Sr Director, Plant Controller

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Plant Controller is a strategic finance leader responsible for overseeing plant-level financial operations across multiple transformer manufacturing facilities. This role leads a team of plant controllers, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and timeliness in financial reporting while driving operational performance and continuous improvement.

Acting as a key partner to both plant and corporate leadership, the Senior Director, Plant Controller provides critical financial insights that influence decision-making, improve profitability, and support scalable growth. This role also ensures strong governance, compliance, and alignment of financial processes across all locations and ERP systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of plant controllers and site-level finance staff across multiple facilities
• Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability for financial results
• Foster a culture of urgency, continuous improvement, and operational partnership within the finance organization

Financial Reporting & Close Process

• Oversee the preparation, consolidation, and analysis of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial results
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of reporting across multiple ERP systems
• Drive improvements in the financial close process, reducing cycle times to meet internal and external reporting deadlines
• Standardize reporting packages, dashboards, and supporting analysis across all plants

Cost Accounting & Operational Finance

• Oversee cost accounting practices including inventory valuation, standard costing, and variance analysis
• Analyze plant performance (labor, material, overhead, scrap, and yield) to identify risks and opportunities
• Partner with operations to drive cost reduction, productivity improvements, and margin expansion
• Improve consistency and accuracy of bill-of-materials (BOM) structures and inventory costing methodologies

Performance Analysis & Business Insights

• Translate operational data into actionable financial insights for plant and corporate leadership
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure alignment with financial and operational goals
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and recommend corrective actions to improve plant performance

Process Improvement & Standardization

• Lead financial process improvement initiatives across all manufacturing sites
• Enhance revenue cycle accounting processes and financial workflows
• Drive standardization of financial practices, systems, and controls across ERP platforms (e.g., Net Suite, Syteline)
• Support broader continuous improvement and transformation initiatives

Compliance, Controls & Governance

• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), and all applicable regulatory requirements
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls across all plant locations
• Support internal and external audits and ensure audit readiness
• Safeguard company assets through disciplined financial oversight

Strategic Business Partnership

• Act as a trusted advisor to plant leadership and corporate executives
• Provide financial guidance to support strategic decisions, capital investments, and operational initiatives
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, HR, and Commercial teams
• Align financial performance with broader business strategy and long-term objectives

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including significant leadership experience in manufacturing environments
• Strong background in cost accounting and multi-site plant finance management
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SOX compliance requirements
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced financial reporting tools
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Proven leadership, analytical, and communication capabilities
• Willingness to travel 20-30% to support plant locations

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification
• Experience with ERP systems such as Net Suite, Syteline, or similar manufacturing platforms
• Experience in transformer, electrical equipment, or industrial manufacturing environments

Core Competencies & Behaviors:

• Strong business and operational acumen
• Ability to influence and partner across all levels of the organization
• Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving mindset
• Change leadership and continuous improvement orientation
• High level of ownership, accountability, and urgency

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