Controller

A growing manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations. This highly visible leadership position will serve as a critical business partner to executive leadership and plant operations, combining strong technical accounting expertise with a deep understanding of manufacturing finance, cost accounting, operational performance, and financial reporting. The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment, and will be equally comfortable working alongside plant leadership on day-to-day operational performance as they are partnering with the CFO and executive team on corporate reporting, planning, controls, and strategic decision-making. This individual will play a key role in translating plant-level activity into actionable financial insight, strengthening processes and controls, and supporting the organization’s continued growth. Key Responsibilities: Partner with plant managers and operations leadership to analyze, improve, and communicate financial performance. Oversee plant accounting activities, including inventory, standard costing, labor, overhead allocation, manufacturing variances, and cost of goods sold. Analyze production performance, margins, scrap, labor efficiency, material usage, capacity, and other key operational metrics. Provide financial guidance to support decisions involving production, pricing, procurement, inventory, capacity planning, and cost management. Establish, enhance, and maintain effective financial controls and processes at the plant level. Ensure timely, accurate plant financial reporting and meaningful performance analysis. Lead the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial reporting. Oversee core accounting functions, including the general ledger, account reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, inventory, and cash management. Prepare and review monthly financial statements, management reports, and financial analyses for leadership. Consolidate plant-level financial results into corporate reporting and provide clear explanations of financial performance. Partner with the CFO on annual budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and long-range planning. Deliver insightful variance analysis and communicate results, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership. Support accounting policies, internal controls, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives. Serve as a trusted financial partner to the CFO, CEO, plant leadership, and senior management team. Develop, monitor, and refine KPIs that connect operational activity with financial performance. Identify opportunities to improve profitability, working capital, cost structure, financial discipline, and overall business performance. Lead initiatives that improve the accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of the accounting and finance function. Qualifications: 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, ideally within a manufacturing or industrial environment. Proven ability to operate effectively in both plant-level/operational finance and corporate accounting environments. Strong knowledge of manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, inventory, standard costing, overhead, labor, variances, and operational finance. Active CPA required. SAP experience is required. Strong command of GAAP, financial statement preparation, consolidations, and financial reporting. Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, variance analysis, and performance reporting. Strong understanding of internal controls, accounting processes, and scalable finance operations. Experience partnering with plant managers, operations leaders, CFOs, and executive stakeholders. Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. Ability to balance detailed, hands-on accounting responsibilities with strategic business partnership. Experience supporting a multi-site or otherwise complex manufacturing environment is highly preferred. Ideal Profile This opportunity is well suited for a manufacturing finance leader who enjoys being close to operations while contributing to broader corporate strategy. The successful candidate will be a proactive, detail-oriented leader who can move seamlessly between the plant floor and the executive table - improving visibility, strengthening financial controls, enhancing decision-making, and helping position the organization for continued growth. #J-18808-Ljbffr