Cost Controller / Plant Controller

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is North America's premier designer and manufacturer of special trackwork. With a 160‑year legacy, we lead the industry in shaping rail solutions. Operating across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, we prioritize our people, sustainability, and innovation. We are currently looking for a Plant Controller / Cost Controller to join our team in Decatur, IL. Purpose of Position Reporting directly to the Vice President of Controlling, the Plant Controller/Senior Cost Accountant will perform and lead a variety of financial management and reporting responsibilities at the vaRS Nortrak facility in Chicago Heights, IL, and work closely with the Plant Manager. Tasks & Responsibilities Safety Complies with all Nortrak safety policies and regulations. Financial Management and Reporting Complete month‑end procedures and prepare internal management reports. Analyze profitability by product, project, and customer. Lead monthly financial reviews with the CFO, VP Controlling, Plant Manager, and other departments. Support process improvement initiatives and assist with cost‑saving plans. Perform profitability and cost analyses for a variety of projects, investments, and products. Assist decision making at a plant level with regular and ad‑hoc analyses. Prepare internal budgets and monitor actual results against budget. Prepare quarterly revenue forecasts in collaboration with the production team. Work closely with Purchasing, HR, and Sales to optimize cost, pricing and overhead. Inventory and Costing Manage product costing in SAP and review standard costs monthly. Review and reconcile labor reports and analyze actuals vs production benchmarks. Monitor inventory costing, balance, and movement. Collaborate with Production Team in managing inventory counts and various operations. Identify, investigate, and resolve costing and labor variances with different groups. Other Monitor and enforce compliance with internal policies at the plant level. Monitor vendor invoices, provide classification, and address errors. Monitor and resolve sales order issues with Sales and Account Managers. Ad‑hoc reporting and financial management tasks as required. Support plant team with analytical and financial tasks. Ensures all costing is current, accurate and complete. Continuously verifies estimated costs against actuals. Manage deadlines and prioritize bids based on complexity, priority, and risks. Cost Maintains knowledge of state‑of‑practice. Identifies and recommends cost effective material, design, and process options. Liaise with sub‑trades for quotations and analyze quotes compared to historical data. Use financial and non‑financial data to make informed assumptions for costing. People Build and nurture healthy working relationships with a wide range of employees. Take interest and ownership of your responsibilities. Participate and engage in different initiatives as needed. Actively participate in production meetings to gain an understanding of products and manufacturing procedures. Perform peer‑review on other estimators’ work and provide feedback. Eager to improve and support other estimators. Maintain and collaborate a good working relationship with other functions and divisions. Environmental Adhere to Nortrak's Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies. Qualifications Education Undergraduate Degree in Accounting, Business or Finance or equivalent – CPA or CMA is an asset. Minimum of 3+ years of accounting experience, ideally in manufacturing – exposure to foundry is an asset. Experience Experience with financial planning and analysis. Understanding of cost accounting methodologies. Ability to analyze financial and non‑financial data and clearly articulate opportunities for improvement and/or risk areas. Advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills. Experience with ERP systems – ideally SAP. Strong analytical and interpersonal skills combined with sound professional judgement. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Physical Demands Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing and walking for your scheduled shift. Must remain stationary for extended periods and move throughout the building to access files. Must work effectively in a noisy environment. Ability to lift and move equipment or objects up to 20‑25 pounds occasionally. Visual requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjustment of focus. Occasional travel required, involving walking, standing, sitting, and driving for varying durations. Frequent use of hands and arms for dialing phones and using a computer mouse. Benefits A supportive, family oriented Nortrak Blue culture. Health and Safety is our #1 priority. Career development opportunities and competitive pay progression. Competitive medical, dental & vision benefits. Company paid life and disability insurance. Paid holidays and vacation. Salary and Compensation $70,000/year - $100,000/year Retirement plan with matching contributions. Tuition Assistance Program. Wellness Program. Employee Assistance Program. Employee Recognition Programs. If you think you have the necessary qualifications and drive to excel in our team, we invite you to apply now and join us at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak. voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is an Equal Opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, and any other federal, state, or locally protected classifications. #J-18808-Ljbffr voestalpine