Plant Controller

About the role

The Plant Controller provides financial leadership to an Original Composites and Fibers (OCF) manufacturing facility(s). The role involves maintaining a control environment that complies with the Company's internal control policies, contributing to all areas of plant management, and serving as a feeder for larger plants and corporate roles.

Reports to: This position reports directly to the Plant Leader with strong functional reporting accountability for driving results to the segment Finance Leader.

Span of Control: This individual will have direct leadership responsibilities and will be responsible for leading non-financial plant administrative processes such as sourcing, information systems, warehouse and shipping (location dependent).

Key Responsibilities

• Participates in the development of plant operational objectives to align with Corporate and Division strategic objectives.

• Leads proactive development of productivity improvement, corrective actions, and contingency plans to ensure facility financial results and shareholder value is optimized.

• Ensures there is an effective and efficient system of internal controls including; data integrity, asset protection, segregation of duties, budgeting, financial reporting, information systems and adherence to corporate policies and governmental regulations (GAAP, etc.).

• Drives a robust representation letter process that provides assurance and visibility to a sound internal control environment.

• Leads the Continuous Sign-off process to ensure that accountability for internal controls is clear and that processes are documented.

• Leads financial planning, budgeting and forecasting processes.

• Prepares and delivers the plant financial forecasts and projections.

• Leads the plant’s monthly closing process.

• Communicates results effectively and timely to management and non-financial personnel.

• Provides in-depth analysis on variances to plan and forecast.

• Provides risk analysis for contingency planning.

• Leads actions in line with TPM thinking and methodology to achieve targets, mitigate risk and prioritize resource needs.

• Successfully transitions projects from Planning to Execution.

• Provides insightful and competitive analytics that anticipate change and drive decision making.

• Provides investment analysis.

• Leadership in asset management and metals accounting.

• Leadership to alloy inventory data, reporting and monthly physical inventories to ensure compliance with policies.

• Assists in contract evaluation and negotiation.

• Acts as primary contact for key external suppliers, including storeroom, purchasing contractors and security contractors.

• Edits plant personnel on key performance metrics and financial results.

• Cross-functional leadership and team contribution:

  • Proactively participates in plant operations via internal meetings, interaction with staff and hourly employees, walk the floor, safety advocate, etc.
  • Works across organization boundaries and all levels of the company to achieve plant, division or corporate objectives.
  • Shares best practices across division, i.e., process improvements, financial modeling and procedures changes.
  • Aligns teams and resources in order to solve problems and drive results.
  • Supports team members at plant, segment and corporate level.

• Leading and developing talent:

  • Creates an environment where talent is developed through effective performance management, talent evaluation systems and utilization of people.
  • Acts as a resource to the non-financial leaders of the business providing education and training on the key principles of Finance.
  • Invests in the growth and development of their direct reports and other identified talent in their organization.
  • Ensures succession plans are executed for focus roles.

• Oversight and accountability of plant security systems:

  • Ensures the delegation and successful completion of site security functions, included but not limited to: Managing/implementing OC Security Standards, quarterly assessment of security equipment, security capital project management, site contact for security audits and visits, and monitor completion of required training.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or relevant discipline a must.

• 5+ years operating in a range of economic conditions, i.e. expansion, contraction, stable economic conditions—forecasting, scenario planning, risk analysis and contingency development.

• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated analytical ability accompanied by knowledge of corporate finance and manufacturing costing principles—understands P&L and balance sheet dynamics.

• Experience: MBA, CMA, CPA preferred.

• Providing leadership to organizations within a manufacturing operation(s)—leading operations planning, savings, forecasting and investment analysis.

• Delivering continuous improvement.

• Participating in the development of strategic plans.

• Negotiating, developing and evaluating customer and supplier contracts.

• Attracting, developing and retaining outstanding talent—growing talent and succession planning.

• Demonstrated high growth in previous experience.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated ability to teach and communicate in simple, impacting terms.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and control costs—effectively develops business cases and enroll leaders at all levels in taking appropriate action.

• Demonstrated ability to develop an intimate knowledge of customers, competition, and the market and uses this knowledge to drive customer and product profitability decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and execute strategic directions.

• Abilities and Personal Characteristics: Conducts himself/herself with the highest ethical and moral standards.

• Intelligent, creative, analytical.

• Highly motivated and results driven with a high energy level—has a bias for proactive action.

• Broad operating style, ability to adapt across cultures, environments and styles.

• Forward thinking leadership abilities, including the ability to motivate, lead by example, and encourage teamwork and effective communication.

• Passionate, charismatic personality; articulate, approachable and friendly.

• Makes decisions and commits to a course of action with appropriate information and recognizes uncertainty of success; weighs and manages risk in decision making; able to make decisions detrimental to a few but helpful to many.

• Behaves in a mature and appropriate manner. Shows good judgment, does not allow feeling or biases to distract reasoning, does not rationalize failures.

• Shows appreciation for and understanding of the feelings of others. Aware of personal impact on others. Expresses him/her self directly and candidly.