Manufacturing Controller

Job Description

Job Description

The Plant Controller leads the establishment and management of financial and accounting operations for Translucent Solar’s startup solar module manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity to build the plant’s financial processes from the ground up, establish best practices, and develop the systems, controls, and reporting needed to support facility startup, production ramp-up, and long-term growth. 

Leading ERP implementation and ongoing business-system management is a primary responsibility of this position. The Plant Controller partners with IT, implementation providers, and department leaders to integrate accounting, purchasing, inventory, production, and costing processes. This includes defining business requirements, establishing data controls, coordinating testing and employee training, and driving successful system adoption and continuous improvement. 

Working closely with the Managing Director and Plant Manager, the Plant Controller provides financial oversight and practical business guidance to support operational readiness, cost control, working capital management, and profitability. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Lead ERP implementation. Serve as the plant’s business lead for ERP implementation, with direct ownership of finance and accounting requirements. Coordinate process mapping, system configuration requirements, data migration, testing, user training, and go-live readiness with internal teams and implementation partners. Ensure purchasing, inventory, production, costing, and financial transactions flow accurately through the system. 
• Manage ongoing ERP performance and improvements. Oversee ERP business processes, financial configurations, reporting, and data accuracy after implementation. Establish ownership and controls for master data, coordinate issue resolution, and prioritize system enhancements. Partner with IT on access controls, integrations, technical support, and change management. 
• Oversee Foreign Trade Zone operations. 
• Manage 45X tax credit documentation preparation, filing and sale to buyers. 
• Establish startup financial best practices. Build and document accounting policies, standard operating procedures, approval workflows, and financial reporting practices. Establish the chart of accounts, cost centers, close calendar, and transaction controls needed to support startup activities and scale with production. 
• Lead accounting and financial reporting. Manage month-end and year-end closing, journal entries, account reconciliations, and plant financial reporting. Ensure records are accurate, timely, and consistent with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and company policies. 
• Develop manufacturing cost accounting. Establish and maintain standard costs, labor and overhead allocations, and product costing processes. Partner with Engineering and Operations to validate bills of material, production routings, and costing assumptions. Analyze material usage, purchase price variances, labor efficiency, yield, scrap, and cost per watt. 
• Oversee inventory accounting and controls. Maintain accurate valuation of raw materials, work in process, and finished goods. Establish cycle count and physical inventory procedures, investigate discrepancies, reconcile ERP inventory records to the general ledger, and evaluate excess or obsolete materials. 
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and operational analysis. Develop startup budgets, operating forecasts, and capital spending plans. Explain financial variances and evaluate the financial impact of production volume, staffing, capacity utilization, equipment investments, and cost-reduction initiatives. 
• Establish internal controls and protect company assets. Implement appropriate approval authority, segregation of duties, reconciliations, and documentation requirements. Identify control gaps and strengthen processes such as staffing, transaction volumes, and operational complexity increase. 
• Monitor cash flow, working capital, and capital expenditures. Forecast plant cash requirements and coordinate purchasing commitments, payables, receivables, and inventory investment. Track equipment purchases, installation costs, capital project spending, fixed assets, depreciation, and disposals. 
• Support audits and compliance reporting. Prepare schedules and documentation for audits, tax filings, and applicable manufacturing incentives and trade programs. Coordinate with external advisers and responsible company personnel to maintain accurate supporting records. 
• Develop the accounting team and cross-functional accountability. Supervise and train assigned accounting personnel. Establish clear process ownership and deadlines, and train department users on ERP workflows, transaction accuracy, and financial controls.

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 
• At least five years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including direct experience in a manufacturing environment. 
• Demonstrated experience with manufacturing cost accounting, inventory valuation, financial close processes, budgeting, and internal controls. 
• Previous experience as a Plant Controller, Assistant Controller, Cost Accounting Manager, or comparable manufacturing finance leader. 
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and enterprise resource planning or accounting systems. 
• QuickBooks 
• ERP Implementation and Management 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation. 
• Experience in solar module manufacturing, renewable energy manufacturing, or another automated production environment. 
• Experience supporting a manufacturing startup, facility expansion, or production ramp-up. 
• Experience implementing financial systems and integrating accounting with purchasing, inventory, and production processes. 
• Familiarity with applicable manufacturing incentive documentation, import-related inventory costs, or Foreign-Trade Zone accounting and reporting. 

Knowledge  

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing accounting, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, financial reporting, and internal controls. 
• Thorough understanding of ERP implementation and ongoing management, including integrated purchasing, inventory, production, costing, and accounting processes. 
• Knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation, production variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and fixed asset accounting. 
• Understanding of startup financial requirements and how to establish scalable accounting procedures, reporting structures, and operational controls. 

Skills 

• ERP project leadership: Translating business requirements into system processes, coordinating implementation activities, validating migrated data, testing transactions, and supporting employee adoption. 
• Financial analysis: Using advanced Excel tools, financial models, and ERP reporting to identify trends, explain variances, and support business decisions. 
• Process development: Creating clear procedures, practical controls, standardized workflows, and reliable reporting practices. 
• Communication and leadership: Explaining financial and system requirements to non-financial employees, training users, managing priorities, and coordinating cross-functional work. 

Abilities:

• Build and improve financial operations in a startup environment where systems and procedures are still being developed. 
• Lead ERP implementation through go-live and stabilization while maintaining day-to-day accounting responsibilities. 
• Identify gaps between system design and actual plant operations, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate effective solutions. 
• Establish accountability for accurate data entry, timely transactions, and consistent use of approved processes. 
• Adapt to changing production plans, resolve competing priorities, and maintain accuracy under tight deadlines. 
• Exercise independent judgment, protect confidential information, and communicate financial concerns objectively. 

Translucent Solar LLC is an American solar module manufacturer located in Summerville, SC. The company produces high-performance photovoltaic modules for the Residential, Commercial & Industrial (C&I), community solar, and utility-scale markets, enabling customers to access reliable U.S.-made products, domestic content benefits, and a resilient supply chain. Through advanced manufacturing, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to quality, Translucent Solar is helping power America's clean energy future.

Company Description

Translucent Solar LLC is an American solar module manufacturer located in Summerville, SC. The company produces high-performance photovoltaic modules for the Residential, Commercial & Industrial (C&I), community solar, and utility-scale markets, enabling customers to access reliable U.S.-made products, domestic content benefits, and a resilient supply chain. Through advanced manufacturing, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to quality, Translucent Solar is helping power America's clean energy future.