Plant Controller - Manufacturing

Job Title: Plant Controller

Department: Finance

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Plant Controller serves as the financial and strategic partner to the plant and operational leadership teams, with responsibility for overseeing all financial aspects of manufacturing operations. This role plays a key part in cost management, variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting, inventory control, and driving operational efficiency through data analysis and financial insights. Reports to the CFO with a dotted-line relationship to the Director of Operations.

Core

Responsibilities Cost Accounting & Analysis

• Manage all aspects of cost accounting, including product costing, labor, and overhead allocation
• Lead cost analysis efforts to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency
• Provide detailed financial insights on cost drivers across manufacturing processes
• Perform cost estimates for new products and processes
• Analyze and explain manufacturing cost variances, including labor, material, and overhead

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Coordinate annual and quarterly planning processes related to plant operations, labor, overhead, and inventory
• Provide operational forecasts and scenario modeling for leadership decision-making
• Track and evaluate performance against budgets and identify key variances

Inventory Control & Supply Chain Collaboration

• Partner with supply chain and warehousing teams to manage inventory accuracy, including cycle counts and reconciliation
• Develop and implement inventory control procedures and troubleshoot discrepancies
• Analyze inventory valuation and obsolescence reserves; optimize inventory turnover
• Support vendor relations and inventory-related process improvements

Financial Reporting & Operational Support

• Prepare and present financial statements, KPIs, and analysis related to operations
• Deliver insights and reporting that support manufacturing efficiency and financial performance
• Support the monthly financial close process, including journal entries and reconciliations
• Ensure alignment of financial data with ERP systems and operational results

Data & Systems Proficiency

• Utilize ERP to extract and analyze financial data using the client interface and SQL
• Develop dashboards and reports to track operational metrics and KPIs
• Leverage advanced Excel skills for modeling, trend analysis, and data visualization
• Serve as a systems expert, identifying opportunities for automation and process enhancements

Leadership & Compliance

• Actively participate as a member of the plant leadership team, contributing financial insight to strategic decisions
• Lead capital project financial analysis, including ROI evaluation, expenditure tracking, and purchase order creation
• Ensure department managers understand relevant financial performance and variance to targets
• Ensure adherence to documented ERP data entry procedures
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and company financial policies
• Support internal and external audits with accurate documentation and analysis

Qualifications Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in plant accounting or financial leadership within a manufacturing environment (CPG or food manufacturing preferred)
• Prior experience supporting plant leadership and cross‑functional teams
• ERP systems experience required;
  Microsoft Dynamics NAV preferred

Key Competencies & Skills

• Strong background in cost accounting and manufacturing variance analysis
• Must have a strong background in cost analysis.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, macros, data modeling, etc.)
• Query relational databases and define relevant report requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills; data‑savvy with a strong financial acumen
• Effective verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and operations performance metrics
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and operational…