Plant Controller

Broster Buchanan; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Broster Buchanan is supporting a global FMCG business with a large Peterborough site seeking an experienced Plant Controller. You will partner with the Plant Manager and leadership to provide financial insight, influence decisions and drive site performance across operations, supply chain and engineering.

The role involves cost control, product costing, variance analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives to optimise working capital and overall manufacturing profitability.

Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing finance, plant controlling or operational finance role.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory management and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Ability to turn complex data into clear recommendations and challenge decisions constructively.

Responsibilities

• Provide meaningful financial analysis, challenge and recommendations to support business performance.
• Own plant performance reporting and turn data into actionable insights.
• Maintain month-end close processes and robust financial controls for the site.
• Support product costing and inventory management, analyze cost variances and drive efficiency.
• Lead cost-saving and improvement initiatives with operational teams.

Skills

Manufacturing finance

Standard costing

Inventory management

Performance metrics

Analytical skills

ERP systems

Stakeholder influence

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP reporting tools

Job description

We are delighted to be supporting a global FMCG business with a large site based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire who are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Plant Controller.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working closely with operational teams and influencing decisions that make a real difference. As a trusted partner to the Plant Manager and site leadership team, you'll provide valuable financial insight, identify opportunities for improvement, and help drive performance across the business.
You'll be highly visible within the organisation, working across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement and Finance to ensure the team understand not just what is happening, but why, and what they need to do next.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the Plant Manager and leadership team to support business performance.
• Providing meaningful financial analysis, challenge and recommendations.
• Helping operational teams understand the financial impact of key performance indicators and business decisions.
• Identifying risks and opportunities and supporting the development of practical action plans.
• Encouraging a culture of financial awareness, accountability and continuous improvement.

Reporting and Performance Analysis

You'll take ownership of plant performance reporting and help turn data into actionable insight.

This includes:

• Producing weekly and monthly financial and operational performance reports.
• Monitoring manufacturing costs across materials, labour, energy, maintenance, logistics and overheads.
• Analysing productivity, yield, labour efficiency, scrap, spoilage and overall manufacturing performance.
• Delivering insightful variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year performance.

Financial Control and Month-End Activities

• Supporting the month-end close process for the manufacturing site.
• Preparing and reviewing accruals, provisions and journal entries.
• Reconciling operational data with financial results and investigating significant variances.
• Maintaining strong financial controls and supporting audit requirements.

Product Costing and Inventory Management

• Maintaining and reviewing standard product costs.
• Supporting the costing of new products, process improvements and engineering changes.
• Analysing cost variances and working with operational teams to understand and address root causes.
• Providing financial oversight of inventory and stock control processes.
• Monitoring working capital, inventory levels and obsolescence risks.

Driving Improvement

We're looking for someone who enjoys identifying opportunities and helping turn ideas into results.

You'll:

• Support cost-saving and efficiency initiatives across the site.
• Financially validate improvement projects and track delivery of benefits.
• Work alongside operational teams to improve productivity, reduce waste and optimise performance.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strong financial expertise with a collaborative approach and a genuine interest in manufacturing operations.

You'll likely bring:

• Experience in a manufacturing finance, plant controlling or operational finance role.
• A strong understanding of standard costing, inventory management and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to turn complex data into clear recommendations.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working with ERP systems and manufacturing reporting tools.
• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) is preferred.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to be part of a leadership team where your contribution will be seen, valued and acted upon.
You'll have the chance to:

• Play a key role in shaping site performance.
• Partner directly with operational leaders.
• Drive meaningful cost and efficiency improvements.
• Work in a collaborative environment where continuous improvement is genuinely encouraged.
• Make a visible impact on the success of the business.

Interested? If you're looking for a role where you can combine financial expertise with operational influence and make a real difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.