Position Summary

The Plant Controller is responsible for the financial integrity and performance of the manufacturing facility, overseeing accounting, financial reporting, inventory, cost accounting, internal controls, and compliance. The Controller leads the plant accounting team and serves as the primary financial partner to plant leadership and Corporate Finance, providing analysis and insight to support business performance and decision-making.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Plant Controller is a business leader and strategic financial partner to the General Manager and plant leadership team. This individual understands the financial and operational drivers of the business, uses financial information to identify risks and opportunities, and helps the plant make decisions that improve profitability, cash flow, productivity, and long-term performance.

Success in this role means more than producing accurate financial statements. The Controller understands the story behind the numbers, challenges the business when appropriate, anticipates risk, and translates financial information into actionable recommendations. The Controller leads the accounting team, develops talent, embraces automation and technology, and serves as an Inovar champion while thinking and acting with an entrepreneurial and strategic mindset. A highly successful plant controller will be over multiple locations and team members.

Primary Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Business Partnership

• Think like an entrepreneur and strategically evaluate financial and operational decisions.
• Challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, and communicate financial risks clearly.
• Prepare and lead business reviews, including financial results, trends, risks, opportunities, and action items.
• Serve as an Inovar Inc champion by supporting company initiatives, standardization, and a strong enterprise mindset.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Analyze financial results, trends, and variances; communicate key drivers, risks, and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations.
• Use financial statements, Tableau, and other business intelligence tools to identify trends in revenue, margins, costs, labor, productivity, and profitability.
• Prepare and maintain Prophix notes that provide meaningful explanations of financial results and variances.

Forecasting, Planning & Strategic Analysis

• Support annual budgeting and financial planning.
• Use financial and operational data to support strategic planning and long-term business decisions.
• Prepare weekly forecasts to support plant leadership reporting and decision-making.

Cost Accounting, Job Costing & Contribution Margin

• Oversee annual cost studies and ensure standard costs are reviewed and updated appropriately.
• Oversee job costing and contribution margin analysis.
• Analyze production costs, material usage, labor, overhead, and manufacturing variances.
• Review production exception reports and identify financial or operational issues requiring attention.
• Partner with Operations to analyze production costs, labor efficiency, productivity, and manufacturing performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability.

Inventory Management & Reserves

• Oversee inventory management and analysis, including WIP and Finished Goods.
• Monitor inventory valuation and ensure inventory accounting is accurate and properly supported.
• Analyze inventory aging, obsolescence, excess inventory, and other inventory risks and maintain inventory reserves at appropriate levels based on corporate policies.
• Oversee physical inventory and cycle count processes and ensure discrepancies are investigated and resolved.

Accounts Receivable & Credit Management

• Review and approve AR credits within established authority.
• Ensure appropriate reason codes are used for AR credits and monitor credit activity for trends or issues.
• Monitor the AR bad debt reserve and ensure the reserve appropriately reflects customer credit risk.
• Review collections, aging, and customer trends.
• Identify customer-related financial risks and partner with Operations, Sales, and Corporate Finance as appropriate.

Treasury & Financial Controls

• Review and approve ACH payments in accordance with established authority.
• Sign checks within established approval requirements.
• Maintain strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and approval hierarchies.

Fixed Assets & Capital

• Oversee fixed asset accounting and ensure assets are properly recorded, classified, and depreciated.
• Monitor capital projects and ensure spending is accurately tracked.
• Prepare and review ROI analysis for capital investments and major projects.

Audits & Compliance

• Coordinate and support year-end audits.
• Coordinate state audits and provide required documentation and explanations.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, and internal control procedures.
• Monitor and address audit findings and control deficiencies.

Automation, Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in accounting processes, reporting, systems, and controls.
• Identify and lead automation, system, reporting, and process improvements that increase the speed, accuracy, and usefulness of financial information.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and coach the Accounting Manager and Accounting Clerk.
• Ensure critical accounting functions have appropriate cross-training and backup coverage.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Decision-Making Authority

• Approve financial transactions within established authority, including checks, ACH payments, and AR credits.
• Challenge operational decisions when financial risk, profitability, or control concerns warrant additional review.
• Escalate matters requiring Corporate Controller approval, corporate policy interpretation, significant accounting judgment, or material financial impact.
• Recommend changes to processes, systems, controls, and business practices that improve financial performance.

Accountability & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Positive, Can-Do Leadership: Maintains an optimistic, solutions-oriented approach that inspires others, embraces challenges, and drives accountability and results.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Communicates effectively with financial and non-financial stakeholders and builds strong relationships.
• Integrity & Accountability: Maintains ethical standards, financial accuracy, confidentiality, and strong internal controls.
• Month-end close: Income Statement finalized and submitted to Corporate within 3 business days; Balance Sheet reconciled within 5 days of month-end.
• Financial statement accuracy: zero material misstatements attributable to plant accounting.
• Balance sheet reconciliations: 100% completed monthly.
• Variance analysis: detailed analysis completed within 3 business days post-close.
• Inventory accuracy: maintain at least 98% accuracy between physical and book inventory.

Position & Work Expectations

• Work Location: This is an in-person position. Regular and consistent on-site attendance is an expectation of the role. One flex day a week, Corporate Controller approves schedule.
• Work Schedule: Start times may be flexible based on business and plant needs; however, employees must be on-site and ready to work no later than 8:30 a.m.
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Employment Status: Full-Time