strong teamwork across diverse functions. Strong business acumen with the ability to connect data insights to strategic business decisions. Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with a track record of effective cross-functional collaboration.

 

 

 

Why Lear

 

We offer a fantastic place to work that embraces diversity, opportunities for growth and the chance to be part of a company that puts its people first.

 

 

 

What We Offer

 

Competitive Salary, Access to Learning and development opportunities. Opportunities to give back to the community. Meaningful work that makes a difference in the world

 

 

 

Lear Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workplace.

 

Applicants must submit their resumes for consideration using our applicant tracking system. Due to the high volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies, or similar, will not be paid a fee and will become the property of Lear Corporation.

 

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