Senior Manager - Dealer Financial Reporting / Melbourne

Overview and Summary We are Automotive Business Scientists. We empower our clients to turn overwhelming industry data into discovery, action and measured success. We are unique market leaders because we find and examine possibilities through the clarity of a scientific lens. To solve the toughest client challenges, we need curious, creative and dedicated people to join our team. We search out individuals who align with our core values and who adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethics in everything they do. Our company is filled with the brightest minds and the biggest hearts at every level. We recognize that personal success takes on many different forms of the course of our lives – both professional and personally – so we provide a myriad of benefits and programs focused on Wellbeing, Growth, Community and Recognition. One size does not fit all, so we encourage every Urban Scientist to discover their own formula for success. POSITION OVERVIEW The Senior Manager, Dealer Financial Reporting is responsible for delivering high-quality dealer financial reporting services that meet contractual service levels and exceed client expectations. This role partners closely with automotive dealers and client stakeholders to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and strategic value of financial data produced through the Urban Science solution. Serving as a trusted advisor, the role translates complex dealer financial information into actionable insights for client leadership teams. The role oversees the end-to-end monthly dealer financial reporting and composite close process, providing direct support to dealers on accounting, bookkeeping, data validation, and system submissions. Responsibilities include reviewing financial and operational data to identify trends and issues, collaborating with dealers to improve data quality over time, responding to client inquiries and analysis requests, and leading regular review and performance meetings. The Senior Manager also prepares and presents financial reports to management and executive audiences, ensuring clients maximize the value of their dealer financial data. The ideal hire will possess extensive Automotive Business Management experience gained at an OEM / Dealer / Dealer Group / Consultancy, including previous experience with dealership financial analysis / dealer financial reporting solutions. Additional preferred skills include strong project management and familiarity of methods and processes in relation to dealer performance management and performance group meetings. This role has current Hybrid Workplace flexibility local to our Melbourne, Australia office. Candidate must be available and willing to work in-person two days per week, currently Mondays and Wednesdays. During the initial training, possibly more travel to the Melbourne office for the benefit of in-person learning. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Establishes long-term business relationships with clients and develops a firm understanding of client’s business needs to sell upgrades to existing contracts, and lead negotiations to renew & deliver client contracts.
- Assumes responsibility for project outcomes, including delivery of projects that are on time, within budget and at an exceptional level of quality; includes accurately defining project timelines, forecasting, planning, tracking, executing, and taking corrective action when needed.
- Assumes responsibility for accurate and high-quality data being utilized on assigned projects.
- Serves as liaison between client and Urban Science technical staff on development projects to clearly communicate client needs and facilitate appropriate deliverable time frames based on internal capabilities and workload.
- Acquires and maintains a thorough understanding of client data and information to properly create client deliverables and provide added, insightful solutions to address client needs.
- Partners with internal teams to ensure that software is installed, set up and functioning at established quality levels.
- Manages sustainment activities by updating software as appropriate to function at established quality levels.
- Effectively responds to client inquiries/requests promptly to improve client satisfaction.
- Frequently interacts with clients to provide consulting advice, design, and present proposals, negotiate agreements, renew contracts, assist with decision making and manage client expectations.
- Adheres to quality control standards for Urban Science and client organizations.
- Understands and uses appropriate Urban Science tools and methodology in supporting client projects and deliverables.
- Clearly and confidently presents project status updates/conclusions, using appropriate presentation tools, to client representatives or internal management to communicate project results.
- Provides input to the Account Executive/Account Manager in connection with assessing competitive conditions, to detect on-time business opportunities and/or deter competitive business threats.
- Provides valuable knowledge and insight to senior management in creating estimates and proposals for clients.
- Actively works with manager to understand and implement solutions to improve NPS (client satisfaction).
- Works with manager to review income statements, revenues, margins, labor, and profitability targets; assists in making recommendations to improve profitability and accurately forecast costs.
- Maintains a thorough understanding of one or more Urban Science solutions and applies that knowledge to better meet client needs.
- Coordinates with individuals or teams to complete analyses, tasks, and projects on time and with high quality.
- Builds and maintains strong and effective internal relationships to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams and offices.
- Actively supports and participates in required Urban Science training programs to achieve targeted development objectives.
- Proactively communicates with upper management to provide updates and report issues in a timely manner.
- Works with manager in completing annual goal setting and performance review promptly.
- Works with manager to develop team-oriented goals, which are to be reviewed and updated regularly.
- Actively leads, supports, and promotes change initiatives, and provides direction on how change initiatives impact workflow or performance.
- Actively works with manager and Managing Director to support and promote internal employee engagement initiatives.
- Works with manager to prioritize other duties as assigned. Qualifications
- Education and Experience To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or competency needed for successful performance in the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Verbal Communication: Requires the ability to compose and verbally deliver information of varying levels, using appropriate grammar, tone, inflection, and non-verbal cues, while also listening to and correctly deciphering verbal communication delivered by others.
- Written Communication: Requires the ability and capacity to communicate ideas, facts and data in writing using appropriate grammar, syntax, and sentence structure.
- Analytical Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation by breaking it apart into smaller pieces, and/or tracing the implications of a situation in a step-by-step causal way.
- Results Oriented: Requires the ability to strive for optimal results by taking responsibility for timeliness, commitment to task and adherence to performance standards.
- Ethics & Integrity: Requires the ability to behave in a trustworthy & transparent manner.
- Teamwork & Cooperation: Requires the ability to work cooperatively with others and be part of a team.
- Self-Control: Requires the ability to keep emotions under control and to restrain from negative actions or behaviors.
- Information Seeking: Requires the drive to gain a deeper understanding of work-related issues or events by making a concerted effort to gather information and seek out development opportunities.
- Initiative: Requires the drive to go above and beyond to improve or enhance job results.
- Quality Control: Requires the ability to monitor and check work-related information and deliverables ensuring high quality and accuracy.
- Customer Service: Requires the ability to understand and help/assist both internal and external customers and meet their needs.
- Flexibility/Adaptability: Requires the ability to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations, individuals, or groups, as well as understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives.
- Conceptual Thinking: Requires the ability to understand a situation or problem by putting the different pieces together to see the bigger picture.
- Interpersonal Understanding: Requires the ability to understand other’s feelings and concerns, and to value individual differences in people.
- Self-Confidence: Requires the ability to express confidence in dealing with challenging circumstances, in reaching decisions or forming opinions, and in handling failures or setbacks constructively.
- Organizational Commitment: Requires the ability and willingness to align his/her own behavior with the needs, priorities, and goals of the organization.
- Relationship Building: Requires the ability to effectively build and maintain friendly, warm relationships or networks of …