Plant Controller- Salem OR

Job Description

Job Description

Scope of Job:  The Plant Controller stands at the intersection of finance and operations ensuring a smooth flow of information and oversight across both domains. This role involves monitoring the financial health of the facility operations, implementing budgetary controls, full ownership of plant financials including month end close, and providing strategic financial insights to support decision-making processes. By analysing operational costs, revenue streams, and financial reports, and operational KPIs and metrics, the Plant Controller aids in steering the company towards its financial goals while ensuring operational efficiencies. 

The Plant Controller will oversee a cost accountant, support plant-level operations with financial reporting and metric tracking, pricing initiatives, and cost determination. This role will ensure consistent and accurate tracking of production costs, drive efficiency initiatives, and provide insights to improve plant profitability. 

  Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Cost Accounting Oversight: Manage the plant cost accounting function, ensuring processes are efficient and effecting to accurately track production costs, variances, and operational efficiencies. Oversee product costing, standards revisions, gross margin analysis, inventory accounting, and reconciliations for manufacturing. 
• ERP Oversight:  Manage efficient and consistent use of the ERP system to provide alignment of data and transactions for effective use in managing the business. Develop and maintain cost accounting systems, policies, and procedures that align with the organization's financial goals.
• Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in operational processes and implement strategic solutions to enhance productivity and reduce costs. Continuously evaluate workflows for optimal performance and alignment with organizational goals. Analyse operational data and reports to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for process improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with procurement, production, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment of cost objectives and pricing strategies. Working together to ensure inventory levels meet customer needs while minimizing carrying costs and allocating resources optimally, minimizing waste and ensuring the availability of necessary items for uninterrupted operations. Create and maintain dashboards with weekly performance indicators to inform and influence management. Facilitate communication and collaboration across departments to ensure operational goals are met.
• Risk Management : Identify potential threats and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring smooth operation and financial stability. Forecasting, evaluating, and responding to risks in a way that minimizes impact while finding opportunities for improvement.
• Financial Forecasting : Precision in predicting future revenues, expenses, and resource needs to maintain the organization’s financial health and operational efficiency. Proactively manage budget allocations and mitigate financial risks through informed strategic planning and decision-making
• Pricing and Cost Determination: Support the price process, ensuring accurate and timely pricing aligned with business objectives and market conditions. Perform comparative price and margin analysis to successfully secure the business at the optimal margin.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare plant-level financial reports and analyse cost data to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Ensure plant leadership has complete visibility and understanding of performance and specific actions plans to drive results. Present financial information in a way that resonates with both technical and non-technical audiences to drive business action.
• Operational Support: Collaborate with plant manager and operations teams to develop strategies for cost control, process improvements, and efficiency gains. Be the business partner to think outside the four walls to what is possible for the operations in driving profitability. Lead special projects aimed at operational innovation, such as implementing new technology or systems to enhance productivity.
• Leadership and Team Development: Provide direction, mentorship, and development opportunities for the plant-based cost accounting team. Set clear goals and objectives and ensure they are engaged with each leadership and have a full understanding of the operations.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Support the development of plant budgets, forecasts, and operational performance metrics. Ensure year-over-year improvements set a new bar for standard performance.
• Collaborate with production and supporting departments to ensure the food safety and quality of our products. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting required.

Experience: 10 years of experience in manufacturing accounting and systems, with a focus on cost accounting and financial reporting. Experience managing a team within a multi-site food manufacturing environment. Experience with ERP systems, preferably Oracle.

Competencies : Cost Accounting, Standard Costing, Accounting Management, Accounting Software, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, GAAP Standards, Cost Control, General Ledger Accounting, Efficiency Tracking, Budgeting, Forecasting, Variance Analysis, Continuous Improvement, Process Improvement, Operational Efficiency, Leadership, Mentorship, Team Development, Strong Communication Skills, Analytical Skills, and Problem Solving.

Physical Requirements:  Requires prolonged sitting and continuous use of computer. May lift, carry, push, or pull objects up to 10 lbs.

Flexibility to travel as needed.