Plant Controller
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Finance & Banking
Financial Analyst, Financial Reporting, Financial Controller, Financial Manager
Job Description & How to Apply Below
Location: Assumption, Illinois
Reports to: Finance Director – North America Grain
Grain & Protein Technologies (GPT) is a complex, global portfolio of agribusinesses operating across five distinct business segments, with manufacturing in 20 locations across 11 countries and revenues exceeding $1.2B. GPT is at a pivotal stage in its growth journey, with a defined operating agenda designed to double EBITDA organically and again through transformative M&A. These are exciting times to join GPT.
As Operations Controller for the Assumption Plant – the largest within GPT – you will be a critical member of the plant leadership team, driving financial strategy, operational efficiency, and business performance across a dynamic and complex manufacturing facility. You will partner directly with the Plant Operations Director and the Finance Director, North America Grain, to deliver strong financial results while helping shape the future of a manufacturing facility that is critical to GPT’s success.
This role requires a balance of strategic acumen and hands-on execution and is ideally suited for a well-rounded finance professional with deep expertise in operational finance and cost accounting. You will lead plant financial analysis, oversee operational finance activities, and provide actionable insights that enable smarter decision-making in plant operations, labor planning, working capital management, and capital investment. You will also play a highly visible role across the plant and broader organization, driving accountability and execution through strong financial governance and data-driven leadership.
Key Responsibilities Strategic & Operational Finance- Partner with the plant Operations Director as the financial leader responsible for delivery of the plant’s cost, shipments, working capital, and production efficiency objectives.
- Provide financial leadership to support the plant’s transformational strategic operating agenda and long-term value creation goals.
- Prepare, analyze, and present standard and ad-hoc financial reports to the plant as well as North America Grain and Company leadership, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
- Evaluate business assumptions, assess risks, and identify variances and provide explanations versus forecasts and prior periods.
- Lead forecasting, annual operating plans, and long-range financial planning for the plant.
- Oversee working capital optimization to support growth and profitability.
- Maintain a robust controls environment at the plant
- Be an active participant in the site’s SIOP process; challenge assumptions and guide decision making using data and analytics while ensuring alignment between SIOP and financials (forecasts, AOP, etc.)
- Programmatic review of plant financial performance and key operating KPIs, including detailed analysis of standard cost variances, manufacturing productivity, and cost drivers. Partner with plant leadership to strengthen cost controls and improve gross margins by identifying, quantifying, and actioning financial risks and opportunities.
- Investigate and resolve plant financial performance issues through proactive collaboration with plant operating team, driving accountability and continuous improvement in cost, productivity, and profitability.
- Develop and evaluate business cases for plant operational changes / improvements and capital investments.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing manual work, strengthening controls, improving data quality, and increasing the effectiveness of financial reporting and analysis.
- Serve as a leader within the plant controller network by sharing best practices, promoting standard…
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