Plant Controller

Reports To: Plant Manager with dotted-line reporting to Corporate Finance

Our client is seeking a hands-on Plant Controller to lead the financial operations for a single manufacturing facility. This position serves as the key financial business partner to plant leadership, providing oversight of accounting, cost accounting, inventory, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and operational analysis.

The Plant Controller will play a critical role in driving plant performance, supporting operational decision-making, and ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working both on the manufacturing floor and with senior leadership, leveraging financial data to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

• Lead the monthly close process, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management reporting packages.
• Analyze plant financial performance and explain key drivers impacting results.
• Ensure compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and reporting requirements.
• Support annual audits and corporate reporting activities.

• Maintain and analyze standard costs, labor costs, material costs, and manufacturing overhead.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances, including labor, material, scrap, efficiency, and inventory variances.
• Partner with operations to improve inventory accuracy and strengthen inventory controls.
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and margin improvement.

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process for the facility.
• Develop monthly forecasts and provide financial guidance to leadership.
• Perform financial modeling and operational analysis to support decision-making.
• Track capital expenditures and support ROI analysis for capital investments.
• Develop and monitor plant KPIs related to cost, inventory, productivity, and profitability.

• Serve as a strategic financial partner to the Plant Manager and plant leadership team.
• Provide actionable financial insights to support operational improvements.
• Participate in daily, weekly, and monthly plant review meetings.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through financial analysis and performance tracking.
• Assist leadership in identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory management, standard costing, and variance analysis.
• Experience leading month-end close and preparing financial statements.
• Proven budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis experience.
• ERP system experience required.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with operations and communicate financial information to non-financial leaders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Automotive, plastics, or high-volume manufacturing experience preferred.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA a plus.
• Experience supporting lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.