Who we are
We are the leaders in the fresh prepared food manufacturing industry. We are fast developing a strong presence in the US as we continue to disrupt the eating habits of US consumers. We are passionate about the food we make and demand for our products is high. You may not know our Bakkavor name but our customers are some of the best known grocery chains across the globe.
In total, we have 19,000 employees worldwide. Here in the US we are playing an instrumental part in driving change in fresh prepared foods to some of the major retailer chains and in the UK we are the market leader in all categories we serve.
Our mission is: to develop and produce innovative, commercially successful, great-tasting food that offers choice, convenience and freshness to people around the world.
Our values are:

• Respect & Trust Each Other
• Be Proud Of What We Do
• Keep The Customer At The Heart Of What We Do
• Get It Right, Keep It Right

Position Summary
The Project Controller has responsibility for the leadership of financial projects and to perform the duties of a Plant Controller as needed. The role will provide support with commercial, operational and management finance and accounting activities. The role provides sound financial leadership and advice and ensures that adequate controls and financial information solutions for decision making are in place. The Project Controller is responsible for providing timely, accurate, value-added and relevant financial information, forward looking analyses and insights, investment proposals and forecasts in a cost-effective manner. This enables the business to profitably deliver the highest quality products and services to customers while also empowering the Finance team to communicate relevant financial information to the USA and Group operations.
COMPETENCIES

• Strategic foresight
• Leadership
• Business Acumen
• Customer Focus
• Managing for Results
• Budget and Cost Control
• Problem Solving
• Team development
• High degree of Integrity and Ethics

POSSIBLE PROJECTS

• Interim Plant Controller
• Operational productivity projects - waste streams, labor opportunities
• Capex PLR
• Commercial launch effectiveness
• Stock management cost opportunities
• Costing Model improvements
• Labor inflation modelling
• Inflation/Deflation modelling
• Internal Audit projects
• Distribution efficiency mapping
• Business Scorecard development

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, manage and implement all financial project for US operations.
• Business Strategy - Actively contribute to the creation and update of a business strategy. Ensure the strategy and organizational plans are aligned to the business model as fit for the trading environment - margins, ratios, returns, capex etc. Coordinate and ensure all elements of the strategic process are considered and included.
• Financial Control - Provide overall business and financial control, ensuring that appropriate controls are in place to manage "risk", while also utilizing techniques that help and influence all other members of the leadership team to exploit the opportunities. Develop and implement accounting and management processes that communicate and improve the decision-making capability.
• Performance Reporting - Working alongside the Finance and Operations Teams, ensure business performance is meeting agreed targets and where not, define and agree corrective plans that will ensure they are met. Continually challenge all areas of the business to ensure functional teams are performing to the best of their ability. Ensure clear and accurate financial performance reporting is in place (daily / weekly / monthly) and that the leadership team fully understands the financial performance of their business. Challenge existing practices to minimize risk and maximize delivery.
• Commercial Appraisal - Work alongside commercial and marketing confirming that all commercial opportunities including NPD, tenders, promotional programs are fully evaluated to ensure the business only engages in opportunities that support delivery of the business plan. When appropriate, initiate corrective action and offer support to commercial and marketing colleagues to deliver it.
• Rolling Forecast - Champion the rolling forecast process, ensuring a realistic forecast of business performance based on clear and aligned assumptions along with an assessment of the business risks and opportunities.
• IT Champion - Ensure appropriate business solutions to support performance improvement & delivery. Liaise with IT and US Finance to ensure risks are understood.
• Financial Conscience - Act as the Financial Conscience of the business engaging with all other members of the leadership team to ensure their financial awareness is heightened and the financial consequence of their actions is recognized and understood. Influence peer group members and functional decision making across the organization.
• Cash Champion - Manage working capital ensuring suitable processes are in place to control and optimized working capital. Ensure the Leadership Team understands and reacts to the cash position of the business.
• Investment - Consider and define the investment strategy and needs of the business based on its strategic model. Ensure capital and non-capital proposals are fully evaluated with associated returns and where progressed, investment paybacks are delivered. Ensure major capital projects receive a full PCR once complete.
• Finance Forum - Engage as a key member of the Finance Forum. Identify and help implement improvements across the function by progressing US and Group initiatives through the engagement of senior finance personnel across the organization.

minimum requirements

• 5 Proven experience as a Controller or similar role in food manufacturing
• Strong academic credentials, including a finance, accounting or other relevant degree; a CPA and/or M.B.A. are desirable. 5 years of senior level finance leadership experience.
• Ability to travel at least 75% of time based on business needs.
• Ability to manage several financial projects simultaneously.
• Diverse and progressive finance/accounting experience is preferred in a high growth environment
• Experience managing plant controlling, commercial finance, financial planning & analysis, forecasting & budgeting and capital planning in manufacturing-based environment.
• Strong commercial and operational role with finance function ownership of a P&L and accountable for business performance and delivery
• Demonstrated ability to use data-based analytics and create forward looking analyses to drive solid business decision-making throughout the business.
• Experience in the food industry is preferred. Manufacturing and logistics industry experience will be considered.
• Track record of supporting a growth agenda is critical.
• Experience at operating in a fast-growing business which is transformational for the industry.
• Excellence in MS Office suite (especially Excel & PowerPoint)
• Experience with financial management software (SysPro Preferred)
• An analytical mind with a strategic ability
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities
• Highly proactive and self-motivated team player with great social and communication skills

Must be authorized to work in the US.