Aerospace Manufacturing Plant Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Join us as the Plant Controller guiding a complex manufacturing site through precise financial stewardship and strategic insight. Reporting to the General Manager and/or Director of Finance, you will lead the controllership function—including financial reporting, cost and inventory accounting, fixed assets, payroll oversight, internal controls, tax, treasury, and analytics—while partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, HR, and executive leaders to enable profitable growth.

Why This Role Matters

• Elevate financial transparency and integrity through disciplined close, reporting, and analysis.
• Shape operational decisions with robust budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
• Unlock margin expansion via cost accuracy, variance analysis, and targeted savings initiatives.
• Safeguard assets with strong internal controls, policy governance, and audit readiness.
• Strengthen liquidity and cash conversion through proactive treasury and working capital management.

What You Will Deliver Leadership

• Set clear performance goals, mentor and develop the Finance and Accounting team.
• Model accountability, collaboration, and a continuous improvement ethos.
• Act as a key business partner to plant and executive leadership.

Close and Reporting Excellence

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities.
• Prepare accurate, timely GAAP/IFRS-compliant financial statements.
• Provide variance, trend, and risk/opportunity analysis; brief senior leadership with recommendations.
• Produce management reporting that highlights current performance and forward-looking expectations.

Planning and Forecasting

• Lead the annual budget process and coordinate departmental submissions.
• Challenge inputs and assumptions; back decisions with data-driven analysis.
• Build rolling forecasts and long-term financial plans.
• Monitor actuals vs. plan and lead corrective actions when needed.

Manufacturing Finance

• Advance cost accounting systems and methods.
• Maintain accurate standards, inventory valuation, labor absorption, and variance accounting.
• Evaluate production costs, material usage, labor productivity, and overheads.
• Partner with Operations to identify savings and profitability improvements.
• Assess ROI for continuous improvement and capital initiatives.

Inventory and Capital Assets

• Direct annual physical inventory and ensure valuation accuracy.
• Resolve count discrepancies and accounting variances promptly.
• Manage PP&E accounting, capital tracking, and capital budgets.
• Review capital proposals and provide rigorous financial analysis.
• Oversee additions, disposals, depreciation, and impairment assessments.

Controls, Compliance, and Reconciliations

• Maintain a comprehensive internal control environment and documented policies.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP/IFRS, corporate standards, and regulations.
• Coordinate internal/external audits and remediate findings on schedule.
• Ensure proper classification, valuation, and existence of all balance sheet accounts.
• Supervise monthly account reconciliations and resolve unreconciled items.
• Meet all period-end close and reporting requirements.

Regulatory and Corporate Reporting

• Prepare required financial, tax, and regulatory filings; ensure sales and use tax compliance.
• Support environmental reporting and other compliance-related financial attestations.
• Compile corporate financial reporting packages and analyses.
• Serve as the primary contact for audits and regulatory reviews.

Treasury and Working Capital

• Oversee cash flow, liquidity, and working capital metrics.
• Manage banking relationships and cash operations.
• Support credit, collections, and accounts receivable performance.
• Recommend improvements to enhance cash generation and financial outcomes.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (required).
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or similar credential (preferred).

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience with people-leadership responsibilities.
• Manufacturing experience (required); aerospace manufacturing (strongly preferred).
• Expertise in cost and inventory accounting and standard costing systems.
• Experience with ERP systems and integrated financial reporting.
• Demonstrated success partnering with plant operations leadership.

Technical Knowledge

• GAAP and/or IFRS
• Cost accounting and standard costing
• Inventory valuation and controls
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial statement preparation and analysis
• Internal controls and audit practices
• Fixed asset accounting
• Capital expenditure management
• Cash management and treasury functions
• Payroll accounting
• Tax reporting requirements
• ERP systems and financial reporting tools

Core Competencies

• Leadership: talent development, performance management, accountability.
• Influence and collaboration across all levels.
• Integrity and continuous improvement orientation.
• Communication: crisp writing, compelling presentations, and clear storytelling with data.
• Analytical and decision-making strength.
• Organization: detail focus, multitasking, and project leadership.

Working Environment and Compliance

• Keep a safe, organized, and professional workspace.
• Follow company policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety protocols.
• Champion continuous improvement across the plant.
• Adhere to all regulatory, ethics, and compliance requirements.

ITAR / Export Compliance Requirement

Employment with the company is subject to compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Access to controlled technology and facilities may be limited to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or individuals otherwise authorized under applicable U.S. export control regulations. Successful candidates must be eligible to satisfy all export compliance and screening requirements as a condition of employment.

What Success Looks Like

A pragmatic, hands-on controller who blends technical depth with operational savvy: you refine processes, tighten controls, deliver clear insights, and help the site achieve its financial and growth objectives.