Plant Controller

Join Ox Bodies in Fayette, Alabama as a Controller and play a key leadership role in driving financial performance, operational excellence, and strategic decision-making within a manufacturing environment. This onsite position partners closely with plant and executive leadership to oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, compliance, cost accounting, inventory management, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Job Summary:

The Controller is to lead and oversee the accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance functions of the organization while supporting the overall success of the manufacturing operation. This individual is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information, maintaining compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and company policies, and providing timely financial analysis to support business decisions. The Controller will actively partner with operational and executive leadership to drive continuous improvement initiatives, monitor financial and operational performance, identify opportunities for cost savings and process enhancements, and develop meaningful performance metrics. This position is expected to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, provide leadership and coaching to management teams, and contribute to the achievement of company goals through strong financial stewardship, operational support, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Oversight of local accounting functions, analyses of financial data, maintenance of supporting documentation, and preparation of financial reporting requirements in accordance with GAAP;
• Leading month end financial close process including but not limited to the preparation or review of journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations;
• Manage fixed assets and capital documentation to ensure compliance with company policies and assist in documentation of AFE acquisition of new assets in terms of creation, analysis, and tracking;
• Preparation and effective communication of data which summarizes and forecasts company business activity and position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present and expected operations, including the budgeting process, supporting documentation and justification;
• Active engagement with management to drive improvements in operational performance, including identification of opportunities, development of strategies and tactics, support and monitoring of cost savings or process improvement initiatives;
• Ensure documentation and procedures are in accordance with standard Company policies, including SOX documentation;
• Leadership of weekly and monthly performance meetings with other key members of management to effectively communicate current operating performance using key metrics, pipeline (future planned) spending, cost savings initiatives, process improvements, and estimates of monthly results;
• Leadership and ownership of inventory and the inventory process while assisting other leaders in refinement and improvements. This includes inventory events, negative inventory, E&O, cycle count program, etc.
• Refinement and development of key performance metrics, including effective communication of performance and countermeasures, challenging the status quo, as applicable;
• Coordination and preparation for internal and external audits of company accounts, ensuring integrity of financial information;
• Ensure accuracy of cost accounting methods
• Assistance with and participation in continuous improvement events;
• Training and coaching other leaders to ensure consistent understanding of financial and operational performance basics;
• Compliance with and up-to-date knowledge of all industry-applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements including management of the adherence process(es), including preparation or supervision of preparation of any regulatory reporting requirements, and communication of any changes and/or updates to management;
• Key contact with state and local representatives regarding personal property tax assessments and any state/local income and sales taxes;
• Key and contributing member of consolidated group’s finance team; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Experience with ERP systems required; Syteline/SYMIX experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and related business systems; experience with reporting systems.
• Proven ability to organize resources, establish priorities, manage deadlines, and lead the accounting function in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment within established policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, facilitation, and relationship-building skills across multiple departments and levels of the organization.
• Ability to motivate finance teams to produce high-quality work within tight timeframes while managing multiple projects and strategic initiatives.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, attention to detail, follow-through, and project management discipline.
• Ability to continuously evaluate systems, procedures, and processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, communication, and business performance.
• Ability to attend, lead, and participate in required company meetings.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent, CPA or CMA preferred;
• Five (5) or more years of progressive manufacturing accounting experience in a standard costing environment;
• Excellent communication and management skills with the ability to lead a team to achieve site and business demands;
• Ability to identify and address discrepancies, to continuously question and evaluate systems, processes and procedures for the most efficient uses. Ability to define and set a direction or solution along with the identification of performance issues.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning systems, business software and PC literacy, must be extremely proficient in Microsoft Office;
• Ability to understand and work well with other areas and all levels to meet company goals, to understand protocol when interacting with management while maintaining a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality;
• Ability to establish and meet deadlines and work without supervision, to see the big picture while focusing on the process and procedures necessary to produce deliverables;
• Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) requirements;
• Proactive and positive attitude

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds at a time.
• Requires sufficient visual acuity and manual dexterity to operate a computer and review documents

About us:

Ox Bodies is a subsidiary of Federal Signal; our products have endured even the toughest of conditions on construction sites around the country and abroad since 1972. We’ve walked in your boots – we get it. Time is money, and we strive to provide the highest quality, most durable products, equipped to handle any job you throw at them.

Our reputation and our people are what have made Ox the industry leader. We are your premier partner for designing and manufacturing Class 6 to 8 dump bodies in the United States and across the globe. Innovative, rugged, high-performance truck bodies, parts, and accessories, all manufactured by hard-working people in Fayette, Alabama.

Our ingenuity allows us to manufacture, assemble, and deliver a complete product. No one else can duplicate what we do or do it better, and if that’s not enough, we’ll pick up and deliver right to your front door.

Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) builds and delivers equipment of unmatched quality that moves material, cleans infrastructure, and protects the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and commercial customers. Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates two groups: Environmental Solutions and Safety and Security Systems. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: www.federalsignal.com.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category, characteristic, or trait under applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at 205-932-8177. All other applications must be submitted online.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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