Controller

Plant Controller
This role is required to be on-site (no remote option at this time) Competitive Compensation, Bonus, Full Benefits

A leading manufacturer of industrial power transmission and marine propulsion equipment is seeking a Plant Controller for its Santa Fe Springs, CA manufacturing facility. This individual will serve as the senior financial leader for the site and will be responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all financial reporting, operational analysis, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and accounting activities.

The Plant Controller will partner closely with the General Manager and plant leadership team to drive operational and financial performance while ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SOX requirements, and government contract accounting regulations. This role also carries responsibility for managing complex Percentage-of-Completion (POC) accounting related to marine and government contract programs. This is a highly visible leadership position with direct impact on plant profitability, strategic decision-making, and long-term business growth.

Essential Responsibilities:

Serve as a key business partner to the General Manager and plant leadership team to drive operational and financial performance objectives.

Lead, direct, and develop the site finance and accounting team, including general accounting, cost accounting, inventory accounting, and financial reporting functions.

Manage all aspects of Percentage-of-Completion (POC) accounting for government and marine-related programs, including monthly journal entries, account reconciliations, forecasting, and margin analysis.

Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning processes, including operating budgets, capital expenditures, working capital, and cash flow planning.

Develop and maintain financial plans aligned with corporate objectives and long-term business strategies.

Oversee the month-end close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.

Lead efforts to establish and maintain strong internal controls across all financial processes, including P&L, balance sheet, working capital, inventory, capital expenditures, and cash flow management.

Provide financial analysis and reporting to evaluate profitability, cost performance, margin trends, and operational effectiveness while recommending corrective actions as necessary.

Coordinate all audit activities, including internal audits, SOX compliance requirements, external financial audits, and government contract compliance reviews.

Ensure compliance with US GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, and all applicable government accounting regulations.

Review and approve monthly account reconciliations and ensure the integrity of all financial records and reporting.

Prepare and present financial performance reviews, business updates, and management reporting packages for leadership meetings.

Develop annual manufacturing burden rates and support costing initiatives across the facility.

Provide oversight and leadership for annual physical inventory processes, cycle count programs, and inventory accuracy improvement initiatives.

Support major customer and supplier contract negotiations through financial analysis and business case development.

Prepare capital expenditure analyses and investment justifications to support strategic business initiatives.

Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and talent development within the finance organization.

Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related business discipline required.

8+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.

CPA or CMA certification preferred.

Strong experience with manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, inventory accounting, and financial reporting.

Percentage-of-Completion (POC) accounting experience strongly preferred.

Experience supporting government contracts, defense programs, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Comprehensive knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and compliance requirements.

Experience with large ERP systems and enterprise forecasting platforms; Epicor and OneStream experience preferred.

Strong understanding of US GAAP and SOX compliance requirements.

Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a hands-on manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Strong analytical, communication, leadership, and business partnering skills.

Self-starter with the ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across all levels of the organization.