Controller - Operations

Plant Controller - Strategic Business Partner

Title: Plant Controller

Location: Franklin, WI

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Dotted Line: Senior Vice President & General Manager

Direct Reports: Assistant Controller and Accounting Assistant (2)

Position Summary

The Plant Controller is a key financial leader at the Franklin, WI manufacturing facility, responsible for overseeing all plant-level accounting, financial reporting, cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls. This role partners closely with plant leadership and corporate finance to drive financial performance, support operational decision‑making, and ensure compliance with company policies and GAAP.

The Plant Controller operates as a trusted business partner to the Sr. VP & General Manager while maintaining strong alignment with corporate financial strategy and reporting requirements.

• Thinks like an operator, not just an accountant
• Is confident partnering with senior leadership
• Enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges
• Brings both technical depth and commercial insight

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to plant leadership, providing insight into operational performance, cost drivers, and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with the Sr. VP & General Manager to support strategic initiatives, capital investment analysis, and profitability improvement efforts.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for non‑finance stakeholders.

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and analyze plant P&L statements, balance sheets, and variance reports versus budget and forecast.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal accounting policies, and corporate reporting requirements.

• Lead all cost accounting activities, including standard cost development, maintenance, and variances (labor, material, overhead).
• Analyze manufacturing efficiencies, scrap, rework, inventory turns, and absorption to support continuous improvement.
• Oversee inventory valuation, cycle counts, physical inventories, and related reconciliations.

• Lead the annual operating budget and ongoing forecast processes for the plant.
• Monitor and report on key financial and operational KPIs, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis to support operational decisions and capital projects.

• Maintain strong internal controls over financial processes, inventory, and fixed assets.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring timely responses and corrective action where needed.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, SOX/internal control standards (as applicable), and regulatory requirements.

• Review and analyze capital expenditure requests; track capital project spending and ROI.

• Directly manage, coach, and develop the Assistant Controller and Accounting Assistant.
• Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the finance function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 7‑10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including significant experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience as a Plant Controller or senior manufacturing finance leader strongly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting, standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel skills; experience with manufacturing ERP systems preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and internal controls.

• Proven ability to partner with operations and influence decision‑making through data‑driven insight.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly to diverse…