Plant Controller

Company Overview:

A leading private equity-backed food manufacturing company is seeking a finance leader to support one of its production facilities. The organization operates with the agility of a growth-oriented business while leveraging an established portfolio of well-recognized consumer products and a strong customer base.

The company fosters a culture centered on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and customer focus. It values innovation, collaboration, simplicity, and integrity, and is committed to delivering high-quality products and sustainable value to its stakeholders.

Role Overview:

This role is responsible for leading financial planning, reporting, and accounting activities for a manufacturing facility. The position partners closely with plant leadership to provide insights into operational performance, drive cost control initiatives, and ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance.

Key areas include financial forecasting and budgeting, cost accounting, general ledger oversight, internal controls, and performance analytics.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all plant-level accounting functions, including general ledger, cost accounting, payroll, AP, fixed assets, and month-end close.
• Own financial planning processes, including annual operating plan (AOP), monthly forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Provide operational finance support through cost analysis, efficiency tracking, and reporting on labor, materials, and overhead.
• Ensure accuracy of inventory accounting, including valuation, reserves, reconciliations, and physical counts.
• Maintain strong internal controls and compliance (e.g., SOX), supporting audits and data integrity across systems.
• Partner cross-functionally with plant leadership to drive cost savings, improve processes, and support decision-making.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; advanced degree or CPA/CMA preferred.
• 5-10 years of experience in manufacturing finance, with strong cost accounting expertise.
• Experience with financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and ERP systems (NetSuite or similar).
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement (e.g., Lean) capabilities.
• Effective communicator and team-oriented leader with high attention to detail and ethical standards.