Controller

Morgan Li

• $110K — $130K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
  • 8-15 years of progressive accounting and finance experience is essential.
  • Prior Plant Controller, Controller, or senior plant-finance leadership experience is strongly preferred.
  • Manufacturing or product-based business experience is required.
  • Deep understanding of cost accounting and inventory processes in a manufacturing environment is necessary.
  • Experience working with manufacturing ERP systems; Epicor familiarity is a plus.
  • Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel are critical.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement cost accounting processes including labor and overhead allocation.
  • Collaborate with operations on improving production costing and inventory accuracy.
  • Establish robust inventory management processes from receipt to shipment.
  • Lead the financial reporting process and ensure timely, accurate results.
  • Strengthen financial controls across various operational areas such as accounts payable and cash management.
  • Support management with budgeting and forecasting to enhance financial planning.
  • Provide in-depth profitability analysis for customer, product, and business units.

Benefits

  • Competitive rates and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits starting the month after hire.
  • 10 paid holidays and PTO based on years of service.
  • 401k Safe Harbor Plan and Health Savings Account available.
  • Company-paid life and short-term disability insurance.
  • Employee Assistance Program and discounts through Life Mart.
  • Access to an onsite gym and career growth opportunities.
Full Job Description
Job Title: Controller

Reports to: CFO

Position Status: Full-Time

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB:

the Controller will initially lead the company's cost accounting, inventory, and Epicor transformation. This hands-on plant finance leader will build reliable processes and reporting through customer and project profitability. As the foundation is established, the role will expand into broader Controller responsibilities, including financial reporting, controls, planning, and team leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manufacturing, Inventory, and Cost Accounting

  • Design and implement practical cost accounting processes, including cost pools, drivers, labor and overhead allocation, and project-level costing.
  • Work on the manufacturing floor and partner with operations to improve bills of materials, routings, work orders, labor reporting, and product costing.
  • Build disciplined cycle-counting and inventory processes from receiving through production and shipment.
  • Improve the accuracy and timeliness of inventory reporting and reduce the need for significant year-end adjustments.
  • Develop reporting from consolidated results through customer, product, project, and operational profitability.
  • Ensure proper accounting treatment for freight, duties, tariffs, and other landed costs associated with imported products.


ERP and Business Systems

  • Co-lead the finance workstream of the Epicor transformation with the CFO, IT Director, and operational leaders.
  • Improve system configuration, transaction flows, data integrity, and ERP utilization across purchasing, inventory, manufacturing, sales, and accounting.
  • Develop effective management reporting, dashboards, and consistent data standards.


Accounting and Financial Reporting

  • Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close and deliver timely, accurate financial reporting.
  • Oversee financial statements, the general ledger, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and reserves.
  • Maintain appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
  • Coordinate the annual audit and support tax and regulatory requirements with outside advisors.


Financial Controls and Process Improvement

  • Strengthen controls across accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit, collections, payroll, and cash management.
  • Improve process efficiency, automation, and financial data integrity within Epicor.
  • Build scalable financial processes that support continued growth.


Planning and Business Partnership

  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
  • Help management understand financial results, operating trends, KPIs, and key business drivers.
  • Develop customer, product, channel, and business-unit profitability analysis.
  • Provide analysis for pricing, capital investments, make-versus-buy decisions, and other operating initiatives.


Team Leadership

  • Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team.
  • Establish clear responsibilities, expectations, and accountability.
  • Recommend changes to the team's structure and capabilities as the business grows.


LANGUAGE SKILLS:

  • English required, Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus


EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or public accounting experience desirable.
  • Approximately 8-15 years of progressive accounting and finance experience; prior Plant Controller, Controller, or senior plant-finance leadership experience strongly preferred.
  • Manufacturing, distribution, or product-based business experience required.
  • Deep cost accounting and inventory experience, including responsibility for designing, implementing, or materially improving costing processes in a manufacturing environment, required.
  • Experience partnering directly with plant operations and translating manufacturing activity into reliable reporting.
  • Experience working with manufacturing ERP systems; Epicor experience is highly desirable but not required.
  • Strong analytical, Excel, management reporting, and process-improvement capabilities.


CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

  • CPA


PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

  • The successful Controller will be:
    • Hands-on, operational, and self-directed: Works in the details, understands the business, and advances initiatives with limited supervision.
    • Collaborative and visible: Builds effective relationships across operations, estimating, procurement, IT, and leadership.
    • Analytical and systems minded: Identifies performance drivers and improves ERP data and reporting.
    • Process driven and resilient: Establishes discipline, persists through imperfect systems, and develops an accountable accounting team.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

On-the-job time spent in the following physical activities will be:

Amount of Time

None

Under 1/3

1/3 - 2/3

Over 2/3

Stand

X

Walk

X

Sit

X

Use hands to finger, handle or feel

X

Reach with hands and arms

X

Climb or balance

X

Talk or hear

X

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

X

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This job requires exposure to the following environmental conditions:

Amount of Time

None

Under 1/3

1/3 - 2/3

Over 2/3

Wet or humid conditions (non-weather)

X

Work near moving mechanical parts

X

Work in high, precarious places

X

Fumes or airborne particles

X

Toxic or caustic chemicals

X

Outdoor weather conditions

X

Extreme cold (non-weather)

X

Extreme heat (non-weather)

X

Risk of electrical shock

X

Work with explosives

X

Loud noise (examples: metal can manufacture department) is typical for the work environment of this job.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

What We Offer:
• Competitive rates
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Medical, Dental and Vision benefits effective the 1st of the month following hire date
• 10 paid Holidays
• Paid PTO, based on years of service
• 401k Safe Harbor Plan
• Health Savings Account
• Company Paid Life insurance plan for $40K
• Company Paid Short Term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discount Program through Life Mart
• Onsite Gym
• Opportunities for career growth and professional development.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment.

*Join us in driving innovation and achieving excellence. Apply today to become a part of our success story!

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