Plant Controller

About the role

JTEKT North America, a global leader in engineering and manufacturing automotive systems, bearing solutions, and high‑performance machine tools, is seeking a Plant Controller for its manufacturing site in Morristown, Tennessee. This role reports to the Business Unit Controller and is a key member of the plant management team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the integrity and timely close of plant month‑end financials; prepare weekly/monthly profit-and-loss statements, financial metrics, and reconciliations.
• Analyze variances, explain results to plant management, and recommend corrective actions.
• Oversee capital requests, monitor capitalized project spending, and ensure timely asset capitalization and semi-annual equipment inventories.
• Manage plant inventory accounting, develop standard costs, and annually review labor and overhead rates to ensure proper absorption.
• Lead the plant’s bi-annual financial planning process, including schedules, data consolidation, and plan recommendations.
• Co-lead physical inventories at least twice per year, analyze variances, and recommend countermeasures.
• Partner with cross-functional leadership to improve plant performance and guide financial decisions through analysis of results and forecasts.
• Conduct financial and functional J‑SOX activities; support quarterly and annual internal and external audits.
• Supervise two accounting professionals and participate in matrix-organization project teams.

Requirements

• 10 years of progressive finance/accounting experience in manufacturing, with at least 5 years as a Controller/Manager.
• Strong expertise in financial analysis, planning, standard costing, and inventory management within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with a fully integrated ERP system (Oracle strongly preferred).
• CPA or CMA preferred; 4‑year degree in Accounting (business-related fields considered with appropriate experience).
• Proficiency with Excel and the ability to interpret complex financial and operational matters for non‑financial leaders.
• Commitment to ethics, attention to detail, and ability to raise concerns professionally across functions.

Work environment and physical demands

Work is primarily office-based with regular computer use. Occasional exposure to manufacturing areas requires safety glasses, side-shield protection, and hearing protection. Ability to conduct periodic physical inventories and fixed-asset audits in a manufacturing environment. Travel by automobile and plane is required approximately 10–20% of the time.