Controller

Love turning numbers into big-picture business decisions? Let’s talk!

At Kannegiesser North America, we’re looking for a Controller – Financial Performance & Analysis who sees beyond the spreadsheets and knows how to turn financial data into meaningful action. This is your opportunity to connect the dots between financial results and operational performance, uncover opportunities to improve profitability, and help shape the decisions that move our business forward.

In this role, you’ll partner with our CFO and leaders across the organization to challenge assumptions, identify trends, build smarter forecasts, and turn complex numbers into clear, actionable insights. You won’t just report on what happened — you’ll help us understand why it happened, what it means, and where we can go next. If you’re a curious, strategic thinker who loves solving problems, influencing decisions, and seeing your analysis make a real impact, we want to hear from you! Apply today and bring your financial expertise to a team where your insights can help drive what’s next.

Who We Are:

Have you ever thought about how your room linens at the hotel or hospital get cleaned? Or worker uniforms and the floor mats at businesses?

We utilize the latest technology and innovation to design, build install and service the equipment that sorts, washes, and folds it!

If you want to be part of a company that really cares about their people, customers, and doing great fulfilling work together, Kannegiesser is the place to be!

Core Values Statement:

At Kannegiesser, our Core Values are more than just words – they guide everything we do. We're looking for people who are passionate about excellence and live out our core values in everything they do.

• We Care: About Each Other, Our Customers, Quality and Safety
• Do What's Right: Act with Honesty, Integrity, and Respect, Be Accountable, Consider the Big Picture
• Team Player: Do Your Job Well, Collaborate Across Teams, Commit to Success
• Positive Influence: Bring Positive Energy, Show Up When Things are Tough, See Opportunities, Contribute to Solutions
• Driven to Achieve: Pursue the Best Outcome Relentlessly, Reject the Status Quo, and Never Settle for Good Enough

Why Work at Kannegiesser?

At Kannegiesser, we believe that our employees are our most valuable asset. We are committed to providing a supportive, inclusive, and rewarding work environment that encourages professional growth and personal well-being. When you join our team, you can expect:

Comprehensive Health and Wellness Benefits

• Health Insurance: Extensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
• Ancillary Protections: Wide array of additional protections for our employees including Accident, Hospital Indemnity and Critical Illness coverages to customize to every employee’s needs.
• Wellness Programs: Access to wellness initiatives including mental health support and wellness challenges.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Options for healthcare and dependent care FSAs to manage out-of-pocket expenses.

Financial Security and Retirement Planning

• 401k & Roth Plans: Generous company matching to help you save for the future.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Company-paid life insurance as well as additional voluntary life insurance for employees and their families.
• Financial Insurance: Short-term disability coverage available for employees and long-term disability coverage paid by Kannegiesser.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Support for continuing education and professional development.

Work-Life Balance

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Competitive PTO (vacation/personal/sick time combined) policy. Additional holidays and floating holidays for additional flexibility.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Options for hybrid or remote work, depending on the role.
• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave to support new parents during this important time.

Career Growth and Development

• Recognition Programs: Regular acknowledgment of outstanding performance and dedication.
• Training and Development Programs: Continuous learning opportunities through workshops, seminars, and certifications.
• Mentorship Opportunities: Guidance and support from experienced professionals within the company.
• Internal Mobility: Opportunities for career advancement within the company.

A Culture of Inclusivity and Community

• Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: A commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued.
• Community Engagement: Participation in company-sponsored volunteer events and charitable activities.

At Kannegiesser, we are not just offering a job; we are offering a career where you can thrive. Join us and be part of a team that is dedicated to innovation, excellence, and making a difference in the world.

Job Details

Job Title: Controller – Financial Performance & Analysis

Department: Accounting

Reports To: Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

Employment Status: Full-time

DOL Status: Exempt

Work Location: MN Office

Remote Work Eligible: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8am CST – 5pm CST

Travel: Up to 10%

Supervisory Duties: No

Purpose of the Position:

The Controller – Financial Performance & Analysis is a key financial leadership role responsible for helping Kannegiesser North America understand its financial and operational performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability and business results.

This position owns budget development, forecasting, budget-to-actual variance analysis, financial modeling, profitability analysis, KPI development, and performance reporting. The role translates financial and operational data into meaningful insights that help the CFO and North America Leadership Team make informed business decisions.

The Controller – Financial Performance & Analysis partners closely with the CFO, Controller – Accounting Operations, Accounting team, and operational leaders to understand business drivers, evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and support the execution and monitoring of profitability-improvement initiatives.

Success in this role requires more than strong financial analysis skills. The Controller – Financial Performance & Analysis is a strategic and analytical thinker who can connect operational activity to financial results, ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions constructively, and communicate complex information clearly. This role should be comfortable working across functions, influencing decisions without direct authority, and taking ownership of initiatives from analysis through follow-through.

This position provides financial and analytical leadership but has no direct supervisory responsibility. Operational leaders remain accountable for the performance of their respective functions.

Our Core Values: 

• We Care: Uses financial and operational insight to understand the needs of the business and its people. Provides information and analysis that helps leaders make decisions supporting sustainable performance, profitability, and the long-term success of Kannegiesser North America.
• Do What's Right: Provides objective, fact-based analysis and maintains integrity in financial modeling, forecasting, reporting, and recommendations. Challenges assumptions when appropriate and ensures financial information is presented accurately and transparently.
• Team Players: Builds strong partnerships with the CFO, Accounting Operations, Accounting team, and operational leaders. Shares information openly, collaborates on solutions, and works toward shared business objectives rather than focusing only on individual or departmental results.
• Positive Influence: Builds trust through thoughtful analysis, clear communication, and constructive challenge. Makes financial information understandable and actionable and influences decisions through credibility, collaboration, and sound business reasoning rather than direct authority.
• Driven to Achieve: Takes ownership of financial performance and profitability analysis, identifies opportunities for improvement, and follows through on initiatives designed to improve business results. Measures progress and uses results to identify additional opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Budgeting, Forecasting & Variance Analysis
  • Lead the annual budget development and planning process in partnership with the CFO and operational leaders.
  • Own budget-to-actual variance analysis and follow-up, identifying material variances, drivers, trends, and areas requiring leadership attention.
  • Prepare and update financial forecasts for CFO review and approval.
  • Partner with operational leaders to understand forecast changes, business drivers, and emerging financial risks and opportunities.
  • Evaluate financial trends and potential issues and provide analysis to support timely decision-making.
• Performance & Profitability Analysis
  • Own business and operational performance analysis, profitability analysis, financial modeling, and cross-functional financial analysis.
  • Lead the development of KPIs and performance reporting that connect operational activity to financial results.
  • Evaluate revenue, costs, margins, pricing, productivity, and other financial and operational drivers of profitability.
  • Identify profitability opportunities and develop business cases, financial models, and decision-support materials for leadership.
  • Lead margin and pricing analysis using cost information provided by the Controller – Accounting Operations.
  • Evaluate the financial impacts of proposed business decisions, initiatives, and changes in operational activity.
• Profitability Improvement
  • Partner with the CFO to lead the profitability-improvement roadmap, including financial measures, expected impacts, milestones, and progress monitoring.
  • Own the financial monitoring of improvement initiatives, evaluating results and financial impacts and providing updates and recommendations to the CFO.
  • Partner with operational leaders to support agreed-upon improvement initiatives within the authority established by the CFO.
  • Lead the development of appropriate measures to track the financial impact and progress of improvement initiatives.
  • Evaluate results against expectations, identify areas requiring additional attention, and work with appropriate leaders to understand root causes and potential corrective actions.
• Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Partner with the Controller – Accounting Operations and Accounting Specialist to ensure financial data used for analysis and reporting is accurate, complete, and timely.
  • Lead financial discussions with operational leaders to understand business drivers, performance trends, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Develop strong working relationships across functions and serve as a financial resource for leaders.
  • Provide financial analysis and decision support to the North America Leadership Team.
  • Translate operational information into financial implications and financial information into practical business insights.
• Leadership Reporting
  • Lead the preparation of regular financial performance reports, dashboards, KPI updates, forecasts, and analysis for the CFO and North America Leadership Team.
  • Translate financial and operational data into clear insights, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
  • Evaluate reporting needs and present financial and performance information in a clear and understandable manner appropriate for the audience.
  • Ensure reporting is timely, accurate, consistent, and focused on information that supports decision-making.
  • Respond to ad hoc financial and operational analysis requests from the CFO and leadership team.
• Systems, Process Improvement & Data Integrity
  • Lead the use of SAP, Excel, and other financial systems and tools to develop analysis, models, reports, and performance dashboards.
  • Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve financial planning, reporting, forecasting, and performance-management processes.
  • Own the integrity, consistency, and confidentiality of financial information and analytical models within the scope of the role.
  • Establish and maintain appropriate documentation for key financial models, assumptions, reports, and processes.
  • Lead continuous improvement of financial planning and performance-management practices.

Academic & Trade Qualifications (required & preferred):

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field required.
• MBA, CPA, CMA, or other relevant advanced certification preferred. 

Work Experience & Skills (required & preferred):

• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, FP&A, financial leadership, or related roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, variance analysis, KPI development, and P&L performance analysis.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and executing strategic initiatives designed to improve profitability and organizational performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to connect operational activity to financial results and identify underlying business drivers.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to understand how operational decisions affect financial performance.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders without direct supervisory authority.
• Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and willingness to ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions, and investigate issues.
• Strong ownership and follow-through, with the ability to take an initiative from analysis through implementation and measurement.
• Experience working directly with senior leadership and operational leaders.
• Manufacturing, industrial, distribution, or project-based business experience preferred. 

Machinery & Technology Experience & Skills:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to build financial models, analyze financial and operational data, perform complex calculations, and develop reporting tools.
• Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook and Teams.
• SAP or similar ERP experience preferred.
• Experience working with financial planning, reporting, business intelligence, or data visualization tools preferred.
• Comfortable learning and working within financial and operational systems. 

Physical Requirements:

• Remaining in a stationary position, often sitting for prolonged periods.
• Ability to enter text or data into a computer or other machine by means of a traditional keyboard or 10-Key.
• Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less (that is, working with small objects or reading small print), including use of computers.
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• The ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech both in person, by telephone or other technology.