Plant Controller

About the Role

At Ferrero, the Plant Controller plays a pivotal role within the Finance function, ensuring the accuracy of industrial cost calculations and monitoring the performance of production factors. The role uses Ferrero's internal systems, including SAP 4/HANA and HFM/SCOPE, to support reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and capital investment. The Finance – Plant Controlling function ensures the accuracy, transparency, and strategic use of financial data related to manufacturing operations, enabling data-driven decisions across local and global teams. It supports the preparation of budgets, forecasts, variance analyses, and investment evaluations to strengthen production efficiency and financial compliance.

This role serves as the key Finance partner within the Florence Production Unit, translating operational performance into actionable financial insights. Reporting to the Cookie Industrial Controller Mgr and working closely with the Plant Manager, the Plant Controller leads cost control, budgeting, capital project analysis, and monthly closings while embedding financial rigor into daily plant operations.

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate the preparation of the plant budget, including industrial cost standards (materials, labor, etc.)
• Analyze industrial costs, variances, and resource usage; prepare related reports
• Support preparation and approval of capital project budgets and ROI evaluations
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly forecasts and Group submissions (Budget, SAF, etc.)
• Manage write-offs and obsolescence accrual processes
• Oversee fixed asset management, including capitalization, stocktaking, and disposals
• Ensure proper reporting into HFM/SCOPE and provide insights for multiple central functions
• Maintain and update production models, technical codes, barcodes
• Lead monthly closing activities and inventory reconciliation processes
• Drive cost simulations, benchmarking, and efficiency improvement initiatives

About You

Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field.

Experience: Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in cost control, budgeting, and financial analysis in an industrial/manufacturing environment.

Required knowledge and skills:

• Strong knowledge of production processes, standard costing, and SAP (including fixed asset management)
• Experience with capital project analysis, budgeting, and return on investment evaluations
• Solid understanding of Ferrero's financial systems, including HFM/SCOPE and Group Budgeting/Forecasting
• Experience in managing or supervising a small team (direct and indirect reports)
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to improve processes and reduce costs

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 - 140,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time.

Benefits

In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits.