Finance Manager - Controller

FINANCE MANAGER / CONTROLLER - PLANT OPERATIONS Help build the financial foundation for a growing manufacturing company. Our client is a privately held, growing manufacturer serving high profile, demanding customers in government and other specialized markets. With approximately $20 million annual revenue, the company is entering an exciting period of growth with ambitious plans for the future, including expansion. We are seeking a Finance Manager / Controller who wants more than a traditional accounting role. This is an opportunity to become a trusted financial partner to the CEO and ownership group - helping leadership understand the business, evaluate opportunities, make sound financial decisions and build the infrastructure needed to support growth. THE OPPORTUNITY This is a role for someone who enjoys both the details and the big picture. We are looking for a hands-on manufacturing finance professional to become a trusted financial partner to the CEO and ownership group. The role combines strong accounting and cost accounting fundamentals with forward-looking financial analysis, forecasting and strategic decision-making. A key focus will be helping leadership evaluate growth opportunities and capital investments - understanding the costs, projected returns, risks and long-term impact on the business. This is not a heads-down accounting role. It is an opportunity to help shape decisions, make recommendations and play an active role in building a growing company. As the company grows, so will the scope and responsibility of this position, making it an excellent opportunity for someone who wants a long-term career path toward senior finance leadership. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Financial Leadership Oversee accounting and financial reporting, including general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, inventory and cost accounting. Lead timely and accurate month-end close and financial reporting. Prepare financial statements, management reports and meaningful KPIs. Strengthen financial controls, processes and reporting as the company grows. Work closely with the existing accounting team and help build a scalable finance function. Financial Planning & Business Partnership Partner with the CEO and ownership group on financial and strategic decisions. Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling. Analyze results against budget, forecast and prior periods and identify key business drivers. Develop reporting that helps leadership make better operational decisions. Bring forward issues, opportunities and recommendations - not simply the numbers. Manufacturing Finance & Cost Accounting Apply strong cost accounting and manufacturing finance expertise to the business. Analyze labor, material, overhead, productivity, utilization, scrap and inventory. Evaluate profitability by customer, product, program and manufacturing activity. Partner with operations to identify cost and productivity improvement opportunities. Support pricing, quoting and customer agreement analysis. Capital Investment & Growth Develop financial models and ROI analyses for equipment, capacity expansion and other capital investments. Evaluate projected returns, payback, risks and financial assumptions. Track investment performance against the original business case. Support strategic planning, acquisitions, due diligence and integration. Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve the scalability of the finance function. WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR We are looking for a bright, engaged and commercially minded manufacturing finance professional who wants to make an impact. The ideal candidate will have approximately 8-10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including meaningful manufacturing experience. Specific industry background is less important than strong manufacturing finance and cost accounting expertise. You should bring: Strong manufacturing finance and cost accounting experience. Experience with budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling. The ability to evaluate capital investments and articulate ROI, payback and financial risk. Strong Excel and analytical skills. Experience working with an ERP system and financial reporting tools. The ability to connect financial results to operational performance. Confidence to make decisions, form recommendations and communicate them clearly. A hands-on approach and willingness to get into the details. The curiosity and business judgment to step back and see the bigger picture. A CPA or CMA is welcome but not required. We are looking for capability, judgment and business acumen first. ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS This opportunity is particularly well suited to someone ready for more responsibility and a bigger seat at the table. You may be a strong Cost Accounting Manager, Plant Controller, Finance Manager, Assistant Controller or similar professional who has built a solid technical foundation and is ready to influence the business more directly. You are comfortable being hands-on, but you're also interested in why the numbers look the way they do, what they mean for the business and what leadership should do about them. You are proactive, responsive and willing to make a recommendation. When leadership asks for an analysis, you figure out what is needed, build the analysis and come back with a thoughtful answer. Most importantly, you want to grow with the company. WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY This is an opportunity to join a company at an important point in its growth. You'll work directly with the CEO and ownership group, have meaningful visibility into the business and influence decisions that will shape the company’s future. The culture is down-to-earth, direct and entrepreneurial - a hands-on manufacturing environment where people work together and focus on getting things done. As the company grows, so will the scope of this position. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop into an increasingly senior finance leadership role as the organization expands. For the right long-term leader, there may also be an opportunity to participate in the company’s future success through equity participation. This is an opportunity to help build the business - not simply manage the numbers. The starting salary range is likely in the 125K-150K range commensurate with experience and an incentive/bonus structure. We offer a full benefit package. Thank you for your interest in our growing company. We look forward to talking with qualified candidates soon. Pay: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Experience: manufacturing finance/accounting: 5 years (Preferred) cost accounting in a manufacturing environment: 5 years (Preferred) budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling: 3 years (Preferred) evaluating capital investments including ROI, payback: 3 years (Preferred) partnering with senior leadership on financial decisions: 3 years (Preferred) Work Location: In person #J-18808-Ljbffr