CONTROLLER

Bluegrass Ingredients Inc•Bowling Green, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Controller is a critical leadership role within the Finance organization, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer. The Controller owns the full spectrum of accounting and financial reporting functions, including the general ledger, internal controls, account reconciliations, cost accounting, inventory management, and the day-to-day operation of the organization’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This individual ensures accuracy, compliance, and operational insight across multiple manufacturing facilities and product lines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
Minimum 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience
At least 2 years in a Controller capacity
Prior experience in a manufacturing environment
Demonstrated hands-on experience with complex ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Sage, NetSuite, Epicor, or equivalent)
Proficiency in ERP system administration and financial module management is expected
Proven experience owning the full financial close cycle, account reconciliation process, and internal control framework in a multi-location or multi-entity environment
Experience with cost accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing variance analysis
Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP
Uncompromising integrity and commitment to accuracy and ethical financial reporting
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
Effective communicator—written and verbal—with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders
Self-directed and proactive; able to operate with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, operationally complex environment
Collaborative leadership style with proven ability to develop direct reports and work cross-functionally

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA or equivalent credential
Prior experience in a food ingredient, food & beverage, or specialty chemical manufacturing
Experience with business intelligence or reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or ERP-native analytics)
Familiarity with SEC reporting or IFRS

Responsibilities

Maintain full ownership of the general ledger, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all financial data
Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process, including preparation and review of all journal entries
Reconcile general ledger accounts to subsidiary systems including but not limited to Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Payroll, and Fixed Assets
Design, implement, document, and enforce a comprehensive system of internal controls over financial reporting
Ensure ongoing compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements for a food manufacturing environment
Maintain and update accounting policies and procedures; communicate changes to relevant staff and management
Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors during the annual audit, coordinate preparation of all supporting schedules and documentation
Monitor compliance with debt covenants and provide required financial reports to lenders and financial institutions
Own and manage the full account reconciliation cycle for all balance sheet accounts monthly
Establish and maintain reconciliation standards and checklists to ensure consistency and thoroughness
Investigate and resolve reconciling items in a timely manner, escalating unusual items to the CFO as appropriate
Oversee the reconciliation of intercompany accounts and elimination of intercompany transactions
Maintain and manage the lot cost system, labor rate development, and overhead absorption methodology
Analyze manufacturing variances including material usage, purchase price, labor efficiency, and overhead spending variances
Partner with operations and supply chain leadership to understand and explain cost drivers across production facilities
Oversee inventory accounting, including physical inventory counts, cycle count reconciliation, and reserve analysis
Develop and maintain key operating metrics and cost-per-unit analyses to support operational decision-making
Develop and maintain ERP-based financial reports, dashboards, and queries to support management reporting needs
Train and support finance staff and cross-functional users on ERP system usage and best practices
Identify and implement ERP-based process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce manual work
Oversee accounts receivable and the order-to-collection cycle, including customer credit, invoicing, collections, and deduction management
Oversee accounts payable and the procure-to-pay cycle, including vendor setup, invoice processing, and payment terms
Manage treasury, cash position reporting, daily cash reconciliation, and bank statement reconciliation
Oversee fixed asset tracking, including capitalization policies, depreciation schedules, and periodic physical inventory of assets
Support payroll processing review and reconciliation to the general ledger
Assist the CFO in the development and coordination of the annual operating budget and multi-year financial plan
Support capital expenditure planning including ROI analysis, project tracking, and post-implementation review
Supervise, develop, and mentor a small team of accounting staff, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement
Collaborate closely with Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and Human Resources to provide timely financial information and support business decisions
Communicate financial results, trends, and risks clearly and concisely to non-financial audiences
Participate in strategic planning initiatives and special projects as directed by the CFO