Controller Associate

About the role

This role is part of a finance development program designed for a finance professional seeking broad exposure to manufacturing operations and growth within IP's finance organization.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and analyze operational results, customer profitability, capital projects, KPIs, and special projects.
• Provide financial insights related to production initiatives, inventory management, capacity utilization, freight, purchasing, cost to serve, and other operational drivers.
• Participate in month-end close activities, including preparation financial statements, accruals, reconciliations, balance sheet reviews, and related analysis.
• Maintain familiarity with applicable financial policies, capital investment manuals, corporate accounting standards, and plant procedures.
• Ensure applicable internal controls are followed in each area of responsibility and help implement solutions to address control weaknesses.
• Partner with plant management, production, supply chain, customer service, purchasing, shipping, warehouse, and other cross-functional teams to understand operational drivers and identify improvement opportunities.
• Perform daily financial activities of the plant and support continuity of key financial processes across assigned facilities.
• Participate in formal training, cross-site learning, job rotations, special projects, and mentorship opportunities designed to build future finance leadership capability.
• Identify and propose solutions to business challenges, process inefficiencies, and control gaps.
• Build leadership capability by collaborating with exempt and non-exempt team members and, where applicable, mentoring or developing accounting staff.
• Prepare and deliver clear financial updates, variance explanations, project summaries, and recommendations to plant, complex, and regional leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (at least 12 credit hours in Accounting)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in an Accounting or Finance role; experience in a converting facility is a plus
• Geographic flexibility and willingness to travel up to 50% during the training period
• Strong initiative and self-motivation, with excellent written, verbal, and active listening skills
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to team success
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of general and cost accounting, including month-end close processes and financial statement preparation
• Experience with developing, maintaining, and assessing internal controls
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including budgeting, forecasting, KPI tracking, working capital management, and supporting special projects
• Familiarity with financial and operational information systems, preferably SAP
• Knowledge of sales, marketing, and distribution processes
• Familiarity with quality improvement and manufacturing processes

Qualifications

• None specified

Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (at least 12 credit hours in Accounting)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in an Accounting or Finance role; experience in a converting facility is a plus
• Geographic flexibility and willingness to travel up to 50% during the training period
• Strong initiative and self-motivation, with excellent written, verbal, and active listening skills
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to team success
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of general and cost accounting, including month-end close processes and financial statement preparation
• Experience with developing, maintaining, and assessing internal controls
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including budgeting, forecasting, KPI tracking, working capital management, and supporting special projects
• Familiarity with financial and operational information systems, preferably SAP
• Knowledge of sales, marketing, and distribution processes
• Familiarity with quality improvement and manufacturing processes

Benefits

• Health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets
• Limited career development opportunities

Pay

$65,100 - $95,500

Multiple factors, including individual experience, skills, and abilities, will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range. Variable pay may provide additional opportunities for financial awards.

Schedule

Salaried Full-Time

To explore more of our locations, please visit: https://www.internationalpaper.com/locations