Division Controller

And what will you do?

Summary:

The Division Controller serves as the primary financial leader for an assigned business division, responsible for ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and performance through accurate reporting, forecasting, and strategic analysis. This position partners closely with division leadership to drive profitability, optimize resource utilization, and align financial results with corporate objectives.

Core Functions:

• Oversee all division accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, inventory, and cost accounting, ensuring compliance with GAAP and company policies.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and analysis for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Lead the division's budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis processes; provide actionable insights to improve financial performance.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to analyze cost drivers, pricing, and production metrics that impact profitability.
• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance with audit requirements, corporate policies, and regulatory standards.
• Manage financial aspects of capital projects, business cases, and investment analyses to support division growth and efficiency initiatives.
• Partner with HR and operations to oversee workforce planning, compensation budgeting, and incentive program tracking within financial parameters.
• Coach and develop accounting and finance team members to ensure accuracy, accountability, and professional growth.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the division and corporate finance, ensuring alignment on reporting, policy, and strategic priorities.
• Performs other duties and activities related to the department as necessary to support overall operations and responsibilities, even if not specifically listed above.

Key Measures of Success:

• Demonstrates initiative and financial leadership by proactively identifying risks and opportunities that impact divisional profitability, ensuring timely communication and resolution.
• Consistently deliver accurate and timely financial statements, forecasts, and variance analyses within established reporting deadlines, even in high-volume or fast-changing business conditions.
• Effectively prioritizes multiple deliverables-monthly close, audits, and strategic projects-delegating tasks appropriately to ensure all objectives are met without compromising quality or compliance.
• Produces clear, data-driven financial reports and presentations that translate complex results into actionable insights for leadership and stakeholders.
• Detects and resolves discrepancies, control weaknesses, or inefficiencies through systematic analysis and corrective action, maintaining full compliance with GAAP and internal controls.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with operations, HR, and corporate finance teams to achieve division goals while maintaining independence and accountability in decision-making.
• Consistently exhibits and displays the company's values of "Own It. Can Do. Act in Love."
  • Own It - Commitment to customers, company, and each other.
  • Can Do - Team Player, Open to Change, & Pursuing continuous improvement.
  • Act in Love - Treating others with humility, respectfulness, kindness, honesty, patience, and self-control.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position includes supervisory responsibilities. The employee is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and guidance to assigned staff to ensure departmental goals and objectives are achieved. Responsibilities include hiring, training, coaching, evaluating performance, approving time off, and administering disciplinary action in alignment with company policies and procedures. The supervisor is expected to foster a positive, collaborative work environment that supports employee development and upholds company values.

Education & Experience:

Minimum Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including 3+ years in a Controller or senior financial management role.
• Demonstrated success managing accounting operations and partnering with operational leaders in a manufacturing or multi-division environment.

Preferred:

• CPA or CMA certification.
• Experience with multi-entity or multi-division consolidations.
• Advanced proficiency in Power BI or other financial data visualization tools.
• Experience with process improvement or ERP system implementation (e.g., NetSuite, Oracle, SAP).

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

Work is primarily performed in an office environment. This role will routinely utilize standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and printers, to perform the core functions listed in this job description. The work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive reading, data entry, and verbal/electronic communication. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies up to 25 pounds.

This role involves minimal exposure to noise or temperature variations.

Key Physical Requirements:

Regular activities: sitting, standing, typing, reading

Occasional activities: lifting office supplies up to 25 lbs., performing tasks requiring fine motor skills (e.g., reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, kneeling, crouching, twisting, bending)

Environmental notes: minimal exposure to noise or temperature variations

Reasonable accommodation is available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Travel

This position may require up to 5% travel, depending on business needs. Travel may include visits to company locations, client sites, training, or industry events. The amount of travel is subject to change and should not be considered a fixed or ongoing expectation.

At Central States, we are an ESOP. That means each one of our employees is an owner of the company and receives an allocation of stock every year. This allows all our employees to share in the wealth and success of the company. We also offer:

• 401K - We match up to 4%
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Holiday pay
• Vacation pay
• Mental health resources
• Healthcare coordinators
• Life insurance
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Account
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Profit-Sharing bonus
• Performance based merit increases
• Education assistance available - Up to $5,250 each year