Controller - Head of Finance

Controller - reporting directly to the GM and CEO - on-site in El Monte - $160-180k The Controller will serve as a hands‑on financial leader and strategic partner to operations, responsible for overseeing all accounting functions while driving transformation of the cost accounting structure, manufacturing reporting, and ERP utilization. This role is ideal for a Controller who thrives in a complex, custom manufacturing environment and is excited to modernize financial processes, improve visibility into margins, and elevate decision‑making through better data. Key Responsibilities Financial Leadership & Core Accounting Oversee all accounting operations including GL, AP/AR, payroll, and month‑end close Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with GAAP Lead budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management Maintain internal controls and support audits and tax compliance Cost Accounting Redesign & Transformation (Critical Priority) Redesign and implement a robust cost accounting system aligned with a custom/job‑shop manufacturing environment Evaluate and improve Standard costing methodology Labor and overhead absorption rates Material costing and tracking (including alloys and scrap) Partner with operations to ensure costing reflects true production economics and shop floor realities Improve quote‑to‑actual cost tracking to enhance pricing accuracy and margin visibility Manufacturing Variance Analysis & Cleanup Lead a full diagnostic and cleanup of existing manufacturing variances (labor, material, overhead, purchase price, etc.) Establish clear variance definitions, ownership, and reporting cadence Implement processes to: Reduce “noise” in variance reporting Identify root causes (inefficiencies, inaccurate standards, process gaps) Drive accountability across production, procurement, and engineering Build actionable reporting that translates variances into operational insights and margin improvement opportunities ERP Optimization & Systems Improvement Assess current ERP system utilization and identify gaps in: Costing accuracy Inventory tracking (raw materials, WIP, finished goods) Production reporting Lead initiatives to optimize ERP functionality (potentially reconfiguring modules or workflows) Partner cross‑functionally to ensure data integrity and real‑time visibility into manufacturing performance Drive adoption of best practices and reporting tools to reduce manual workarounds and improve efficiency Operational Finance & Business Partnership Act as a key partner to operations, engineering, and leadership teams Provide insights on: Product line profitability Customer/job‑level margins Capacity and efficiency metrics Support pricing strategy with data‑driven cost and margin analysis Help leadership make informed investment decisions (equipment, processes, expansion) Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA preferred) 10–15+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including manufacturing environment Strong expertise in cost accounting (standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting) Experience in ERP systems (implementation, optimization, or transformation preferred) Demonstrated success improving processes, systems, and financial visibility Hands‑on, detail‑oriented, and comfortable operating in a mid‑sized, owner‑operated company Preferred Experience Background in custom, job‑shop, or engineer‑to‑order manufacturing Experience with aerospace/defense or regulated industries Proven ability to lead cost accounting redesign or ERP improvement initiatives Key Success Metrics (First 12–18 Months) Successful redesign and stabilization of cost accounting system Reduction and clarification of manufacturing variances Improved margin visibility and reporting accuracy Enhanced ERP utilization and data integrity Stronger alignment between finance and operations Why This Role Opportunity to build and modernize the finance function in a respected, long‑standing company High visibility and impact across the organization Ability to directly influence profitability, pricing, and operational performance Collaborative, hands‑on culture with leadership access #J-18808-Ljbffr