Plant Controller

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the annual operating plan, budget, and rolling forecast processes for the manufacturing facility.
• Develop detailed production, labor, overhead, and capital expenditure plans aligned with operational goals.
• Partner with plant leadership to translate production plans into financial outcomes.
• Analyze variances versus plan, forecast, and prior periods; clearly communicate drivers and corrective actions.
• Support long-range planning and scenario modeling related to capacity, headcount, pricing, and cost initiatives.
• Provide decision support for make-versus-buy, sourcing, capital investment, and productivity projects.

Plant Operations and Cost Management

• Act as a financial business partner to Plant Manager, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering leaders.
• Oversee product costing, standard cost maintenance, and cost rollups.
• Drive transparency and accountability for labor, material, scrap, and overhead absorption.
• Lead efforts to identify cost reduction and operational efficiency opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM) with financial analytics.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, and reserves; ensure alignment with production and supply chain plans.

Accounting Controls and Compliance

• Ensure accurate and timely monthly close, including journal entries, accruals, and variance explanations.
• Maintain strong internal controls over manufacturing, inventory, and fixed assets.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, and external audit requirements.
• Partner with corporate accounting on standard cost updates and accounting changes.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and develop plant finance staff (if applicable).
• Promote financial discipline and operational understanding across the plant.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership by providing clear, actionable insights.
• Collaborate with corporate FP&A, supply chain, and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; 7–10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing finance or cost accounting; Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, cost drivers, and planning processes; Proven experience partnering with plant leadership; Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; ERP experience (SAP preferred).
• PREFERRED: CMA; Experience with CCH Targetik for budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting; Experience in complex manufacturing environments; Exposure to Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement frameworks.