Plant Controller

The Plant Controller is responsible for the financial leadership of the Kentucky manufacturing operation. The role partners closely with the US Head of Operations and operational leadership team to drive financial performance, maintain strong internal controls and support business growth.

The Plant Controller is accountable for financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, manufacturing accounting, operational decision support and local compliance including payroll and tax.

The Plant Controller will play a key role in leveraging the implementation of Netsuite ERP, Rippling and other technology in the US to gain understanding of manufacturing variances, yield, waste and inventory control.

The Plant Controller will also manage the local payroll team.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Manage monthly financial close for the US operation
• Prepare budgets, forecasts and financial projections
• Monitor plant profitability and operating performance
• Support Group cash flow forecasting and working capital management
• Ensure compliance with Group accounting policies and reporting deadlines

Manufacturing Accounting

• Maintain and report on standard costing models
• Analyse manufacturing variances
• Review production yields and waste performance
• Monitor inventory valuation and inventory controls
• Coordinate stocktakes and cycle count programs
• Analyse product profitability and cost performance

Business Partnering

• Partner with Head of Operations and operational leaders
• Support commercial and operational decision making
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations
• Participate in plant leadership meetings

Governance & Compliance

• Maintain strong financial controls in line with Group policy
• Support internal and external audits
• Ensure local compliance with applicable regulations including payroll and tax
• Review approval processes and delegations

Systems and Process Improvement

• Support NetSuite implementation and optimisation.
• Assist with process improvements and automation
• Ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy

Key Performance Indicators

• Month-end close completed within agreed timeline
• Inventory accuracy targets achieved
• Forecast accuracy achieved
• Manufacturing variance targets achieved
• Working capital targets achieved
• Support NetSuite implementation and optimisation.
• Compliance and audit outcomes

Occupational Safety, Health and Environment

• Champion a culture of safe working
• Ensure all company safety, wellness and environmental policies and procedures are adhered to in accordance with OHSA (Occupational Safety and Health) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements
• Ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers while they are at work
• Ensure consultation with employees on safety and health issues

Food Safety

• Ensure operations are according to our food safety policies and processes including FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (US Department of Agriculture) compliance plus our HACCP and GMP programs.
• Ensure control of any food safety risks.

KEY QUALITIES:

Qualifications, Skills & Experience (Essential):

• High school diploma or GED required;
• Degree in Accounting, Finance or Commerce.
• CPA, CA or equivalent professional qualification.
• 7–10 years' finance experience in manufacturing
• Previous Plant Controller, Manufacturing Controller or Senior Cost Accountant experience
• Inventory accounting experience.
• Advanced Excel and ERP skills
• Excellent communication and business partnering skills.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience (Desirable):

• Experience with Food manufacturing experience.
• Greenfield manufacturing startup experience.
• NetSuite/ERP implementation experience.
• Strong standard costing expertise.
• Supply chain finance experience.
• Experience with reporting into in an International Group environment
• Experience of managing the payroll function

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded
• Hands-on and pragmatic
• Comfortable working in a startup environment.
• Calm under pressure
• Highly organised
• Analytical and data driven
• An effective communicator capable of influencing operational leaders

Physical Requirements:

• Site-based role within a food manufacturing environment working in both production and office areas.
• Ability to walk production floors, stand for extended periods, and access manufacturing areas.
• May require flexibility to support off-shift operations, weekends, or emergency situations.

This statement of duties is intended to give an indication of the scope and nature of work that an employee at this level may be expected to perform. However, the statement does not restrict the employer’s right to require the employee to perform any task that is within the employee’s competency and skill which is reasonably incidental to or associated with the position held.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal or Kentucky state law. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process, in accordance with applicable laws.

Pay: $110,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $110,000 - $140,000