Food manufacturer in the Harleysville, PA area is seeking a
Plant Controllerthat will serve as the financial business partner to the Plant Manager and the operations team. In this high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing environment, you will oversee all financial, accounting, and cost control functions for the facility. Your primary focus will be maintaining and optimizing their
standard costing system, driving variance analysis, managing inventory controls, and identifying cost-saving opportunities to maximize plant profitability.
Key ResponsibilitiesCost Accounting & Standard Costing Management- Maintain, review, and optimize the plant'sstandard costing system(including BOMs, routings, labor, and overhead rates).
- Perform annual standard cost roll-ups and analyze the impact on inventory valuation and margins.
- Lead daily, weekly, and monthlyvariance analysis(Purchase Price Variance, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead spending).
- Partner with engineering and operations to ensure accurate Bill of Materials (BOM) and production routings.
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)- Lead the preparation of the plant's annual budget, monthly forecasts, and strategic long-range plans.
- Provide deep-dive analysis into plant financial performance, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership.
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track operational efficiency, scrap rates, and labor productivity.
Operational Partnership & Internal Controls- Act as a strategic advisor to the Plant Manager to drive continuous improvement, lean manufacturing initiatives, and cost-reduction projects.
- Evaluate and justifyCapital Expenditure (CapEx)proposals, ensuring rigorous ROI and payback analysis.
- Oversee month-end and year-end closing processes for the plant, ensuring timely and accurate GAAP-compliant financial reporting.
- Maintain a strong internal control environment (SOX compliance where applicable) safeguarding plant assets, including rigorous inventory cycle count programs and physical inventory audits.
Required Qualifications- Education:Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. (CPA, CMA, or MBA is highly preferred).
- Experience:5-7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience in ahigh-volume manufacturing environment, with at least 2-3 years in a Plant Controller or Assistant Plant Controller role.
- Technical Expertise:Deep understanding ofstandard costing methodologiesand variance analysis is mandatory. Proficiency with tier-1 ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and advanced Excel skills.
- Soft Skills:Strong leadership capability, excellent communication skills to translate complex financial data into actionable operational insights, and a hands-on approach on the manufacturing floor.
#jdp