Plant Controller

Kerry Group•Owen, WI

7d•$88,100 - $163,700•Onsite

About The Position

As Plant Controller, you will provide financial leadership and strategic support to drive operational excellence and profitable growth. You will partner closely with the Plant Manager and Operations Finance Director to influence decisions, optimize performance, and identify opportunities to improve productivity, cost efficiency, and financial results. This position offers exposure to plant operations, commercial decision-making, capital investment planning, business strategy, and leadership development within a fast-paced, results-driven manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Strong foundation in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management.
Advanced Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems such as SAP.
Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, or similar professional certification.
Experience in manufacturing, operations finance, plant controlling, or cost accounting.
Experience within food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, or consumer products industries.
Knowledge of standard costing, inventory management, fixed assets, and capital project evaluation.
Prior leadership experience leading teams or cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

Partner with plant leadership to drive ownership and accountability for financial and operational performance.
Support business strategy by identifying opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, working capital, and cash flow.
Influence decision-making through financial analysis, scenario modeling, and actionable recommendations.
Serve as a trusted advisor to site and business leadership teams.
Lead monthly financial close activities, including accruals, balance sheet management, reconciliations, and period-end reporting.
Prepare and present financial scorecards, variance analysis, and operational performance metrics to plant and business unit leadership.
Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly reporting with clear recommendations and corrective actions.
Partner with the Plant Manager during monthly operating reviews and strategic planning discussions.
Analyze manufacturing costs across labor, materials, equipment, overhead, indirect spend, and inventory.
Identify and help lead cost reduction, productivity, and process improvement initiatives.
Validate production costs, inventory valuation, standard costing, and manufacturing variances.
Participate in Gemba walks and continuous improvement activities to strengthen operational performance.
Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes for the site.
Support capital investment analysis and provide financial justification for site projects.
Monitor capital project performance and help ensure effective asset utilization.
Evaluate business opportunities and operational risks to support long-term site and network performance.
Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with company policies.
Support inventory accuracy through cycle counting, inventory control, and obsolescence processes.
Oversee critical plant processes supporting vendor payments, customer billing, risk management, and financial governance.
Partner with internal and external auditors as needed and implement Kerry best practices.