Joseph Ernst is a seasoned finance, operations, and business transformation leader with more than 20 years of professional experience across manufacturing, industrial technology, financial planning and analysis, enterprise systems, and global operations. Known for his authentic leadership style and continuous improvement mindset, Joe has built a career around helping organizations convert complexity into clarity, insight into action, and change into opportunity.

Joe is the Founder, Managing Director, and Principal Consultant of FP&A Sherpa, LLC, an independent consulting firm created to help companies improve financial planning processes, strengthen FP&A systems, and make the FP&A mindset more accessible to small and mid-sized businesses. Through this work, he helps organizations enhance forecasting, reporting, automation, close processes, revenue recognition, and financial decision-making.

Before founding FP&A Sherpa, Joe served as Senior Director of Finance for Harsco Rail, a division of Enviri Corporation and a global leader in rail maintenance solutions. In this role, he provided financial leadership for a $300 million heavy equipment manufacturing business specializing in custom engineer-to-order solutions. His responsibilities expanded across FP&A, consolidation, reporting, compliance, SIOP, and strategic transaction support.

During his six years with Harsco Rail, Joe built the FP&A function from the ground up. He developed the team, defined processes, designed systems, and created a connected financial planning ecosystem that enabled better business insight and operational execution. He also served as finance lead on the division’s divestiture process, owning P&L and cash flow models while coordinating financial due diligence.

Joe’s leadership impact extended beyond reporting and analysis. He formed an FP&A Council to strengthen collaboration across regional and country finance leaders, developed PowerApps and Power Automate solutions to support finance transformation, and curated a Finance Learning Series to elevate organizational capability. He has consistently shown a passion for developing people, building practical tools, and improving how teams work together.

Earlier in his career, Joe held progressive finance and systems leadership roles with Honeywell, where he supported finance systems, inventory planning, supply chain finance, ERP processes, Hyperion, data warehouses, and transactional analysis. His work included designing and implementing financial collection systems, developing training programs, supporting acquisitions, and improving close efficiency through systems-enabled processes.

Joe also spent seven years with Ingersoll Rand, where he advanced through roles in FP&A leadership, global financial planning systems, corporate finance, audit, and plant finance. He led planning and forecasting processes for industrial businesses, managed Hyperion Planning systems, supported global cash forecasting, improved KPI reporting, and participated in reviews of business processes and system implementations across multiple sectors and geographies.

His professional foundation began in manufacturing finance and operations, including cost accounting, inventory control, financial analysis, and material planning. This early experience gave Joe a practical understanding of how financial decisions intersect with production, supply chain, inventory, customer demand, and operational performance. That grounding continues to inform his ability to connect executive strategy with day-to-day execution.

Joe brings particular strength in manufacturing management, financial analysis, operations management, process improvement, FP&A transformation, forecasting, financial systems, automation, global operations, internal controls, and cross-functional leadership. His career has been defined by the ability to partner effectively with stakeholders at every level, from C-suite executives to newly hired analysts, and to make complex financial concepts useful, actionable, and human-centered.

Internationally, Joe has supported global organizations and worked across diverse operating environments, including exposure to Western Europe, Mexico, and multinational business structures. His experience with Fortune 500 companies, global manufacturing businesses, and entrepreneurial consulting gives him a broad perspective on scale, governance, transformation, and sustainable performance.

In 2025, Joe completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a nearly 2,200-mile journey from Maine to Georgia. This achievement reflects the same qualities that define his professional life: resilience, discipline, patience, adaptability, and commitment to long-term goals. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, podcasting, and exploring ideas that support growth, leadership, and personal development.

Joe is now seeking board and advisory opportunities where he can contribute his broad experience while helping organizations grow, improve, and serve their stakeholders more effectively. He was inspired to consider board service through outreach that helped him recognize the value of his unique blend of finance, systems, manufacturing, and leadership experience. His motivation is rooted in a desire to give back, support others, and continue developing as a leader.

Character:
Joe leads with authenticity, humility, and a genuine desire to help others reach their potential. His Appalachian Trail thru-hike reflects his perseverance, resilience, and willingness to pursue meaningful challenges with discipline and purpose. He brings a values-driven approach to leadership, grounded in service, personal growth, and positive impact.

Knowledge:
He possesses deep expertise in FP&A, financial systems, manufacturing operations, process improvement, and organizational transformation. His experience across Enviri/Harsco Rail, Honeywell, Ingersoll Rand, and FP&A Sherpa gives him a strong command of both large-company complexity and entrepreneurial execution. He understands how to translate data, systems, and financial insight into practical decisions that improve business performance.

Strategic:
Joe has repeatedly helped organizations build stronger planning processes, improve forecasting, and align finance with operational priorities. He has led transformation initiatives, supported divestiture efforts, developed financial models, and created scalable systems that improve visibility and decision-making. His strategic value lies in his ability to connect people, processes, technology, and financial discipline into a coherent path forward.

Communication:
Joe is an effective communicator who has presented to potential buyers, led large training programs, and partnered with stakeholders across all levels of an organization. He has a talent for making complex financial and operational topics accessible, actionable, and relevant to diverse audiences. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, clarity, development, and trust.