Plant Controller

Plant ControllerLocation: Trenton, NJSchedule: Hybrid – 3 days onsite/2 days remotePosition Summary:The Plant Controller will serve as the hands-on finance and accounting lead for the Trenton manufacturing site, with primary responsibility for cost accounting, inventory/plant controlling, technical accounting, and operational finance. This role will partner closely with Operations while remaining directly involved in day-to-day financial processes and execution. The ideal candidate has experience both driving process improvements and personally executing the work in a growing, evolving manufacturing environment.Responsibilities: Own cost accounting and plant controlling, including labor, overhead, inventory, productivity, and manufacturing variances.Manage inventory accounting and controls, including planning, tracking, physical inventory, and revaluation.Perform hands-on technical accounting activities, including accruals, journal entries, ledger activity, reconciliations, and consolidation entries.Partner with Operations on budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and variance analysis.Analyze shop-floor costs, labor/overhead rates, productivity, profitability, and other key operational drivers.Provide onsite support for localized procurement, CapEx, and inventory planning and tracking, and serve as the local point of contact for the annual physical inventory count.Prepare reports for the Operations team, providing visibility into cost and productivity versus plan and insightful commentary on operational drivers of variances.Drive and implement improvements to processes, reporting, and forecasting while remaining hands-on with day-to-day execution. Leveraging AI and automations where appropriate.Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experienceMinimum 5 years of manufacturing or plant-based accounting/finance experienceStrong experience with cost accounting and inventory/plant controllingStrong foundation in technical accounting, GL, month-end close, and financial reportingExperience with budgeting, forecasting, operational analysis, and variance reportingDemonstrated ability to drive process improvements while remaining hands-on with executionStrong Excel skills and experience working with large data setsOracle, Sage, or comparable ERP experience preferredCompensation$125,000–$150,000 base + annual bonus.Compensation is based on experience and overall fit The client may be open to flexibility above the stated range for highly qualified candidates