Plant Controller

About the Role

This role serves as the financial leader for the Lynden, WA manufacturing plant, partnering closely with Plant Leadership and Operations to drive cost discipline, operational performance, and financial integrity. The Plant Controller owns plant-level financial reporting and leads the team responsible for plant accounting activities, providing clear insight into production and cost trends. This position requires a strong operational presence, building relationships with production teams to understand processes firsthand and ensure accurate reporting of production activity, labor, and inventory. Travel between plant locations and headquarters may be required (typically less than 20%).

Responsibilities

• Data Integrity – Collaborate with operations teams to ensure that plant activity for production, shipments, plant expenses, and inventory adjustments are recorded timely and accurately for accounting, financial reporting, supply chain execution, and analysis.
• General Accounting – Ensure compliance with Darigold policies and procedures in accordance with U.S. GAAP for period recognition of costs, capital vs. expense, accruals, etc.
• Internal Controls – Assess design and execution of local internal control practices that support accurate financial reporting, data integrity, and safeguarding of assets. Provide feedback and recommendations to strengthen the control environment.
• Cost Accounting – Coordinate with the Cost Accounting team to ensure accuracy of standard costing for the monthly accounting close and reporting cycle, including inventory reconciliations, production reporting, key statistical entries, manufacturing variances, and other financial reporting requirements. Responsible for preparation and/or review of plant account reconciliations.
• Planning & Forecasting – Coordinate the plant Annual Operating Plan (AOP) with preparation of the plant budget, monthly spend forecasts, and ongoing reporting and analysis of actual costs vs. budget, key drivers of variances, and identifying opportunities for cost management. Drive operations budget by partnering with Plant Leadership to identify cost reduction and capital investment opportunities.
• Reporting – Responsible for monthly journal entries, overhead analysis and reporting (including labor and overhead). Participate in plant problem-solving and Continuous Improvement (CI) teams as a finance subject matter expert by providing manufacturing support and analysis in areas such as process performance, capital spending, inventory management, customer service objectives, production costing, and cost reduction.
• Standardization and Documentation – Lead efforts to document processes and procedures, including standardizing and reducing duplicative or inefficient processes. Identify and support implementation of improved processes across all plants as appropriate.
• Special Projects – Lead or assist special projects as part of the Corporate Finance team, including user acceptance testing in support of systems implementations.
• Facilitate trusting relationships through effective communication, follow-through on commitments, resolving conflicts, and supporting CORE values by recognizing the work of others.

Requirements

• Strong team player with effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on process improvement and efficiency.
• Strong understanding of standard cost accounting and its implications in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of inventory control within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, following through on commitments.
• Understanding of U.S. GAAP and design of internal controls.
• High degree of initiative and flexibility.
• Willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with an analytical mindset.
• Proficient in Excel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field (e.g., Finance, Business) OR equivalent progressive Accounting experience.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.

Benefits

• 401k with competitive employer matching.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Employer-paid life and disability coverage.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• 8 weeks paid parental leave.
• Education assistance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangement (up to 1 day/week after initial 90 days and approval by hiring manager and HR).

Pay

Compensation range: $101,838.07 to $152,757.11 (individual wage based on previous experience, knowledge, and skills).