Plant Controller

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James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, Timber Tech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and Stru Xure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

The Plant Controller I will be responsible for providing comprehensive financial leadership to the plant. The Plant Controller functions as the leading accounting professional in the plant and is responsible for the accurate reporting of results and maintenance of the company’s assets, through balance sheet integrity and providing a rigorous control environment. The Plant Controller also serves as the business partner to the Site Leader to focus largely on providing financial and operational leadership and improvements, including identifying and driving cost reductions.

This position leads a team and reports to the Director, Finance for Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Provide accurate reporting of results and maintenance of the company’s assets through balance sheet integrity and providing a rigorous control environment as the lead accountant and financial professional at the plant:

• Foster a strong control environment in the plant and ensure balance sheet integrity and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
• Adhere to sound internal control processes, improve any control deficiencies, and set the proper routines and processes related to internal controls. Mitigate business risks as they are identified.
• Work cross-functionally with central accounting to lead control and efficiency initiatives resulting in a better control environment that is easier to monitor.
• Manage a complete and thorough month end close process, including owning all plant accounting operations, reporting, and plant financial statements
• Prepare and manage the annual budget process, and coordinate and manage regular forecast updates.
• Analyze and interpret plant operation results, evaluating variances, and assessing the effects on the plant’s operations
• Monitor financial performance to identify and drive cost reductions
• Serve as project manager on cost reduction initiatives, working cross functionally with engineers, procurement, and plant operators to drive cost reductions
• Coordinate with plant operations to prepare business cases to support capital investments, including financial justification and proper accounting treatment.
• Act as a strong example of integrity and ‘Doing the Right Thing’
• Drive negotiations with key vendors either directly or via partnering with procurement

Serve as the business partner to the Plant Manager to focus on providing financial and operational leadership and improvements, including identifying and driving cost reductions:

• Provide daily, weekly and monthly reports for plant and corporate management
• Provide management with the strategic tools and reports to drive business results
• Manage plant performance on improvement goals and KPI’s
• Drive operational improvements, including development, implementation, and maintenance

Manage others and provide leadership, ongoing development, mentoring, and strong learning experiences:

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of 2 to 5
• Delegate day-to-day accounting activities as appropriate
• Provide effective leadership to staff, direct reports, and others in the Company to improve their performance and directing their career development
• Train and develop staff to ensure that their work is progressing as desired in the areas of proper collection, calculation, and reporting of cost, production, inventory, and other financial information to aid in career progression

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related…