The Plant Controller is responsible for overseeing all financial and accounting activities at the manufacturing facility. This role partners closely with plant operations leadership to drive financial performance, ensure strong internal controls, and provide accurate and timely reporting. The Plant Controller plays a critical role in cost management, budgeting, forecasting, inventory control, and operational analysis to support strategic decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Oversight & Reporting
- Lead all plant-level accounting operations, including general ledger, cost accounting, and inventory accounting
- Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
- Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end close processes
- Monitor plant financial performance against budget and forecast
- Present financial results and key performance indicators (KPIs) to plant leadership
Cost Accounting & Inventory Management
- Maintain standard cost system and oversee cost rollups
- Analyze manufacturing variances (labor, material, overhead) and recommend corrective actions
- Oversee physical inventory counts and cycle counts
- Ensure accurate inventory valuation and reserves
- Monitor scrap, yield, and production efficiencies
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead the annual budgeting process for the plant
- Develop rolling forecasts and financial projections
- Partner with operations to identify cost savings and productivity initiatives
Internal Controls & Compliance
- Establish and maintain strong internal controls over plant financial processes
- Ensure compliance with company policies and GAAP
- Support internal and external audits
- Maintain SOX compliance where applicable
Operational Partnership
- Serve as a strategic business partner to the Plant Manager and operations team
- Provide financial modeling and analysis to support capital investments
- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals and track ROI
- Identify opportunities for margin improvement and cost reduction
Leadership & Team Development
- Supervise plant accounting staff
- Provide training and development to finance team members
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Qualifications
Education & Certification
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required
- CPA or CMA preferred
Experience
- 5–10+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience in a manufacturing environment
- Strong cost accounting and inventory management experience required
- Experience in standard costing systems
- ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, etc.) preferred
Skills & Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Deep understanding of manufacturing KPIs and operational metrics
- Advanced Excel skills
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities
- Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders
- Strong leadership and team management skills
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Manufacturing variance performance
- Inventory accuracy and turnover
- On-time and accurate financial reporting
- Budget vs. actual performance
- Cost reduction and productivity improvements
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-based bonus
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and holidays