Business Operations Manager

On site Santa Barbara, CA

Our client is building for rapid growth and looking for a hands-on business leader who can bring structure, visibility, and momentum to a high performing operation. This is an opportunity to step into a pivotal role that blends finance, business administration, and people support in an environment where your work will directly influence decision making, process maturity, and long-term expansion. The right person will enjoy variety, thrive in a fast-moving setting, and bring both operational discipline and a practical, solutions-focused mindset.

This Role Offers

• A highly visible position with meaningful influence across business operations
• The chance to work closely with executive leadership and contribute to strategic growth
• A collaborative environment where strong ideas, sound judgment, and initiative are valued
• Broad exposure across finance, reporting, compliance, and employee support functions
• Opportunity to help shape scalable processes during an important stage of expansion

What You Will Do

• Own month end close coordination and local financial reporting for a growing professional services office
• Track revenue, labor utilization, project margins, and staffing trends to support leadership decisions
• Build budgets, refresh forecasts, and explain performance gaps with practical recommendations
• Act as a strategic advisor to site leadership by converting financial insights into operational decisions
• Partner with HR leadership on onboarding, employee relations support, compliance activities, and performance programs
• Help integrate newly added teams, processes, and reporting standards into the broader organization
• Support ongoing process improvements and operational consistency across financial activities
• Use business systems and automation tools to improve accuracy, visibility, and efficiency

What You Bring

• Background spanning multiple years in finance, accounting, operational support, or similar professional environments
• Strong command of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
• Comfort working in a hands-on role that mixes detail-oriented execution with strategic support
• Experience with ERP or business systems in a multi-entity or project-based environment
• Working knowledge of internal controls, audit support, and general compliance practices
• Ability to communicate clearly with both operational and executive stakeholders
• Exposure to professional services, engineering, construction, or similar project driven industries is helpful
• CPA or prior public accounting background is valued, but not required
• A proactive mindset, sound judgment, and a steady approach in a growth environment

About Blue Signal:  

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS