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Business Partner, FP&A, Sweeteners

Primient · Schaumburg, IL · $113,454–$141,818 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time your analysis changed a commercial leader's decision.

What they are checking: Whether they act as a trusted advisor whose numbers shape decisions, not just someone who reports results.

How do you own a full product P&L when you do not control the levers that move it?

What they are checking: Whether they can influence sales and operations through partnership and insight rather than authority.

Tell me about the most complex financial model you have built. What made it hard to maintain?

What they are checking: Whether they build models others can follow and update, not fragile spreadsheets only they understand.

How do you present financial insights to people who do not want a lesson in accounting?

What they are checking: Whether they lead with the decision and the so-what, keeping detail available but out of the way.

What would you do

A sales leader wants to take a big low-margin contract to fill capacity. How do you help them think it through?

What they are checking: Whether they frame trade-offs like contribution margin, capacity cost and opportunity cost instead of just saying yes or no.

Commercial wants a number by tomorrow that you know needs a week of work. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can give a useful directional answer with clear caveats instead of either refusing or overpromising.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build a forecast for a sweeteners product line whose margin depends heavily on corn prices.

What they are checking: Whether they understand input cost drivers and can model volume, price and corn cost separately to explain margin.

Margin came in well below plan last quarter. How would you explain the variance to commercial leadership?

What they are checking: Whether they can break a variance into price, volume, mix and cost pieces and tell a clear story with it.

What is the difference between a budget, a forecast and a long-range plan, and how do you keep them consistent?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the planning cycle and how assumptions should flow between each version of the numbers.

How would you allocate resources across a portfolio of products when some are growing and some are mature?

What they are checking: Whether they think about return on resources and strategy, not just splitting budget the same way as last year.

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The full job description

As published by Primient.

Business Partner, FP&A, Sweeteners | Primient About Primient Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We are a privately held company with locations across the US, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. W e’re investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we’re focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate. About the Role The Business Partner, Commercial FP&A owns the financial partnership for the full product P&L, serving as the trusted advisor to commercial leadership on the insights, analysis, and trade-off decisions that drive revenue, margin, and resource allocation across the portfolio. This role facilitates the full planning, forecasting, and financial modeling agenda for the commercial portfolio, guiding the organization toward its short- and long-term goals while maintaining financial integrity, operational efficiency, and value creation. The Business Partner sets the direction for financial planning execution, influences commercial strategy and pricing decisions, and holds business leaders accountable for the assumptions underpinning forecasting and analytics. Key responsibilities : Business Partner, FP&A • Own the Commercial Planning Agenda: Own the monthly, rolling three-month, quarterly, and full year updates, Annual Operating Plan, and 5-Year Plan for the product line P&L, setting targets and aligning them to enterprise strategy. • Shape and Steward Strategic Performance: Define the KPI framework for the commercial business, hold leaders accountable to it, and escalate risks and opportunities to the executive team. • Conduct Scenario and Sensitivity Analyses: Direct sensitivity and “what-if” modeling on pricing, volume, mix, and operational disruptions, and recommend the course of action to commercial leadership ( e.g., plant shutdowns). • Lead Cross-Functional Commercial Partnership: Act as the primary finance voice with contracting / sales, operations, marketing, and product leadership, influencing commercial strategy and investment decisions. • Translate Results into Executive Action: Own the variance narrative for the commercial P&L, clarifying business results and converting them into actions that leaders commit to and deliver. • Elevate Insight and Capability: Set the standard for reporting, dashboards, and analytics across the commercial portfolio, and coach analysts on modeling and storytelling practices. About You Knowledge • Flow of transactions, from actual business activity to financial statement recognition • Organizational structure and interdepartmental responsibilities • Ownership of budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning for a full P&L • Variance analysis and financial performance tracking • General accounting principles (i.e., cost-accounting, interpret financial statements and understand accrual-based accounting) • P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow principles • Pricing, margin, and commercial contract economics • FP&A systems and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, SAP, Workday Adaptive) Skills • Ability to prioritize and manage a broad portfolio independently • Executive-level written and verbal communication • Data analysis, interpretation, and storytelling • Confidence to challenge senior leaders and defend a point of view • Critical thinking • Coaching and developing junior analysts • Advanced financial modeling and scenario analysis • Influence and stakeholder management across functions Mindsets • Inquisitive • Courageous • Collaborative • Analytical thinking • Strategic thinking • Anticipatory mindset • Ownership and accountability for portfolio results Required and/or Preferred Education/Certification • Bachelor ’ s degree in Accounting or Finance (required) • CPA or other advanced certifications or degrees (preferred) • Advanced proficiency in Excel functions, modeling, and automation (required) • ThinkCell (preferred) Required and/or Preferred Work Experience • 6-9 years of progressive finance experience, including direct FP&A or commercial finance business partnering (required) • Demonstrated success partnering with and influencing senior leaders on P&L, pricing, and investment decisions (required) • Experience working with Workday Adaptive or other EPM solutions; manufacturing background (preferred) • Experience supporting a full commercial P&L of comparable scale (preferred) Total Rewards The annual pay range estimated for this position is $113,454.40 - $141,818.00 and is bonus eligible. Please note that while this range reflects the full spectrum of compensation available for this role, individual compensation will be determined based on several factors including your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. During the interview process there will be an opportunity to discuss how your background fits into the pay range. ​ ​ We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes : • Competitive Pay ​ • Multiple Healthcare plan choices ​ • Dental and vision insurance ​ • A 401(k) plan with company and matching contributions ​ • Short- and Long-Term Disability ​ • Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Insurance plans ​ • Paid holidays & vacation ​ • Floating days off ​ • Parental leave for new parents ​ • Employee resource groups ​ • Learning & development programs ​ • Fun culture where you have an opportunity in shaping our future Career Path & Culture Primient is committed to a workplace that is all in – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to develop and shape a career that matters in an open culture which embraces equity, diversity and belonging. We challenge old ways of thinking; and encourage employee voices to be a guiding force for ongoing learning. ​ ​ Primient supports a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences make better decisions, drive excellence, and deliver better business results. Primient employees experience autonomy and accountability in their role. Here, employees control their destiny as there is opportunity for career growth and pathways outside the norm. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging We are believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow, Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce . California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.

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