Junior Controller; Operations

Job Title:

Junior Controller (Operations)
Department:
Finance

Reports to:

CFO Classification:
Exempt

Location:

Assigned GWS location

Travel:
As needed

Job Summary:

The Junior Controller (Operations) serves as a hands-on finance partner to GWS Tool Group’s operations team and assigned manufacturing locations. This role translates production and financial data into actionable insights that improve cost performance, inventory accuracy, working capital, and operational profitability. Working closely with location leaders, production, procurement, and Financial Control, the Business Controller investigates performance variances, identifies root causes, and follows corrective actions through measurable results.

Duties/Responsibilities Manufacturing Costs and Operational Performance Analyze material, labor, and overhead costs by location, product, work order, or process to identify cost drivers and opportunities for improvement.

Investigate actual performance against standard cost, prior periods, budgets, and forecasts; explain material usage and purchase price variances, labor efficiency, scrap and rework, overhead absorption, and production volume impacts.

Partner with plant leaders to validate findings on the production floor, develop corrective actions, and track financial results and sustainable savings.

Review costing inputs, including bills of material, routings, labor and machine rates, and overhead allocation methods; coordinate corrections and cost updates with operations and finance.

Develop consistent operational KPIs and reporting for productivity, conversion costs, scrap, capacity utilization, and inventory performance; present clear explanations and recommended actions.

Inventory and Working Capital Monitor raw materials, work in process, and finished goods; reconcile inventory subledgers to the general ledger and investigate valuation, quantity, and transaction discrepancies.

Partner with locations to strengthen cycle counting and physical inventory procedures, investigate count variances, and address recurring control weaknesses.

Analyze inventory aging, excess and obsolete stock, and reserve requirements; recommend appropriate adjustments in coordination with Financial Control.

Work with operations and procurement to improve inventory turns, reduce excess stock, and manage working capital while supporting production and customer service requirements.

Financial Reporting and Operational Planning Coordinate timely month-end close activities for assigned locations with General Accounting team, including inventory and cost accounting entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.

Validate location results and prepare concise operational performance reviews, highlighting key variances, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions in accordance with corporate reporting requirements.

Support location budgets and forecasts using production volumes, staffing, material costs, operating expenses, and capital plans; challenge assumptions with operations and explain deviations.

Prepare and validate business cases for capital investments, capacity changes, make-versus-buy decisions, and process improvements; assess payback, return on investment, and post-investment performance.

Controls Systems and Continuous Improvement Standardize costing, inventory controls, reporting, and analysis across assigned locations in partnership with Financial Control and operations.

Improve ERP data quality and reporting tools; support finance system enhancements, process documentation, and training for location teams.

Support internal and external audits, maintain appropriate documentation, and promote compliance with applicable accounting standards and corporate policies.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and…