Plant Controller

Plant Controller $135,000–$155,000 + 10–15% Bonus Onsite | Wheeling, IL (some flexibility available) Our client, a leading private label and contract food manufacturer, is seeking a Plant Controller to support one of its manufacturing facilities. This is a highly visible role reporting to the Director of Manufacturing Finance and serving as a strategic financial partner to plant leadership. Our client has built a strong reputation in frozen pizza, salad dressing, and BBQ sauce manufacturing. The company offers a collaborative culture, strong operational leadership, and long‑term growth potential within a stable and expanding organization. Why Join as the Plant Controller? High‑impact role with ownership of plant financial performance Opportunity to make the role your own in a collaborative environment Strong company culture with a team‑oriented atmosphere Clear long‑term growth and succession opportunities Stable organization with strong benefits Key Responsibilities for the Plant Controller Lead all plant financial activities, including budgeting, forecasting, and month‑end close Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances, providing actionable recommendations to improve plant performance Generate and maintain plant manufacturing budgets related to labor, material yields, operating outputs, and departmental spending Review weekly and period‑end operational performance reports with plant leadership Partner with operations teams to identify cost reduction opportunities across materials, labor, inventory, and overhead expenses Verify inventory valuation accuracy and monitor inventory adjustments Maintain internal controls over factory assets, including raw materials, supplies, equipment, and capital assets Support and guide ERP system usage and maintenance (JustFood experience is a plus) Assist with monthly operating presentations to senior leadership Ensure compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and manufacturing finance procedures Qualifications for the Plant Controller 7+ years of accounting and finance experience with at least 2 years of true Plant Controller experience Strong background in food manufacturing or CPG manufacturing environments Hands‑on experience with inventory management, costing and manufacturing variance analysis Proven experience owning plant budgets, forecasts, and month‑end close processes Strong analytical and Excel skills with the ability to work comfortably in large data sets ERP system experience required; JustFood experience preferred but not required Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance preferred Strong communication skills and ability to work cross‑functionally with operations leadership Experience in manufacturing environments with GMP standards preferred #J-18808-Ljbffr