Assistant Controller

Assistant Controller

Level: Professional Staff Function: Finance & Accounting Grade: 16 Location: Wytheville, VA FLSA Status: Exempt

Who We Are: At Somic America, you are joining a talented and passionate team of automotive parts makers driven to produce and create products of exceptional quality and reliability. You can be a part of creating a better, more exciting future, for the automotive industry, our business, our plants and yourself.

For more than 35 years, we have produced quality components for the North American and South American automotive markets, providing manufacturers with local sourcing and a connection to the exceptional capabilities and performance commitment of Somic Ishikawa. We are justifiably proud of our history, but more importantly, we are proud of our people. Our expectations are high, and we’ll work hard to support you professionally and personally so you can challenge yourself to be your very best.

Job Purpose: The Assistant Controller is responsible for supporting all accounting, financial reporting, cost accounting, and internal control activities for a multi-plant automotive component manufacturing operation. This position assists in managing the month-end close process, financial statement preparation, inventory accounting, standard costing, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance initiatives. The Assistant Controller works closely with plant leadership to ensure accurate financial reporting, operational cost control, and continuous improvement of financial processes across both manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting & Accounting a. Assist with preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

b. Manage month-end and year-end close activities, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.

c. Review journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and financial analyses.

d. Maintain general ledger integrity and ensure compliance with company accounting policies.

e. Support annual financial audits and coordinate requests from external auditors.

f. Ensure compliance with lender reporting requirements and corporate reporting deadlines.

2. Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance a. Oversee standard costing systems for automotive component manufacturing operations.

b. Analyze material, labor, and overhead variances and provide explanations to management.

c. Monitor inventory valuation, inventory reserves, cycle counts, and annual physical inventories.

d. Review and maintain BOMs (Bills of Material), routings, and product cost structures.

e. Partner with plant management to identify cost reduction opportunities and improve profitability.

f. Analyze manufacturing performance metrics, labor utilization, scrap, downtime, and production efficiencies.

3. Plant Financial Support a. Serve as finance business partner to management teams at both manufacturing plants.

b. Review plant operating results and communicate financial performance to leadership.

c. Support capital expenditure analysis, project justification, and post-investment reviews.

d. Participate in operational meetings and provide financial guidance on business decisions.

e. Monitor plant spending and compliance with approved budgets.

4. Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis a. Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts.

b. Develop financial models and profitability analyses for operational decision-making.

c. Analyze trends in sales, margins, expenses, working capital, and cash flow.

d. Prepare management reports and KPIs for executive leadership.

e. Support strategic planning initiatives and long-range financial projections.

5. Internal Controls & Compliance a. Maintain and strengthen internal controls across accounting and manufacturing processes.

b. Ensure compliance with corporate policies, financial controls, and audit requirements.

c. Assist with implementation and documentation of process improvements.

d. Identify risks and recommend corrective actions to improve financial accuracy and operational effectiveness.

6. Leadership & Team Development a. Supervise and mentor accounting staff as assigned.

b. Provide backup support for the Controller and finance team members.

c. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service.

d. Assist in developing standard operating procedures and best practices across both facilities.

Qualifications

1. Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.

2. Experience: 5-8 years of progressive accounting and finance experience. Minimum 3 years of manufacturing accounting experience preferred. Automotive manufacturing or Tier 1/Tier 2 supplier experience strongly preferred. Experience supporting multiple manufacturing locations preferred. Experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.

3. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory accounting, and standard costing methodologies. Knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced financial modeling and analysis. Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Plex, Epicor, QAD, Oracle, or similar. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. High level of integrity, attention to detail, and business acumen.

4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Timely and accurate month-end close. Inventory accuracy and variance management. Forecast and budgeting accuracy. Financial statement accuracy and compliance. Cost reduction and margin improvement initiatives. Internal control effectiveness. Support of plant operational performance goals. Audit findings and corrective action completion.

Working Conditions: Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments. Regular travel between two production facilities. Occasional extended hours during month-end close, budgeting, and audit periods. Ability to work effectively in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

This role is an integral member of the finance leadership team responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, supporting operational excellence, and driving profitability across both automotive manufacturing plants.