Controller

SUMMARY:

Leads enterprise operational finance for Paradise Tomato Kitchens. Serves as an enterprise owner of internal controls, cost containment, standard costing, budgeting/forecasting, strategy deployment including capital projects, and operational performance metrics. Acts as a strategic member of the Cross-Functional Team (CFT), shaping business decisions through financial leadership, judgment, and influence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a strategic financial partner to manufacturing and operations leadership, co-owning outcomes related to cost, margin, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Lead enterprise operational finance across all manufacturing sites, ensuring consistency, discipline, and standardization in cost structure, financial modeling, and performance measurement.
• Own operational KPIs and business performance metrics for manufacturing operations, including defining, standardizing, interpreting, and ensuring consistent use to drive enterprise financial performance.
• Lead financial discussions and partner with the CFT to shape operational decisions around labor, capacity, capital deployment, cost structure, and process improvement priorities.
• Implement and maintain internal controls over plant financial processes including supply chain activities and outside warehouse inventory controls.
• Own enterprise standard cost methodology and governance, including development, maintenance, and ongoing refinement of standard costs to reflect operational reality.
• Partner closely with Cost Accounting / Pricing leadership to ensure alignment, while retaining accountability for standard cost integrity and consistent application across the business.
• Assess labor and overhead rates and lead enterprise-wide allocation methodologies to accurately reflect product and operational costs.
• Partner with Operations to interpret material usage variances, labor efficiency, inventory adjustments, and absorption results, driving corrective actions and sustained improvement.
• Prepares and reviews monthly financial and operational reports and partner with appropriate leadership, translating results into actionable insights and recommendations for corrective actions. Provides financial support to Operations, in the form of collaborating, reporting, planning, analyzing and tracking actual expenditures and production variances.
• Oversee the preparation of the annual operating budget and quarterly forecast process in coordination with the Finance Director.
• Analyze material usage variances, labor efficiency, inventory adjustments and labor and overhead absorption.
• Partner with Capital & Project Manager and Engineering to develop and evaluate capital plans; review and approve CERs, including cost-benefit analysis to support sound investment decisions.
• Ensures timely and accurate physical inventory counts, in partnership with production, finance and supply chain. Leads enterprise accountability and disciplined review and proper valuation adjustments for slow moving and obsolete inventory. Evaluate effectiveness of processes and lead change management and continuous improvement efforts in partnership with operations, identifying and resolving issues as needed.
• Provide enterprise financial leadership and partnership to the Strategic Development & Deployment process. Assist in establishing plans to achieve the strategic priorities of the operation. This includes working collaboratively with the team to develop an annual update of each site's short- and long-term strategy.
• Actively learns and understands the business by spending time on the manufacturing floor and within operations. Builds firsthand knowledge of production processes, labor drivers, constraints, and day-to-day realities to ensure financial insights are grounded in how the business actually runs-not just in reports.
• Ensure cost control and effective budget management by partnering with operational leaders and area business owners to drive corrective actions.
• Co-Lead cost savings and operational efficiency initiatives with manufacturing leadership and other cross functional partners, quantifying financial impact and tracking realized benefits.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration plus 10 years progressive accounting or finance experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated enterprise-level business and financial leadership experience.
• Proven ability to influence, partner, and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Demonstrated capability to frame decisions, evaluate trade-offs, and drive outcomes-not just analyze.
• Excellent business planning and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft office. Comfortable with complex data sources and the understands the importance of data integrity.
• Proficiency with ERP software including the modules such as product costing, material ledger, materials management, inventory management, production planning, and integrated manufacturing.
• Demonstrated proficiency in applying GAAP principles
• Demonstrated ability to manage and complete workload with established deadlines and close attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to build productive relationships and partnerships and influence others.
• Ability to lead change and drive for continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated interest in advancing enterprise capabilities across people, process, and systems.

Preferred Requirements

• CPA, MBA and /or CMA Certificate.
• Experience in food & beverage manufacturing environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms, stand; walk; and occasionally stoop. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.