Summary 

This position will serve as the Plant Controller’s partner in the financial management of the manufacturing facility by ensuring accurate financial reporting, cost accounting, inventory valuation, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls. This role partners closely with plant operations, supply chain, and finance teams to analyze manufacturing performance, identify cost-saving opportunities, and support achievement of operational and financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Perform timely and accurate monthly close processes within a short close schedule.
• Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial analysis.
• Analyze plant financial results and explain production, labor, material, and overhead variances to budget and forecast.
• Support preparation of monthly management reports and presentations.
• Validate and track savings initiatives and productivity projects.

Cost Accounting

• Maintain and analyze standard costs for raw materials, labor, and overhead.
• Responsible for the cost accounting module in SAP.  This includes staging materials (new part setup/updates) and working with cross functional teams to ensure accurate material inventory records and financial valuations.
• Monitor labor, material, freight, and overhead spending.
• Analyze inventory transactions, production costs, scrap, and investigate inventory variances and implement corrective actions.
• Perform annual standard cost updates and cost roll processes.

• Participate in annual physical inventory counts and test cycle count processes.
• Monitor and prepare JE for quarterly inventory reserves and obsolescence adjustments.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist Controller and Management team with annual operating plans, budgets, and monthly forecasts.
• Analyze financial performance against budget and forecast.
• Support management of operational spending requests and reporting.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support operational decision-making.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, financial controls, and accounting standards.
• Promote continuous improvement of financial processes and controls.

Business Partnering

• Partner with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, and supply chain teams to improve operational and financial performance.
• Provide financial guidance on manufacturing initiatives and processes.
• Support plant leadership and FIN teams with ad hoc requests.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation.
• Promote a culture of financial accountability throughout the plant.

Education / Experience

• Bachelors Degree with a major in Accounting or Finance
• 3–7 years of progressive manufacturing accounting or finance experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office software with strong Excel ability is required.
• Automotive industry is a plus
• Experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP.
• Strong knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and costing principles

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving, and organizational abilities.

• Highly analytical and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable spending time on the production floor understanding operations.
• Skilled at influencing decisions through data and financial insight.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently without direct supervision
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse group of finance and operations personnel and translate financial information into operational actions.

This position works under pressure of deadlines with interruptions occurring regularly. 

Extra hours may be required during closing activities or special projects.

Occasional travel may be required.