Plant Controller

NOT OPEN TO STAFFING SERVICES, DO NOT CONTACT. POSITION DOES NOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP.

Job Summary

The Controller will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, overseeing the month-end and year-end close processes, managing internal controls, and providing financial insight to support operational and strategic decision-making.

The ideal candidate has strong manufacturing accounting experience and understands the financial drivers of a plant environment, including standard costing, inventory, bill of materials, labor and overhead, manufacturing variances, capital expenditures, and cost reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, payroll accounting, and financial reporting.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Prepare accurate financial statements and management reports in accordance with GAAP.
• Ability to produce customized lender specific reporting and perform covenant ratio calculations.
• Work closely with state and local governments applying for and acquiring state/local grants.
• Establish and maintain appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Coordinate annual audits and tax-related activities with external accounting firms and advisors.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and company policies.
• Oversee standard costing and cost accounting processes.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, including direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead.
• Monitor and explain material, labor, overhead, purchase price, production, and other manufacturing variances.
• Maintain accurate inventory valuation and oversee physical inventory counts and cycle-count programs.
• Partner with operations to improve inventory accuracy, production efficiency, and cost visibility.
• Review bills of materials, routings, labor standards, overhead rates, and cost assumptions.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and operational improvement.
• Partner with the CFO and leadership team on budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to plant and operational leaders.
• Develop and monitor key financial and operational metrics.
• Analyze profitability by product, customer, plant, or business unit.
• Support capital expenditure analysis and ROI evaluations.
• Translate financial results into actionable insights for non-financial leaders.
• Work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, HR, and Engineering.
• Support ERP improvements, financial systems enhancements, and process automation.
• Understanding of payroll processes and requirements around federal, state and local tax compliance.
• Experience with setting up and structuring banking accounts for different entities
• Develop processes that improve the efficiency and scalability of the finance function.

Qualifications

• 7 years of progressive accounting or finance experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost accounting and inventory accounting.
• Experience with standard costing, variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and internal controls.
• Experience with an ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA is preferred but not required.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.