Plant Controller

Bright Innovation Labs•New Albany, OH

About The Position

The Plant Controller is a strategic business partner to Operations, responsible for manufacturing controlling, cost accounting, budgeting and forecasting, operational KPI reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role supports profitability, productivity, and operational efficiency in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The position leads manufacturing finance activities, including standard costing, variance analysis, inventory valuation, product costing, and month-end close support. It leads operating plans, budgets, and rolling forecasts, and provides financial modeling and analysis for capacity planning, investment decisions, and operational performance. The Plant Controller develops manufacturing dashboards and reports, communicates performance trends to leadership, and partners with Operations, Plant Management, Engineering, and Procurement. The role supports continuous improvement by identifying cost and productivity opportunities, assessing project returns, and measuring savings. It also supports internal controls, compliance, inventory counts, and audits. This is a full-time position with base workdays Monday through Friday and no travel expected. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. Work is generally in a low-noise environment, with occasional duties on the production floor where sounds and smells are elevated. Employees are regularly exposed to fragrances such as perfumes and scented lotions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing finance.
Cost Accounting experience.
Advanced MS Excel skills, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis techniques.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, and make recommendations based on insights.
Excellent organizational and multitasking skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage a heavy workload in a fast-paced environment.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with internal teams.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail in pricing and data management.
Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage tasks effectively without direct supervision.
English language knowledge, including vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. as a pre-condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional certification.
Experience with ERP systems such as Deacom or SAP, or similar systems.
Experience in Beauty, Personal Care, Cosmetics, CPG, or contract manufacturing industries.
Experience with LEAN Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Familiarity with Power BI or other business intelligence platforms.

Responsibilities

Lead manufacturing controlling activities across production operations.
Maintain and enhance standard costing methodologies, BOM structures, labor rates, and overhead allocation models.
Analyze manufacturing variances, including material usage, labor, yield, scrap, waste, and overhead absorption.
Ensure accurate inventory valuation and product costing in compliance with accounting standards.
Partner with Plant Leadership to identify cost savings opportunities and improve operational profitability.
Support month-end close activities related to inventory, manufacturing costs, and operational performance.
Lead annual operating plans, budgets, and rolling forecasts for Operations functions.
Develop financial models and operational scenarios to support capacity planning and investment decisions.
Provide insights into labor productivity, production efficiency, and cost trends.
Monitor performance against budget and explain key variances with actionable recommendations.
Develop and maintain dashboards and scorecards for manufacturing performance.
Track and report labor efficiency, OEE, yield and waste, material consumption, production throughput, cost per unit, inventory turns, capacity utilization, and scrap and rework costs.
Communicate performance trends to executive leadership and operations management.
Act as a finance business partner to Operations, Plant Management, Engineering, and Procurement teams.
Participate in daily, weekly, and monthly operational reviews.
Provide financial analysis for strategic initiatives, customer profitability, new product launches, and capital investment projects.
Influence decision-making through fact-based recommendations and financial insights.
Support continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and optimize manufacturing costs.
Develop financial analyses and ROI assessments for operational improvement projects.
Measure and report savings generated through continuous improvement efforts.
Ensure compliance with company policies, financial controls, and accounting standards.
Support inventory cycle counts and annual physical inventory processes.
Assist with internal and external audits related to manufacturing operations.