Plant Controller

Graham Packaging Company•Houston, TX

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Controller is responsible for financial leadership and operational support for Graham Packaging’s Houston, Texas plant, reporting directly to the Regional Controller. The role oversees the plant’s monthly financial close, review of financial statements, forecasting, budgeting, and analysis of manufacturing results against objectives. It also supports cost-savings initiatives and provides data-driven analysis to senior business-unit professionals. The position focuses on Insight, Control, and Planning & Reporting. It partners with plant operations and leadership to analyze conversion costs, productivity, profitability, capital projects, and operational performance; supports audits and internal controls; and develops plant budgets, forecasts, variance analyses, and standard costs. The Plant Controller also trains staff on financials and spend tracking, provides day-to-day financial and operational support, and assists with other projects or responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) required, preferably in Accounting or Business.
At least 8 years of Accounting or Finance experience; manufacturing industry experience is preferred.
High proficiency with Microsoft applications.
Excellent analytical, data-manipulation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to seek resources as needed.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing industry experience.
Experience with SAP, Business Information Warehouse, and HFM.

Responsibilities

Manage the monthly financial closing process and review plant financial statements.
Forecast and budget at the plant level, including developing the annual operating budget, management presentation, monthly forecast updates, and full-year forecasts.
Review and analyze actual manufacturing results against established objectives.
Identify performance metrics affecting conversion costs and work with operations on cost-reduction opportunities.
Analyze conversion costs and plant productivity to support operational improvements and A3 initiatives and reporting.
Provide financial leadership for capital management and prepare financial analyses for cost-savings and maintenance projects (AFEs).
Use forecast data to help drive plant actions regarding spending, staffing, and organizational structure.
Participate in plant lead-team initiatives and support plant functions such as safety and quality.
Evaluate plant profitability at the SKU or mold level.
Educate and train staff on plant financials, spend tracking, and operational levers.
Assist Plant Managers when vacancies exist in other areas.
Support external and internal audits.
Monitor standard costs for accuracy and assist with the physical inventory audit process.
Implement and ensure compliance with internal financial and operational controls, procedures, and SOX-related requirements (Building Blocks).
Manage inventory controls, including physical count variances, slow-moving or obsolete inventory write-offs, FIFO practices, and the annual tagged physical inventory.
Maintain fixed-asset inventory and conduct the annual fixed-asset audit.
Track daily labor and variable spending; ensure the team has tools and training to monitor daily spending and optimize performance.
Analyze monthly operating variances and explain them to the plant team and executive leadership.
Provide day-to-day financial and operational support and perform manufacturing variance analysis.
Develop plant standard costing and review and approve product standard costs for reasonableness and alignment with plant operations.
Assist management with financial analysis and special projects.
Carry out other responsibilities as needed.