Senior Controller

Lactalis LAG • Buffalo, NY

9h • $100,000 - $125,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®. At Lactalis, we live by our core values— Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity . We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION , your STORY , and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. From your PASSION to ours Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior Controller based in Buffalo, NY. The Senior Controller serves as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for overseeing all of the plant’s financial and accounting functions in accordance with corporate procedures and policies. Specific duties encompass strategy & productivity development, oversight of preparation and presentation of the annual operating budget, forecasting, financial analysis, business controls and capital financial analysis on strategic initiatives. The position is responsible for the development of the plant finance staff and the liaison to corporate Finance & Management Control. Responsibilities also include ensuring integrity in the financial records, safeguarding of assets, ensuring internal control environment in compliance with Lactalis policies, GAAP, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required. Majors in Finance, Business, or Accounting are preferred.
• 7+ years of Finance or Accounting Management experience is required.
• 3+ years of general accounting experience required; budget preparation a plus.
• 5+ years of supervisory or management experience.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing operations, product costing and systems
• Excellent ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.
• Extensive practical systems knowledge (SAP/Other costing systems, advanced Excel).
• Strong attention to detail and drive for results.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing operations, product costing, and systems.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent analytical, leadership, and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree is favorable.
• The following certification is preferred for this role: CPA, CMA, etc...
• Food Plant experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrated project and change management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain financial standards (BOMs).
• Report and present the manufacturing operation’s weekly/monthly financial results, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee the month-end close process, including variance analysis to both budget and prior year.
• Oversee and provide cost forecasting & analysis, and productivity pipeline accuracy and analysis.
• Provide thought leadership and insight on the achievement of plant key performance metrics with a strong focus on cost reduction and improved operational efficiencies.
• Support the plant manager and other department managers to provide, coordinate, and challenge action plans for each of the technical indicators to achieve the targeted technical and financial commitments (Mass balance and Raw Material analysis, semi-finished and finished good losses, people organization and productivity, line efficiencies, expenses, received/paid difference for milk).
• Lead the annual operating budget process and consolidation, partnering with, while also challenging, plant leadership, the Vice President of Manufacturing, and corporate Finance/Management Control.
• Coordinate Internal Control self-assessment audits and manage all internal/external audits.
• Lead corporate initiatives within the plant and lead process improvements.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and control over plant Capital projects, including tracking milestone dates and percentages spent.
• Support corporate finance as required with respect to projects including capital appropriations and plant utilization/capacity/asset management opportunities.
• Manage and develop direct reports within the finance department, directing day-to-day duties and holding departmental meetings to communicate plant happenings.
• Develop strong plant knowledge of the operation, the various components, raw materials, processing, and warehousing.
• Set up and monitor various reports and systems that measure the performance of the plant, flagging deviations from established targets and performing gap analysis.
• Work closely with management in reporting and improving results, including the Monthly Operating Report.
• Interpret the General Ledger and compare it to the Monthly Operating Report.
• Work on monthly closing activities and reports as required.
• Analyze variances in actual versus budget expenses.
• Responsibility for maintenance parts valuation on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
• Oversee all purchasing and expenses for the operation.
• Assist with preparing the facility budget presentation and reports the weekly and monthly performance of the plant.

Benefits

• At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options.
• We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one.
• We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement.
• Join us and grow your career.
• Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level