Industrial Controller

At Bel, we are not just a company—we are a company on a Mission, built on 160 years of bold innovation, family values, and a commitment to social purpose. With beloved brands like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin®, our snacking solutions bring more than joy; they want to serve as a force for good. Our U.S. Mission? To help close the critical 80% nutrition gap by making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits, veggies, and dairy as part of their daily lives.

The company has headquarters in Chicago and New York City and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.  #IWorkForAllForGood

The Industrial Controller is responsible for all financial planning, analysis, and operational finance activities for the North American business unit, with primary focus on US manufacturing sites and oversight of total cost of goods sold for both domestically produced and imported products across the US and Canada. This role acts as a key business partner to site leadership, driving financial performance, strategic planning, rigorous analysis, compliance, and effective risk management in alignment with Group standards. 

Essential Duties & Functions: 

Financial Planning & Analysis 

• Lead and coordinate all financial planning processes (Strategic Plan, Operating Plan, Budget, Forecast) ensuring efficient, accurate, and timely completion for both sites. 

• Collaborate with operations and business leaders in target/objective setting and analyze cost structures and trends to inform planning and prioritization. 

• Ensure alignment and consolidation of site-level plans, budgets, forecasts, and communicate results and key insights to plant, divisional, and corporate stakeholders. 

• Oversee development, maintenance, and validation of site standard costs, ensuring transparent links between actuals and forecasts. 

Business Partnership 

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to Operations, providing clear analysis of COGS, variances, and operational costs. 

• Partner with plant and business management to interpret financial results, inform strategic decisions, and drive process improvement. 

• Facilitate communication and alignment around financial targets, plans, and results for all relevant stakeholders. 

Performance Analytics & Benchmarking 

• Oversee regular and ad hoc financial analysis, including benchmarking of factory performance against industry peers. 

• Develop actionable recommendations for efficiency improvements, cost control, and margin enhancement; follow through to execution and outcome measurement. 

• Ensure data integrity, methodological rigor, and high-quality reporting and presentation of findings for leadership review. 

Capital & Asset Optimization 

• Supervise working capital management, including inventory, receivables, and payables, with clear targets and action plans. 

• Lead financial evaluation and tracking of capital projects, ensuring compliance with Group investment processes, and post-completion ROI analysis. 

• Drive continuous improvement in asset utilization and cash flow. 

Financial Reporting & Controls 

• Ensure accuracy and reliability of all site-based industrial and management reporting—including regular financial statements, performance reviews, and variance analyses. 

• Supervise local implementation and adherence to Group accounting standards, internal controls, and ERP utilization (e.g., SAP S4 HANA). 

• Support annual external and internal audit activities, remediate findings, and champion compliance culture. 

Risk Management & Internal Controls 

• Proactively identify, assess, and report on risks related to financial results, asset security, and process effectiveness. 

• Develop, document, and test internal controls; manage implementation of corrective actions as needed. 

• Collaborate with other functions (audit, compliance, operations) to strengthen the control environment. 

Policy & Procedure Development 

• Participate in the adaptation and deployment of Group financial policies, procedures, and toolkits at the US plant level. 

• Support the training and capability-building of local controlling teams; communicate changes, best practices, and local business needs to Group functions. 

Demonstrate the Company’s values and winning behaviors while adhering to all company policies and practices, including safety and environmental protocols, quality standards, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). 

All other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master’s degree preferred. 

• CPA or relevant certification preferred. 

Experience 

• 7+ years’ experience in manufacturing/plant finance, ideally food or CPG; experience supporting multiple sites preferred. 

• Solid expertise in cost accounting, budgeting, variance analysis, capital project finance 

Required Skills 

• Advanced proficiency with ERP systems (ideally SAP) and Microsoft Excel. 

• Exceptional analytical, strategic planning, communication, and business partnership skills. 

Preferred Skills 

• Strong stakeholder relationship management and ability to communicate effectively with cross functional partners. 

• Clear communication and analytical thinking for producing executive summaries and financial storytelling tailored to different audiences.  

• Ability to influence in lead without direct reporting line.   

• Results orientated and pragmatic with ability to challenge status quo and drive change.  

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions 

• Work is performed largely in an office environment.  

• Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to special projects, deadlines and other concerns.  

• Must be able to travel intermittently via airplane within the U.S. and internationally 20%. 

• Range Base Salary: $115,000k - $150,000k 
• Bonus opportunity: 15%
• PTO and Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits from Day 1
• 401k Match

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

If you think that this job is for you, please click now on the button "Apply".