Manufacturing Controller

LAPP is a family-owned company headquartered in Stuttgart and a global leader in cable and connection technology. Founded in 1959, we are still fully family-owned today. With around 5,800 employees, we are operating in over 80 countries – globally connected and regionally rooted. Working at LAPP means more: this is where inventive spirit and a hands-on mentality meet cherished values and tradition. We offer all employees the freedom to develop and pursue new opportunities. Flexibility and personal responsibility are just as important to us as a family-friendly work environment. We value all our colleagues with their talents, ideas and perspectives.

Summary: The Manufacturing Controller is designed as a highly operational, business-oriented finance role that goes beyond traditional cost accounting, closing and reporting activities. The role combines strong controlling and accounting expertise with deep manufacturing understanding, active business partnering, and continuous performance steering. This individual will act as a key driver of transparency, operational (process) excellence, productivity and efficiency improvement, and sustainable business value creation across the manufacturing organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Financial Reporting, Governance & ERP Management: Own month-end cost accounting, closing, and ERP-based controlling processes. Ensure strict compliance with global controlling standards, cost center planning, and high data quality, transparency, and governance across all reporting.

• Standard Costing, Investments & Business Cases: Oversee periodic costing runs and standard cost calculations with a deep understanding of BOMs and routings. Evaluate capital investments, stock build decisions, and business cases to support long-term financial planning.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Guidance: Partner closely with Plant Management, Production, Process Engineering, Purchasing, and Logistics. Balance operational and financial objectives, guiding leadership with actionable insights while challenging assumptions and existing ways of working.

• Operational Analytics & Shopfloor KPI Translation: Connect manufacturing performance directly to financial outcomes. Translate shop-floor metrics and cost drivers—such as OEE, downtime, scrap, material consumption, and inventory levels—into clear financial consequences to foster broad cost awareness.

• Continuous Improvement, Efficiency & Waste Reduction: Drive productivity, cost-reduction, and efficiency initiatives across the site. Identify operational losses, run financial simulations to evaluate improvement scenarios, and cultivate a "clean factory" mindset focused on operational excellence and sustainable value creation.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies

• Ability to clearly explain financial results, variances, and operational impacts

• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost accounting principles, accruals, and cost allocation

• Solid financial and accounting knowledge

• Ability to manage many and changing priorities while meeting critical business commitments.

• Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work product.

• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to performance.

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills through professional communication, strong work ethic, and positive attitude.

• Ability to communicate and collaborate across the America’s organization to achieve stated objectives regarding revenue, profitability, and market share.

• Upholds organizational values and demonstrates a working knowledge of company policies and procedures.

• Working knowledge of LAPP business, customers, served markets, and products.

• Ability to incorporate a business strategy into communications deliverables while respecting/ evolving Corporate Identity guidelines.

• Strong visual language and sense of design, creativity, and aesthetic.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or business-related field. 

• Minimum 3 years’ experience of progressive accounting and financial management experience

• Strong SAP or local ERP knowledge 

WORK LOCATION: This position is located in New Jersey and reports to the Florham Park, NJ office. Incumbents of this position are required to work a hybrid schedule (3x per week in the office- Tues & Wed +1).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: No travel required

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Proficiency in the English language both written and verbal is required. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Effective in gathering and analyzing disparate data elements as well as presenting information and responding to inquiries from groups of managers, customers, the general public and global colleagues

COMPUTER SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have working knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite—specifically Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Strong SAP and local ERP knowledge is required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

COMPENSATION: After thorough market analysis, LAPP takes many factors into consideration when determining base salary such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, etc. of the candidate. The base salary range for this role is $130,000 - $140,000 plus participation in LAPP's bonus plan. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, 401(k), HSA/FSA, Life Insurance, and more!

*LAPP is an Equal Opportunity Employer*