Plant Controller

Grain & Protein Technologies•Assumption, IL

13d

About The Position

The Operations Controller for GPT’s Assumption Plant is a key member of the plant leadership team, responsible for financial strategy, operational efficiency, and business performance at GPT’s largest plant. The role partners with the Plant Operations Director and the Finance Director – North America Grain to deliver financial results and support the facility’s strategic operating agenda and long-term value creation. It combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution in operational finance and cost accounting. The controller leads plant financial analysis and operational finance, providing actionable insights for plant operations, labor planning, working capital management, and capital investment. The position also supports financial governance, accountability, and data-driven decision-making across the plant and broader organization. GPT is a global agribusiness portfolio with manufacturing in 20 locations across 11 countries and revenues exceeding $1.2 billion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
At least 7 years of finance leadership experience in manufacturing, agribusiness, or another industrial setting.
Proven success financially managing a complex manufacturing facility and partnering with an operations team to deliver results at or above expectations.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
Expertise in financial modeling, cost accounting, and manufacturing performance management.
Proficiency in SAP, OneStream, and Power BI.
Strong leadership presence and ability to influence and drive results across organizational boundaries.

Nice To Haves

MBA.
CPA, CMA, or another relevant certification.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Plant Operations Director as the financial leader accountable for plant cost, shipments, working capital, and production efficiency objectives.
Provide financial leadership for the plant’s strategic operating agenda and long-term value creation goals.
Prepare, analyze, and present standard and ad-hoc financial reports to plant, North America Grain, and company leadership.
Evaluate business assumptions, assess risks, identify variances, and explain performance versus forecasts and prior periods.
Lead plant forecasting, annual operating plans, and long-range financial planning.
Oversee working capital optimization.
Maintain a robust plant controls environment.
Participate in the site’s SIOP process, challenge assumptions, guide data- and analytics-based decisions, and align SIOP with financial plans and forecasts.
Review plant financial performance and key operating KPIs, including standard cost variances, manufacturing productivity, and cost drivers.
Partner with plant leadership to strengthen cost controls and improve gross margins by identifying, quantifying, and acting on financial risks and opportunities.
Investigate and resolve plant financial performance issues in collaboration with the plant operating team, driving accountability and continuous improvement in cost, productivity, and profitability.
Develop and evaluate business cases for operational changes, improvements, and capital investments.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce manual work, strengthen controls, improve data quality, and improve financial reporting and analysis.
Share best practices across the plant controller network, promote standard methodologies, and drive adoption of efficient, scalable processes and automated reporting tools.
Improve the use of SAP, OneStream, and Power BI for reporting, forecasting, and decision-making.
Mentor, coach, and develop professionals across the GPT Finance team.
Collaborate with operations, supply chain, and commercial teams to advance the operating agenda.
Improve the financial acumen of the plant operations team to support informed decision-making.