Plant Controller

About the Role

The Plant Controller is responsible for the integrity of plant financials and financial reporting to plant and divisional management. This role analyzes variances, communicates explanations to plant management with recommended actions, and leads budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis activities. The Plant Controller ensures proper accounting in accordance with IFRS, SOX compliance, and company policy while providing proactive consultation to drive business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee preparation of weekly and monthly Profit and Loss Statements, financial metric analysis, and other performance documents, including reconciliation of general ledger accounts.
• Ensure integrity and timely close of plant month-end financials, collaborating with manufacturing operations to analyze production variances.
• Analyze and approve capital requests, monitor spending of CIP, ensure timely and accurate closing of projects with capitalization of assets, and maintain semi-annual equipment inventories.
• Manage inventory accounting, including developing standard costs and conducting annual analysis of labor and overhead rates to ensure proper absorption.
• Lead the plant bi-annual financial planning process, including establishing schedules, collecting and consolidating financial data, and recommending plans to meet objectives.
• Co-lead physical inventories, analyze variances, and recommend countermeasures at least twice per year.
• Participate in cross-functional management teams to improve plant performance and guide financial decisions.
• Manage and conduct financial and functional J-SOX (Japanese SOX) related activities.
• Support quarterly and annual audits, both internal and external.
• Partner with cross-functional teams and shared services groups at the business unit and corporate level.
• Perform miscellaneous financial analysis and activities, including projects that may involve other plants/facilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises two accounting professionals.
• Actively participates in and/or leads cross-functional project teams as part of a matrix organization.
• Reports through ASBU Accounting and takes significant direction from the plant manager as a key member of the plant management team.

Requirements

• 4-year degree in Accounting (business-related field considered with appropriate experience).
• 10 years of progressive experience in finance/accounting in manufacturing, with at least 5 years as a Controller/Manager.
• CPA or CMA preferred.
• Strong sense of ethics, attention to detail, and ability to raise issues professionally across functions.
• Experience in a manufacturing company with knowledge of standard costing practices and inventory management.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop personnel through planning, monitoring, and appraising job performance.
• Proficiency in Excel and experience with fully integrated ERP systems (Oracle strongly preferred).
• Willingness to consider eventual relocation to other facilities or positions within finance or other functions.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, though occasional exposure to manufacturing areas requires personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses, hearing protection).
• Requires sufficient dexterity to operate office equipment and conduct physical inventory and fixed asset audits in a manufacturing environment.
• Travel by automobile and plane required approximately 10-20% of the time.