Multi-Site Plant Controller

Job Title: Multi-Site Plant Controller

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Type: Direct Hire

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

Pay Range: $130k - $180k + bonus

Benefits: Yes. Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, 401(k), Paid holidays

Summary

Connect Search is hiring a Multi-Site Plant Controller in Milwaukee. The position offers a hybrid work from home schedule of 1 day per week and requires annual domestic travel to assigned plants.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly financial close process for assigned manufacturing plants, ensuring income statement accuracy, timely financial reporting, inventory integrity, and effective cost controls. Analyze monthly results against budget, forecast, and expectations, providing timely explanations and actionable insights.
• Develop and manage annual budgets and periodic financial forecasts for assigned plants, incorporating operational assumptions, volume projections, labor requirements, and cost drivers.
• Conduct comprehensive financial analysis to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Present financial results, key findings, and recommendations to senior management to support informed business decisions.
• Monitor and analyze key plant performance indicators, including yield, scrap, downtime, productivity, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), to identify performance trends, improve operational efficiency, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare and present plant financial and operational results during monthly Operating Reviews and Monthly Business Reviews, highlighting performance against expectations and recommending corrective actions when necessary.
• Develop financial models and business cases to support strategic initiatives, plant expansions, capital expenditures, cost-reduction programs, and resource planning. Ensure staffing, capacity, and other resources are appropriately aligned with projected production volumes and business demand.
• Ensure compliance with SOX requirements, operational internal controls, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements. Identify control gaps and implement appropriate corrective actions to strengthen financial and operational integrity.
• Partner closely with plant leadership, operations, procurement, commercial, and other cross-functional teams to provide financial insights that support profitable growth and cost efficiency. Support new business initiatives, validate commercial pricing updates, and quantify procurement and continuous improvement savings.
• Provide financial support and analysis for new programs, pricing initiatives, operational improvements, and strategic business decisions, ensuring financial assumptions and expected returns are accurate and well supported.
• Lead and develop finance team members by participating in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and professional development. Plan and assign work, establish priorities, manage departmental budgets, and foster a high-performing team environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance is required
• 10+ years of relatable experience - plant exposure is required
• Strong FP&A; Budgeting/Forecasting experience
• 2+ years of prior management/leadership experience is required
• Advanced knowledge of MS Excel and ERP experience required