Job Description:
Air Distribution USA, Inc. (Advanced Inhalation Rituals – AIR) is a leading innovator in the premium shisha, hookah, and tobacco accessories industry. Our mission is to redefine the ritual of social smoking through craftsmanship, innovation, and compliance excellence. From hookah brands to next-generation and lifestyle products, AIR combines tradition with technology to deliver elevated consumer experiences across global markets. The Americas operate across the U.S., Latin America South America and parts of the Caribbean serving both B2B and B2C channels with a focus on quality, integrity, and growth. Our team is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to operational excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. At AIR, you’ll join a fast-growing company where innovation meets culture — and where every team member contributes to shaping the future of modern inhalation rituals.
Job Description:
The Head of Commercial Finance – Americas serves as the right hand to the Chief Financial Officer – Americas, providing financial leadership across retail, e-commerce, and distributor channels. This role is pivotal in driving profitability, optimizing trade spend, enhancing financial visibility, and enabling sustainable growth across the hookah, shisha, and tobacco portfolio. This position is based in Charlotte, NC and has some flexibility with working from home.
Responsibilities:
Commercial Finance Leadership: Serve as the lead financial partner for the Americas commercial business unit, supporting performance across distributor, retail, and e-commerce channels. Partner with sales and marketing leadership to evaluate pricing, promotions, rebates, and trade-spend efficiency.
P&L Ownership & FP&A: Own the full regional P&L including revenue, COGS, operating expenses, and profitability by product line, brand, and channel. Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning to ensure alignment with strategic growth targets.
Business Strategy & Market Insight: Develop a deep understanding of category dynamics, excise-tax implications, and evolving consumer trends within the shisha and tobacco sector. Translate insights into actionable recommendations to support pricing strategy, margin improvement, and channel expansion.
Trade Spend & Gross-to-Net Sales: Oversee the Gross-to-Net calculation and accuracy within GAAP, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and international regulations. Implement improved tracking, reporting, and ROI measurement of promotional and discount programs.
Sales Reporting & Analytics: Lead development of down-channel and customer performance reporting using internal and external data (including ERP and BI tools). Deliver actionable insights to leadership teams on volume trends, profitability, and customer contribution.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Supply Chain, Marketing, and Operations to align sales forecasts, inventory levels, and cost optimization efforts. Drive visibility into working capital performance, product costing, and contribution margins.
Leadership & Team Development: Manage and mentor a team of Financial Analysts and a Sr. Finance Manager, ensuring clarity in deliverables, analytical rigor, and professional development. Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and proactive problem-solving.
Governance & Compliance: Support finance readiness for internal and external audits, including excise tax, FDA compliance, and internal control frameworks. Drive process standardization, automation, and ERP optimization to enhance close cycle efficiency.
Strategic Projects: Lead financial analysis for new product launches, M&A integrations, and global expansion opportunities. Support strategic initiatives such as bonded-warehouse programs, pricing architecture reviews, and trade-credit optimization.
Requirements
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field required; MBA or CPA preferred.10+ years of progressive experience in finance, FP&A, or commercial finance, ideally within CPG, tobacco, or regulated consumer goods industries.
Strong understanding of excise tax accounting, trade spend analysis, and P&L management.
Proven ability to partner cross-functionally and influence at all organizational levels.
Experience managing teams and leading financial transformation or ERP implementations (D365, SAP, or equivalent).Exceptional analytical and communication skills, with a bias toward data-driven decision-making.
Why Join:
AIR Distribution USA, Inc.?At AIR, you’ll join a company that blends heritage, innovation, and culture. We’re reimagining an industry — responsibly — by investing in people, technology, and growth. Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of one of the fastest-evolving lifestyle categories while working in a team that values diversity, creativity, and impact.
