What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Controller position at Colorado Mills?
Colorado Mills, based in Lamar, Colorado, is hiring an experienced Plant Controller.
Colorado Mills is a zero-waste, environmentally focused agricultural company based in Lamar, Colorado, producing high-oleic, non-GMO sunflower oil and premium livestock feed through a full-cycle process that uses every part of the sunflower seed. Known for its strong partnerships with local growers and its commitment to sustainable, locally produced products, Colorado Mills has supported the regional farming community since 1999.
We’re hiring a Plant Controller to be the financial leader for our manufacturing site. You will be responsible for cost accounting, financial reporting, forecasting, payroll processing and oversight, inventory valuation, and production economics. You will partner closely with plant operations, supply chain, and senior management to maximize profitability, manage seed cost exposure, and support continuous improvement in our expeller-press and feed manufacturing processes.
We offer a competitive compensation package, including:
Colorado Mills is a zero-waste, environmentally focused agricultural company based in Lamar, Colorado, producing high-oleic, non-GMO sunflower oil and premium livestock feed through a full-cycle process that uses every part of the sunflower seed. Known for its strong partnerships with local growers and its commitment to sustainable, locally produced products, Colorado Mills has supported the regional farming community since 1999.
We’re hiring a Plant Controller to be the financial leader for our manufacturing site. You will be responsible for cost accounting, financial reporting, forecasting, payroll processing and oversight, inventory valuation, and production economics. You will partner closely with plant operations, supply chain, and senior management to maximize profitability, manage seed cost exposure, and support continuous improvement in our expeller-press and feed manufacturing processes.
We offer a competitive compensation package, including:
- Base salary commensurate with experience
- Annual incentive/bonus opportunity
- Health, dental & vision benefits
- 401(k) and/or retirement plan options
- Paid time off and holidays
- Relocation support (if needed)
- Opportunity to shape a growing, specialty oilseed and feed business.
- Work at the intersection of food, agriculture, and sustainability.
- Influence pricing strategy in premium oil and high-quality feed markets.
- Leadership seat at a company where decisions move quickly.
- Live and work in the Lamar, Colorado region with a lower cost of living and strong agricultural community.
- Maintain robust cost accounting systems that capture seed procurement, oil yields, expeller throughput, and feed co-product valuation.
- Ensure accurate product costing for oil and feed: raw materials, processing, packaging, labor, utilities, and overhead.
- Lead monthly financial reporting, variance analysis, KPI dashboards, and production performance metrics.
- Prepare weekly forecasts and lead the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and Long-Range Plan (LRP), reflecting seasonal crop and commodity market dynamics.
- Supervise plant accounting staff and oversee payroll, accounts payable exception resolution, and inventory control.
- Develop and enforce accounting policies and internal controls aligned with GAAP, SOX, FSMA, HACCP, AAFCO, and state feed regulations.
- Partner with plant operations to provide credible financial analysis to support improved extraction efficiency, protein/fat quality, and cost-savings.
- Lead physical inventory cycles, seed intake reconciliation, oil storage & loadout tracking, and feed shrink management.
- Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure compliance with state and federal financial and feed/food requirements.
- Analyze capital investment opportunities (presses, refining, pelletizing, automation) and manage ROI tracking.
- Support pricing strategies for premium oil and value-added feed markets.
- Maintain ERP data integrity-standard costs, BOMs, yield standards, and lot traceability.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
- 7 years of accounting/finance experience, with at least 3 years in manufacturing preferably in food, agriculture, or oilseed processing.
- Proven cost accounting and inventory management expertise.
- Strong understanding of commodity cost drivers and/or agricultural markets.
- Experience leading small accounting teams.
- Proficiency with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar).
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Comfortable working on the plant floor and partnering with operations.
- Accurate product costing and yield transparency.
- Improved forecast accuracy and cash visibility.
- Strong internal controls and audit readiness.
- Better capital discipline and ROI tracking.
- Operational improvements driven through meaningful financial insight.