Controller - Manufacturing Cost & Accounting

Location: Aurora, Illinois, USA

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Controller – Manufacturing Cost & Accounting to oversee manufacturing cost accounting, inventory, financial reporting, internal controls, and financial management for our U.S. manufacturing operations.

This role has a strong focus on manufacturing cost accounting, inventory, and operational finance , while also overseeing financial close, budgeting and forecasting, audit support, ERP implementation, reconciliations, and finance team management.

The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Procurement, Warehouse, Operations, Sales, U.S. Finance, and Group Finance to ensure accurate financial reporting, effective cost management, strong internal controls, and compliance with applicable accounting requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manufacturing Cost Accounting & Cost Management

• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting, including materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and production costs.
• Establish and maintain appropriate standard and actual costing methodologies.
• Maintain product, batch, routing, and manufacturing cost records.
• Analyze cost drivers and trends and identify opportunities to improve production efficiency and profitability.
• Work closely with Production and Operations to ensure manufacturing activities are accurately reflected in financial records.

2. Cost & Variance Analysis

• Analyze unit, batch, product, and departmental costs.
• Perform material, labor, and manufacturing overhead variance analysis.
• Investigate significant variances and work with Production, Procurement, and Operations on corrective actions.
• Monitor gross margin and manufacturing profitability by product/product family.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and operational improvement.

3. Financial Close, Reporting & Planning

• Own manufacturing cost and inventory activities during monthly and annual close.
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Ensure accurate recording of inventory, WIP, finished goods, COGS, and manufacturing costs.
• Prepare monthly financial and management reports and analyze actual results against prior periods, budget, and forecast.
• Lead or support annual budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and working capital planning.

4. Inventory & WIP Management

• Oversee accounting and reconciliation of raw materials, WIP, finished goods, and other inventory.
• Reconcile physical inventory, ERP/operational systems, and accounting records.
• Work with Production, Procurement, and Warehouse to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle counts.
• Monitor inventory turnover and identify excess, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory.
• Support inventory reserves, write-downs, and related controls.

5. Internal Controls & Compliance

• Establish and improve accounting and cost accounting policies and procedures.
• Strengthen controls over inventory, purchasing, production, AP, AR, fixed assets, and financial reporting.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and approval controls.
• Identify control deficiencies and drive corrective actions.
• Serve as a key finance contact for external auditors and tax advisors.
• Prepare audit schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and management responses.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company policies.

6. ERP & New Financial System Implementation

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial, cost, inventory, and operational data.
• Support ERP enhancements, new financial system implementation, data migration, testing, process design, user training, and go-live activities.
• Work with Finance, Operations, IT, and system vendors to ensure successful implementation and adoption.
• Improve accounting, costing, inventory, and reporting processes through system capabilities.

7. Customer, Supplier & Related-Party Reconciliations

• Manage regular account reconciliations with customers and suppliers.
• Coordinate with AP, AR, Procurement, Sales, and Operations to investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Perform regular intercompany and related-party reconciliations.
• Coordinate with related parties and Group Finance to ensure timely resolution and settlement of balances.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for customer, supplier, intercompany, and related-party reconciliations.

8. Finance Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the U.S. finance and accounting team.
• Assign responsibilities and priorities and ensure timely completion of accounting and reporting activities.
• Review team work for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Provide coaching, training, and performance feedback.
• Establish clear processes, accountability, and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Support recruitment and development of finance team members.

9. Cross-Border & Corporate Finance

• Work closely with Group Finance and international teams on accounting policies, reporting, and financial processes.
• Coordinate intercompany accounting and related-party activities.
• Provide financial analysis and information required by Corporate Finance and management.
• Support corporate finance, audit, IPO, and other strategic initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience , including at least 5 years in a senior finance leadership or management role .
• 3–5+ years of direct manufacturing cost accounting experience .
• Strong manufacturing costing and inventory accounting experience required.
• Previous experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, Finance Manager, or similar role highly preferred.
• Experience managing and developing a finance/accounting team.
• Strong month-end/year-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit, and tax experience.
• Experience with customer, supplier, intercompany, and related-party reconciliations.
• Experience supporting ERP/financial system implementation or migration.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and production operations, including production processes, production planning, inventory, manufacturing costs, and operational performance.
• Medical device, industrial, or regulated manufacturing experience highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, and inventory accounting .
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• QuickBooks and/or AS400 experience preferred.
• ERP/manufacturing systems experience preferred.
• SQL or Python experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical, financial modeling, and data analysis skills.

Language & Communication

• Fluent English, written and spoken, is required.
• Mandarin Chinese is a plus, but not required.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with U.S. management, Finance, Production, Operations, Corporate Finance, and international teams.

Core Competencies

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production processes, cost structures, and inventory management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• High ownership, accountability, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to identify financial risks, operational inefficiencies, and control weaknesses and drive corrective actions.

Work Location

• Must be located within a reasonable commuting distance of Aurora, Illinois.
• Regular presence at the Aurora facility is expected.