Plant Controller

Job Title: Plant Controller

Job Description

The Plant Controller leads all financial reporting, planning, and analysis activities for the manufacturing plant, serving as a key business partner to operations and executive leadership. This role oversees month-end close, budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis while ensuring strong internal controls and accurate financial reporting. The Plant Controller provides insight into plant performance, supports strategic initiatives, and plays a visible leadership role with clear opportunities for advancement within the finance and operations organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities for assigned business units and ensure timely, accurate completion of all financial processes.
• Prepare, review, and maintain financial statements and management reporting packages in compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Establish, monitor, and enforce internal controls that protect company assets and maintain the integrity of all financial reporting and control processes.
• Analyze financial performance, including variances to budget and forecast, and recommend corrective actions where appropriate.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning activities for the plant and related business units.
• Develop and consolidate monthly sales and financial projections to support leadership decision-making.
• Prepare financial models and business analyses to evaluate business performance, support key decisions, and provide special reports and analyses for leadership as needed.
• Partner closely with plant leadership, operations teams, and sales organizations to support financial and operational objectives.
• Conduct monthly cost and margin reviews, including analysis of labor, material, inventory, and manufacturing costs.
• Support product margin analysis, pricing decisions, and profitability improvement initiatives across the plant.
• Monitor cost fluctuations, identify trends, and highlight opportunities for operational and financial improvement.
• Spend time within manufacturing operations to understand business processes, build strong relationships, and provide informed financial guidance.
• Support plant performance through detailed operational and financial analysis, including manufacturing performance metrics.
• Serve as a key member of the plant and business unit leadership teams, actively participating in operational and strategic discussions.
• Build strong relationships with operations, sales, and executive leadership and act as a trusted advisor on financial matters.
• Communicate complex financial information in clear, actionable terms that operational leaders can understand and use.
• Provide guidance on operational opportunities, business improvement initiatives, and cost optimization efforts.
• Support recruiting, employee development, coaching, and succession planning efforts within the finance organization.
• Develop future finance leadership talent through mentoring and professional development activities.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and business integration activities, including participation in due diligence and post-acquisition support.
• Assist with business expansion, product line additions, and operational change initiatives through financial analysis and planning.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts by identifying and implementing innovations, process enhancements, and operational efficiencies within finance and across the plant.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 515+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Experience supporting manufacturing organizations with revenues in the approximately $100M to $500M range.
• Experience supporting plant operations and manufacturing leadership teams.
• Strong understanding of month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Hands-on experience with accounting, financial analysis, general ledger management, month-end close, reconciliations, forecasting, reporting, and budgeting.
• Ability to analyze financial performance and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a hands-on finance role in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proven capability to partner directly with operations, sales, and executive leadership to influence decisions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with inventory accounting, cost accounting, margin analysis, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Experience in a Plant Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or manufacturing finance leadership role.
• Prior supervisory or people leadership experience, including coaching and developing team members.
• Experience partnering directly with operations, sales, and executive leadership on strategic initiatives.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) experience.
• Experience with Power BI or similar reporting and business intelligence tools.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other advanced professional certification or degree.
• Experience within building products, transportation, automotive, RV, industrial manufacturing, food and beverage, or similar manufacturing sectors.
• Interest in combining hands-on finance work with strategic business partnership responsibilities.
• Desire to grow into broader management responsibilities and develop leadership skills in a visible role.

Work Environment

This role is fully on-site in a manufacturing plant environment, typically working standard daytime hours such as 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Plant Controller works closely with operations on the production floor as well as in an office setting, using modern financial systems and tools, including ERP platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) and reporting tools such as Power BI or similar. The organization offers a hybrid-influenced culture in terms of flexibility and collaboration, but the position itself remains on-site to maintain close partnership with plant leadership and operations. The environment is fast-paced, growth-oriented, and highly collaborative, with an entrepreneurial culture that values initiative, continuous improvement, and cross-functional teamwork. Travel requirements are minimal, and the role provides broad exposure across manufacturing, operations, sales, and finance in a highly visible capacity.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Elkhart, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Getting their internal package this week.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elkhart,IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.