Plant Accountant

Graham Packaging Company•Atlanta, GA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Accountant serves as the primary financial leader for the Atlanta manufacturing facility and is a key business partner to plant operations. Reporting to the Regional Controller, this position is responsible for providing financial guidance, operational analysis, cost management support, forecasting, budgeting, and internal controls that drive plant performance and profitability. This role works closely with plant leadership to identify opportunities for productivity improvement, cost reduction, waste elimination, and capital investment optimization while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
3-5 years of accounting, finance, or cost accounting experience.
Manufacturing finance experience strongly preferred.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to communicate financial concepts effectively to non-financial audiences.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP, Business Warehouse (BW), Hyperion/HFM, or similar ERP and reporting tools.
Knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing performance metrics.
Experience supporting continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or productivity initiatives.

Responsibilities

Partner with Plant Management and Operations Leadership to drive financial performance and support key business objectives.
Serve as the primary financial advisor for the manufacturing facility.
Collaborate with operations teams to identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce conversion costs, and enhance profitability.
Translate financial and operational data into actionable recommendations for plant leadership.
Lead all plant financial close activities, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
Analyze monthly financial results and communicate key drivers of variances versus budget, forecast, and prior year.
Prepare and present monthly financial reviews to both plant and finance leadership.
Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies and procedures.
Develop plant-level monthly forecasts, annual budgets, and long-range financial plans in partnership with the Regional Controller.
Collaborate with plant leadership and the Regional Controller to identify financial risks, opportunities, operational assumptions, and key business drivers impacting forecast performance.
Track and report key manufacturing and financial performance indicators, providing actionable insights to improve plant results.
Monitor plant spending, labor, overhead, and conversion costs, proactively identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.
Assist the Regional Controller in scenario modeling, sensitivity analysis, and strategic planning initiatives.
Provide detailed variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year results, communicating key drivers and recommended actions to plant and finance leadership.
Support development of productivity, cost reduction, and continuous improvement targets by providing financial analysis and operational insights.
Maintain and improve standard costing methodologies.
Analyze manufacturing variances including labor, material usage, overhead absorption, scrap, yield, and efficiency performance.
Partner with operations to understand root causes of variances and develop corrective actions.
Evaluate product costs and support initiatives that improve overall cost competitiveness.
Support the financial evaluation of capital expenditure projects and prepare Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) analyses.
Assist the Regional Controller in the development of financial models to support cost savings, productivity, automation, and maintenance investments.
Track actual project performance against approved business cases.
Support continuous improvement initiatives through quantitative analysis and performance measurement.
Maintain strong financial controls and support compliance with SOX and company control requirements.
Reconcile plant balance sheet accounts and ensure accuracy of financial records.
Participate in physical inventory observations and inventory control processes.
Promote a culture of accountability, compliance, and financial stewardship.
Provide daily financial support to plant leadership and functional teams.
Utilize and develop reports, dashboards, and analyses that improve operational decision-making.
Support special projects and business initiatives as assigned.
Assist in developing operational performance metrics and scorecards.