Plant Controller | Paper

***Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent resident basis. StaffRight Associates and our clients do not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

The Opportunity

Champion the financial health and operational efficiency of a major regional manufacturing facility as a critical strategic partner. This impactful leadership role dual-reports directly to both the Plant Manager and the Corporate Controller, managing a dedicated local finance team of two direct reports. Operating at the intersection of corporate finance and hands-on production, you will drive local financial operations, spearhead budgeting and forecasting initiatives, and deliver deep-dive variance analysis to guide plant leadership toward maximized profitability.

This position offers an exceptional platform to influence capital investments, optimize cost accounting frameworks, and cultivate robust cross-functional alliances in a dynamic, high-energy environment.

What You’ll Do

• Drive the comprehensive month-end and year-end closing cycles to guarantee the delivery of precise, timely, and compliant financial statements.

• Synthesize complex financial results, executing rigorous budget-to-actual and forecast variance evaluations to illuminate key performance drivers.

• Architect and maintain a flawless general ledger framework by supervising journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and complex accrual processes.

• Optimize standard costing structures, plant inventory valuation methodologies, and cost of goods sold (COGS) analytics, including excess and obsolete reserves.

• Maximize operational efficiency by analyzing manufacturing variances across labor utilization, overhead absorption, scrap, and rework alongside the production team.

• Lead the facility''s annual operational budgeting and routine rolling forecasting processes, delivering advanced financial modeling to fuel strategic choices.

• Enforce absolute adherence to corporate internal controls and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) frameworks while coordinating both internal and external audit requirements.

• Evaluate capital expenditure (CAPEX) proposals via comprehensive return on investment (ROI) modeling and monitor active project performance milestones.

• Mentor and develop a team of two direct financial reports, cultivating high performance and accuracy within the plant''s accounting department.

What You Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely allied quantitative field.

• Experience: Minimum of 5 to 7 years of progressive financial leadership within a dedicated manufacturing plant environment, with an open background across any manufacturing sector.

• Technical Expertise: Exceptional command of Cost Accounting, Inventory Management, Manufacturing Finance, and Month-End Close workflows.

• Compliance: Proven mastery of SOX Compliance, Internal Controls governance, and corporate audit coordination.

• Systems & Software:

  • Advanced Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems experience, with SAP highly preferred.

  • Elite proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including advanced data analysis, pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and data slicers).

  • Highly proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint).

  • Exposure to advanced reporting platforms like Power BI, Longview, BOBJ, Serrala, or SuccessFactors is considered a major asset.

• Core Competencies: Stellar analytical capabilities, cross-functional communication prowess, and a decisive track record of managing staff and meeting deadlines under pressure.

Compensation & Total Rewards

• Core Compensation: Highly competitive base salary ranging from $115,000 to $118,000 annually, commensurate with specialized manufacturing expertise.

• Performance & Equity Incentives: Lucrative corporate profit-sharing bonus structure delivering an additional 8% to 12% annually, directly tied to organizational milestones.

• Health & Wellness Perks: Complete medical, dental, and vision packages, along with comprehensive mental health resources and wellness incentives.

• Future Planning: Robust 401(k) retirement account matching, company-sponsored life insurance policies, and continuous professional development or tuition reimbursement options.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package, standard paid holidays, parental leave programs, and comprehensive relocation assistance package provided for regional candidates transitioning to the Greater Birmingham, AL region.

Joining StaffRight Associates

StaffRight Associates is partnering with a premier global manufacturing organization to identify a top-tier financial leader for this critical plant assignment. Our client values innovative operational strategies, rigorous financial discipline, and leadership excellence. By stepping into this position, you will act as a pivotal advisor to plant executives and drive measurable corporate value.

When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you’re doing more than pursuing a job, you’re aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.