Controller

A leading manufacturing company is seeking a hands-on, strategic finance leader to oversee cost accounting and financial planning functions across its operations. This is a high-impact role partnering closely with operations, supply chain, and corporate finance teams to drive insights, efficiency, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning cycles for the business, with a strong focus on cost analysis and operational performance.

Analyze manufacturing costs, monitor standard vs. actual variances, and develop actionable reporting to explain trends and deviations.

Partner with plant and engineering teams to maintain and adjust product cost structures and standard rates.

Manage month-end close activities, including journal entries, variance analysis, and preparation of P&Ls by product line or business unit.

Oversee the annual standard cost roll process, ensuring accuracy in cost allocations and alignment with financial goals.

Provide financial leadership on product development initiatives, pricing strategies, and capital investment decisions.

Conduct in-depth product margin, price/volume, and mix analyses to support strategic decision-making.

Collaborate with procurement and inventory teams to align purchasing strategies and optimize working capital.

Maintain and improve the cost accounting framework and reporting tools; implement updates as needed to support evolving business needs.

Lead annual physical inventory and support cycle count programs to ensure inventory integrity.

Develop business cases and make-buy analyses for potential outsourcing opportunities.

Support corporate reporting requirements and interface with external auditors as needed.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; MBA or CPA preferred.

5–7+ years of progressive finance or cost accounting experience in a manufacturing setting, including prior leadership or supervisory responsibilities.

Solid foundation in GAAP, standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory accounting.

Proven experience working with ERP systems (JD Edwards preferred) and financial reporting tools (Hyperion preferred).

Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business insights.

Proficiency in Excel and financial modeling; familiarity with automation tools a plus.

Strong communicator with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive initiatives forward in a collaborative, matrixed environment.

High level of ownership, responsiveness, and organizational agility.