Plant Finance Controller

Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role will provide financial leadership and guidance to the Bethlehem Manufacturing Site. Key areas of responsibility will include spend analysis, zero-based budget preparation, material & labor variance analysis, forecasting, management reporting, asset safeguarding, and evaluating/tracking cost reduction opportunities.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and management of the manufacturing finance organization at the Bethlehem site.
• Partner with the Site Head to improve the financial performance, functioning as financial advisor to Site and Quality Heads. Support improved profitability by identifying financial underperformance, cost leakages, and inefficient manufacturing operations early. Identify cost and efficiency improvement opportunities and evaluate investment opportunities through in-depth financial analyses and appropriate recommendations.
• Contribute to the growth and development of the plant management team by ensuring that all team members understand the economics of the plant, the financial contribution needed from each manufacturing operation or functional area, the required financial return needed from investments in capital or inventory, and the potential financial impact of loss of production, productive time, scrap, etc. Be the “financial conscience” of the plant management team, a change agent, and a vocal advocate of continuous improvement.
• Ensure timely and accurate accounting, per GAAP, company policies and commonly employed methods used in complex, multi-step chemical manufacturing environments. Ensure proper valuation and accounting for manufacturing variances, overhead costs, fixed assets, and inventory. Meet closing schedules and provide meaningful analyses of the monthly, quarterly, and yearly plant results immediately following the close.
• Establish meaningful, timely, and accurate product standard costs that reflect the manufacturing process.
• Responsible for reviewing the payback / ROI of the capital projects. Monitor the project's progress, assess financial impact, and document the reason in case of project delays. Periodic review of the planned payback / ROI with actuals and suggest improvement plan. Conduct periodic physical verification of the fixed assets to ensure they tie in with the financial books.
• Responsible for developing key forward-looking operational metrics and drivers of plant performance and establishing and maintaining daily and monthly reporting.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal controls over plant inventory (including physical inventories and cycle counting procedures), fixed assets, consumables, transactions, and expenditures. Responsible for achieving and maintaining Sarbanes Oxley compliance at the site.
• Responsible for developing zero-based annual plant budgets, forecasts, and measurements against these targets throughout the year.
• Responsible for identifying information needs and driving improvement in plant systems. Champion and guide the development of value-added reporting and information from the SAP system.
• Partner with the regional supply chain to manage and drive the Bethlehem plant's inventory improvement.
• Work with the IT team to drive system automation and improvements and develop efficient processes and controls.
  
  

Key Competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities every person must possess to be successful)

• Critical Thinking — using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Excellent customer service skills and professional demeanor to interface effectively with all internal and external customers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Creative and able to present various solutions.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and motivational disposition.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Coaching skills.
• High energy and strong curiosity.
• Comfortable walking the manufacturing floor daily.
• Ability to look for new ways for the company to improve.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Demonstrates initiative – self-starter, able to identify issues and take actions for resolution.
• Ability to take a stand on difficult issues and push back when appropriate.
• Ability to work independently with limited guidance and direction.
  
  

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Account, finance, or related. MBA desirable.
• 8-12 years of manufacturing finance experience, preferably in a pharmaceutical or life-science company, with at least three years in a business partner role.
• Working knowledge of GAAP, sales and use tax, and property tax laws required.
• Hands-on experience in product costing, inventory control, variance analysis, and zero-based budget preparation.
• Thorough understanding of process costing, accounting for multi-step chemical manufacturing processes, including by-products or recycle streams.
• Experience implementing activity-based costing.
• Proficient in FICO, SD, MM, and PP modules in SAP (mandatory).
• Experience in capital project control and analysis.
• Prior experience establishing and overseeing internal controls for a manufacturing plant; working knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel required.