Plant Controller

Whisker•Juneau, WI

27d•Onsite

About The Position

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we’re imagining that future today. We work onsite 4+ days a week with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend. The Plant Controller will serve as a key business partner to the Sr. Director of Plant Operations, providing actionable insights that influence decision-making and operational performance. The Plant Controller is the financial leader for Whisker’s Juneau manufacturing facility, responsible for driving plant-level financial performance through rigorous cost accounting, operational insight, and cross-functional partnership. This role plays a critical part in improving profitability by analyzing labor and production efficiencies, managing bill of materials (BOM) accuracy, and ensuring disciplined execution against profitability targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing environments
Strong cost accounting experience, including standard costing and variance analysis
Proven ability to manage and analyze BOM and production cost structures
Experience partnering closely with operations leadership
Expert-level ERP knowledge, preferably with SAP Business One (SAPB1 9.0 or higher)
Experience implementing or improving cost accounting systems and processes
Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred

Responsibilities

Owns financial oversight of the Whisker Manufacturing assembly facility, including P&L, cost of goods sold (COGS), and inventory
Partners with the Senior Director of Plant Operations and other site leaders to drive plant profitability and operational efficiency
Translates financial data into actionable insights to improve throughput, reduce waste, and optimize labor utilization
Leads all cost accounting activities, including landed cost, cost roll-ups, and inventory valuation
Ensures accuracy and integrity of bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and cost structures for key products
Analyzes and explains cost variances (material, labor, overhead), and partners with operations to drive corrective actions
Oversees physical inventory processes, cycle counts, and inventory controls
Monitors and reports on production variances, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions
Develops KPIs and dashboards focused on labor efficiency, scrap, yield, and overall production
Drives continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction and process optimization
Leads the plant-level budgeting and forecasting processes
Provides monthly financial reporting and analysis to corporate finance, including variance explanations
Supports strategic initiatives with financial modeling and ROI analysis
Maintains strong internal controls over inventory, manufacturing costs, and plant financial processes
Ensures compliance with corporate accounting policies and GAAP
Supports internal and external audit requirements
Performs additional responsibilities when required