Plant Controller

Matrix Adhesives•Durham, NC

20d

About The Position

The Plant Controller will lead and manage the monthly and year-end financial close process, including preparing and reviewing journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules. This role involves reviewing the general ledger for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate account classification, as well as preparing monthly financial statements, management reporting, and weekly status reports. The Plant Controller will ensure accounting practices are consistent with company policies and GAAP, and provide support to external audit and tax partners. Additionally, the role includes leading the annual budgeting process, maintaining financial forecasts quarterly, and providing financial insights to management and sales. Key responsibilities also involve analyzing gross margin, EBITDA, and financial performance drivers, reporting on Working Capital Metrics, monitoring inventory balances and costing, owning product costing methodology, and reviewing capital expenditures and fixed assets. The Plant Controller will serve as a financial business partner to the local leadership team, collaborating with various departments to support business objectives and achieve financial goals. This includes owning KPIs such as productivity, labor efficiency, inventory turns, and working capital. The role requires communicating financial results clearly to non-financial team members, establishing priorities, and ensuring deadlines are met. A positive and collaborative workplace culture is to be fostered through employee engagement and teamwork.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of financial accounting, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis.
Prior experience within a manufacturing environment is required.
Demonstrated understanding of inventory, costing, working capital, and operational finance.
Excel / Office suite proficiency.
General experience working with ERP and accounting systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage competing priorities and meet reporting deadlines.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and with senior management.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft Business Central experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the monthly and year-end financial close process.
Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
Review the general ledger for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate account classification.
Prepare monthly financial statements, management reporting, and weekly status reports.
Ensure accounting practices are consistent with company policies and GAAP.
Provide support as requested to external audit and tax partners.
Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain financial forecasts quarterly.
Provide management and sales with financial insights to support budget processes.
Analyze gross margin, EBITDA, and key financial performance drivers, providing explanations for significant trends and variances.
Analyze financial results against budget, forecast, and prior periods and investigate significant variances.
Report on Working Capital Metrics, assisting other teams in understanding and driving improvements.
Monitor inventory balances, adjustments, costing, and inventory-related variances.
Partner with operations and supply chain to investigate inventory discrepancies and improve count accuracy.
Review and analyze purchase price variances (PPV) and understand drivers with supply chain team.
Own product costing methodology and cost accounting processes.
Coordinate and oversee annual physical inventory ensuring controls are followed and variances are investigated and resolved.
Review capital expenditures, fixed assets, leases, and related accounting treatment.
Manage standard costing system, maintain burden rates and other standards, annual cost roll.
Serve as a financial business partner for the local leadership team.
Collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, and Management to support business objectives and achieve organizational and financial goals.
Own certain KPIs such as productivity and labor efficiency, inventory turns, working capital.
Communicate financial results and issues in a clear and practical manner to non-financial team members.
Establish priorities and ensure accounting deadlines and reporting requirements are met.
Contribute to a positive and collaborative workplace culture by supporting employee engagement, cross-functional teamwork, company initiatives, and values.
Provide support and influence to the leadership team as needed across various business initiatives and requests.