Plant Controller – Manufacturing & Technical Operations

Location: Chicago, IL
Work Arrangement: Hybrid and Onsite
Compensation: $150,000 base salary + 10% annual bonus

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Plant Controller to oversee financial performance, operational accounting, and financial planning for multiple manufacturing operations in the Chicago, IL area. This role will serve as a strategic business partner to plant leadership, combining strong financial expertise with hands-on knowledge of manufacturing processes, cost accounting, and operational performance.

The ideal candidate brings a blend of traditional plant controllership and technical analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights. This individual will play a key role in driving cost efficiencies, improving margins, strengthening financial controls, and optimizing plant performance through process improvements, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant Financial Controllership: Oversee plant-level financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis to ensure accurate and timely financial results.
• Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Analysis: Analyze standard costs, material and labor costs, manufacturing overhead, scrap, purchase price variances (PPV), inventory valuation, and production variances to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Operational Business Partnership: Collaborate with plant managers, operations leaders, and cross-functional teams to evaluate production performance, productivity, capacity utilization, and operational efficiency.
• Technical Reporting & Analytics: Develop and enhance financial reports, dashboards, and analytical tools using advanced Excel, ERP systems, and data reporting platforms to improve visibility into plant performance and support data-driven decision-making.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead financial planning activities, including revenue, production costs, inventory, capital expenditures, and working capital projections. Identify financial risks, trends, and opportunities.
• Inventory & Working Capital Management: Monitor inventory accuracy, excess and obsolete inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and cash flow metrics to improve working capital performance.
• Financial Controls & Compliance: Maintain effective internal controls, support audits and SOX compliance where applicable, and ensure adherence to accounting policies, revenue recognition, and asset protection procedures.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline financial processes, improve reporting accuracy, strengthen cost controls, and implement scalable systems and procedures.
• Capital Expenditure Management: Evaluate capital investments, track project spending, analyze return on investment, and partner with operations to ensure appropriate financial oversight.
• Strategic Decision Support: Provide financial modeling, scenario analysis, and recommendations to support pricing decisions, margin improvement, new business opportunities, and long-term operational strategy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with corporate finance, FP&A, accounting, and operational leadership to ensure alignment between financial objectives and plant-level business priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, preferably within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience in plant controllership, cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or operational finance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures, standard costing, inventory accounting, and financial variance analysis.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and data analytics platforms.
• Ability to interpret complex financial and operational data and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across finance and operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, solve complex problems, and drive continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing sites or plant locations.
• Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar ERP systems.
• Experience with financial consolidation systems, data warehouses, Power BI, or other business intelligence tools.
• Knowledge of SOX compliance, audit procedures, and manufacturing process improvement initiatives.
• Experience automating financial reports, improving data integrity, or implementing new financial systems and processes.

Work Arrangement & Travel

• Based in Chicago, IL, with a hybrid and onsite work arrangement.
• Regular onsite presence required to support plant operations and collaborate directly with leadership.
• Limited business travel, expected to be less than 10%.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $150,000 annually.
• Annual Bonus: 10% target bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k), paid time off, wellness programs, and additional employee benefits.