Plant Controller / Cost Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Join Our Team at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak!

Embark on a rewarding career journey with voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak, North America's premier designer and manufacturer of special trackwork. With a legacy spanning 160 years, we lead the industry in shaping the future of rail solutions. As part of the voestalpine Railway Systems global network, we are committed to delivering quality products and services, including rails, turnouts, fastening systems, signaling technologies, and monitoring solutions. Operating with a presence across Canada, the US, and Mexico, we prioritize the well-being of our people, global mobility, and sustainability and innovation.

Our people are the foundation of our success. Skilled, motivated, and results-driven individuals shape our culture demonstrating our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Curiosity, Courage, Passion, and Diversity each day. This commitment is more than shared values; it extends to shared responsibilities for safety and quality, showing genuine care for one another's growth and development, a commitment to our customers, and fostering strong relationships within the Nortrak Team and with our customers.

We are currently looking for a Plant Controller / Senior Cost Controller to join our team in Chicago Heights, IL. 

PURPOSE OF POSITION 

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Controlling, the Plant Controller/ Cost Controller for vaRS Nortrak’s facility located in Chicago Heights, IL, is responsible to perform and lead a variety of financial management and reporting responsibilities. You will work directly with the Plant Manager and report to the company’s VP, Controlling.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Safety: 

•   Complies with all Nortrak safety policies and regulations.

Financial Management and Reporting:

• Complete month-end procedures and prepare internal management reports.
• Analyze profitability by product, project, and customer.
• Lead monthly financial reviews with the CFO, VP Controlling, Plant Manager, and other departments.
• Support process improvement initiatives and assist with cost saving plans.
• Perform profitability and cost analyses for a variety of projects, investments and products.
• Assist decision making at a plant level with regular and ad-hoc analyses.
• Prepare internal budgets and monitor actual results against budget.
• Prepare quarterly revenue forecasts in collaboration with the production team.
• Work closely with Purchasing, HR and Sales to optimize cost, pricing and overhead.

Inventory and costing:

• Manage product costing in SAP and review standard costs on a monthly basis.
• Review and reconcile labor reports and analyze actuals vs production benchmarks.
• Monitor inventory costing, balance and movement.
• Collaborate with Production Team in managing inventory counts and various operations.
• Identify, investigate and resolve costing and labor variances with different groups.

Other:

• Monitor vendor invoices, provide classification and address errors.
• Monitor and resolve sales order issues with Sales and Account Managers.
• Ad-hoc reporting and financial management tasks as required.
• Support plant team with analytical and financial tasks. 
• Ensures all costing is current, accurate and complete. Continuously verifies estimated costs against actuals. 
• Manage deadlines and prioritize bids based on complexity, priority and risks.
• Monitor and enforce compliance with internal policies at the plant level.

Cost: 

• Maintains knowledge of state-of-practice. Identifies and recommends cost effective material, design and process options.
• Liaise with sub-trades for quotations and analyze quotes compared to historical data.
• Use financial and non-financial data to make informed assumptions for costing.

People:  

• Build and nurture healthy working relationships with a wide range of employees.
• Take interest and ownership of your responsibilities.
• Participate and engage in different initiatives as needed.
• Actively participate in production meetings to gain an understanding of products and manufacturing procedures.
• Maintain and collaborate a good working relationship with other functions and divisions; in particular Sales
• Perform peer-review on other estimators’ work and provide feedback.
• Eager to improve and support other estimators.
• Maintain and collaborate a good working relationship with other functions and divisions; in particular Sales.
• Perform peer-review on other estimators’ work and provide feedback.
• Eager to improve and support other estimators. 

ENVIRONMENTAL: 

• Adhere to Nortrak's Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies.

QUALITIFCATIONS:

Education:

• Undergraduate Degree in Accounting, Business or Finance or equivalent – CPA or CMA would be an asset but not required.
• Minimum of 3+ years of accounting experience, ideally in manufacturing.

Experience:  

• Experience with financial planning and analysis
• Understanding of cost accounting methodologies
• Ability to analyze financial and non-financial data and be able to clearly articulate opportunities for improvement and/or risk areas
• Advanced Excel, Word and Power Point skills
• Experience with ERP systems – ideally SAP
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills combined with sound professional judgement
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS WHEN AT MANUFACTURING FACILITIES:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing and walking for your scheduled shift.
• Must remain stationary for extended periods and move throughout the building to access files.
• Must work effectively in a noisy environment.
• Ability to lift and move equipment or objects up to 20-25 pounds occasionally.
• Visual requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional travel required, involving walking, standing, sitting, and driving for varying durations.
• Frequent use of hands and arms for dialing phones and using a computer mouse.

Benefits:

• A supportive, family oriented Nortrak Blue culture
• We provide an environment where Health and Safety is our #1 priority
• Career development opportunities and competitive pay progression
• Competitive medical, dental & vision benefits
• Company paid life and disability insurance 
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Retirement plan with matching contributions
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs

WORKING LOCATION:

• Chicago Heights, IL

salary:

• $70,000/year - $100,000/year

If you think you have the necessary qualifications and drive to excel in our team, we invite you to apply now and join us at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak. Apply today!

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak (“Nortrak”) is a subsidiary of voestalpine AG ( one of Europe’s premier steel producers with over 50,000 employees worldwide. Nortrak is closely affiliated with voestalpine’s Railway Systems group which operates in 21 countries across the globe to provide cutting edge system-based solutions to railroads and transits. Our website is 

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, and any other federal, state, or locally protected classifications.