Plant Controller

S & E Gourmet Cuts•Los Angeles, CA

23d•Onsite

About The Position

Archer Meat Snacks, a rapidly growing brand in the Natural and Specialty Channel, is seeking a Plant Controller to provide financial leadership across multiple manufacturing and 3PL facilities. This role reports to the Corporate Controller and acts as a key business partner to Plant Leadership, overseeing plant accounting, inventory controls, cost accounting, financial reporting, labor performance, budgeting, and operational analysis. The Plant Controller will be instrumental in driving financial performance, inventory accuracy, standard costing, and continuous operational improvement across the Vernon and San Bernardino manufacturing facilities. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, collaborative leader with strong manufacturing accounting expertise, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to influence operational decision-making through financial insights. This position is for someone passionate about manufacturing finance, operational excellence, and building high-performing teams in a fast-growing CPG organization.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting required.
10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience within a manufacturing environment (food or beverage preferred).
Previous experience leading plant accounting, cost accounting, inventory accounting, or manufacturing finance functions.
Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting principles, GAAP, standard costing, inventory controls, and financial reporting.
Experience with large ERP systems such as NetSuite or similar manufacturing platforms.
Experience utilizing Power BI or similar business intelligence tools to develop reporting and financial dashboards.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and business partnership capabilities with the ability to influence operational decisions through financial insight.
Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives while developing and coaching high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary financial partner to Plant Directors and Operations leadership, providing financial guidance that supports operational and strategic decision-making.
Partner with manufacturing leadership to improve plant performance, drive cost reduction initiatives, and ensure budget accountability.
Deliver financial insights that improve operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability across multiple manufacturing facilities.
Provide ongoing recommendations that support continuous improvement and long-term operational success.
Oversee plant cost accounting activities, inventory reporting, and manufacturing financial performance across multiple facilities and 3PL partners.
Monitor inventory transactions, cycle counts, adjustments, and audit processes to ensure inventory accuracy and compliance with internal controls.
Analyze inventory discrepancies, identify root causes, and develop standardized processes that strengthen inventory control and reporting accuracy.
Lead standard costing initiatives within NetSuite while partnering with Cost Accounting to ensure work order and inventory accuracy.
Develop and maintain dashboard-style financial reporting and operational KPIs that provide meaningful visibility into plant performance.
Prepare recurring financial and operational reporting focused on spending, labor efficiency, inventory management, and manufacturing performance.
Analyze production, labor, overhead, and manufacturing variances while identifying key business drivers and improvement opportunities.
Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations for executive leadership and plant management.
Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Cost Accounting to improve inventory accuracy, operational controls, and production reporting.
Review inventory write-offs, monitor trends, ensure appropriate documentation, and develop recommendations that reduce recurring inventory losses.
Perform monthly capitalization reviews and manufacturing variance analysis while monitoring Weeks of Supply and inventory health metrics.
Support ongoing improvements to inventory management processes that enhance operational execution and financial accuracy.
Support and optimize manufacturing financial systems, including NetSuite, WMS, and related operational platforms.
Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, financial procedures, and internal control processes supporting manufacturing operations.
Partner with cross-functional teams to improve reporting capabilities, automate processes, and strengthen financial controls across multiple facilities.
Lead process improvement initiatives that enhance reporting accuracy, operational efficiency, and financial visibility.
Partner with Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, and Cost Accounting to validate Bills of Materials (BOMs), manufacturing standards, and product costing accuracy.
Review and approve BOMs while ensuring alignment with manufacturing processes and financial reporting requirements.
Analyze post-launch manufacturing performance and support continuous optimization of product costs and operational efficiencies.
Collaborate across Finance and Operations to improve forecasting, inventory planning, and manufacturing decision-making.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Plant Accounting and Cost Accounting professionals supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
Establish clear performance expectations while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional development.
Coach team members on accounting best practices, financial analysis, and operational partnership skills.
Build a culture focused on accuracy, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.