North American Plant Controller Job

About the role

This position serves as the Finance Business Partner on the Plant Leadership Team, collaborating with plant leadership to actively influence decision-making and drive continued success. The Controller provides financial guidance, direction, and analytical support for functional areas and departments across two plants. This role coordinates the development of conversion cost, capital, and headcount budgets and forecasts for assigned areas, and provides comprehensive financial support including monthly performance reports, financial analysis, expense variance reviews, recommendations for corrective actions, and special projects as required. The Controller ensures adherence to internal controls and compliance with financial policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Plant conversion costs: Understand site conversion costs including monitoring and controlling spend to ensure the site achieves its financial goals including headcount, total spend and cost per ton. This includes cost allocations, expenditure commitments, timely receipt of goods/services, supporting plant managers in monitoring plant performance. Ensure plant-level costs are recorded in accordance with Bostik policy. Communicate issues timely.
• Material and production costs: Review and understand Actual and Standard Costing for the site. Complete cost estimate calculations, review Bill of Materials to ensure proper Material Usage Variance (MUV) analysis throughout the year. Analyze and communicate actual product cost variances including Purchase Price Variance, Scrap and MUV. Inform manufacturing manager and BU finance director of any alteration on production process performance, track and communicate under/over absorption at production work centers and UG level.
• Inventory valuation: Ensure accurate inventory valuation by reviewing and approving finished goods product Weighted Average Cost (WAC). Identify and communicate raw material costing issues for the site, monitor cycle counts/physical inventories to ensure adherence to policy. Monitor spare parts and inventory, manage (analyze, adjust, validate) inventory provisions (slow moving and quality based on identified issues).
• Financial statements: Control and detect any variances regarding budget, Group Reporting Manual, IFRS, US GAAP, request corrective manual entries as needed.
• Industrial investment: Work in close coordination with fixed asset accountant to review fixed-assets inventories. Perform fixed asset inventories in accordance with Bostik Policy. Ensure assets are appropriately identified and disposed of with the addition of any new/replacement capital.
• Month end close: Provide timely communication to the BU leaders in accordance with reporting schedule.
• Budget and forecast: Responsible for coordinating the plant budget process. Prepare costing data for the next year (calculate activity rates, validate BOMs and routings, analyze standard cost run for the plant). Compile the annual conversion cost budget (cost center hierarchy, headcount, payroll, maintenance costs, etc.), review and adjust allocation keys for shared expenses, analyze yearly conversion cost evolution versus year-end-forecast, provide the BU a detailed presentation.
• Financial reporting: Communicate site financial results, providing a monthly financial report to Finance Managers - BU and Corporate.
• Audit support: Support year end audit requirements regarding plant financials to external/internal auditors.
• Mentoring: Lead training and development of local manufacturing staff on accounting principles, internal controls, financial statement analysis, cost analysis and inventory control.

Scope and context

Dual reporting to the C&C North America Finance Director with a matrix line to the C&C USA Industrial Director.

Work allocation: Dalton 45%, Greenville 45%, BU initiatives 10%. Approximately 121 employees across the two plants.

Constraints: Ensure proper application of Group Reporting Manual rules, Core Model processes, ARKEMA Internal Control policy, closing deadlines respect.

Travel: Approximately 25% of the time.

Qualifications

• B.S. or B.A. in accounting or finance
• At least 3 years of experience in an industrial or public accounting environment
• Practice safe work habits in accordance with OSHA and EPA guidelines and Bostik specific EHS expectations
• ERP experience (SAP preferred), knowledge of metrics / KPI
• Demonstrated competency in the use of spreadsheets and accounting systems for the purpose of analysis and financial modeling
• Good relationship building skills, analytical insight, organizational skills, reactivity, ability to see the whole picture and neutrality, analytical capacities to proactively detect drifts

Position location: Wauwatosa, WI; Greenville, SC; Dalton, GA; or Radnor, PA, with responsibilities for the Dalton, GA and Greenville, SC plants.