Controller

Novagard; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Novagard, a Cleveland-based manufacturer, seeks an experienced Controller to direct financial accounting and reporting. You will oversee cost accounting, budgeting, and KPI dashboards, partnering with operations to improve pricing and margins.

The role requires 8–10 years in manufacturing finance, strong technical accounting skills, and the ability to drive cost and reporting capabilities in a fast-paced environment. Minimal travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration required.
• Minimum 8-10 years of accounting experience in the manufacturing industry.
• Cleveland-based with minimal travel requirements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures; implements controls to minimize risk.
• Oversee the production of periodic financial reports; ensure GAAP compliance.
• Partner with operations to reveal true cost of production and develop KPI dashboards to report daily performance.
• Lead the budgeting process and provide monthly variance analysis and forecasts.
• Collaborate with FP&A to develop robust financial modeling of pricing, costs, and margins.
• Leverage systems and financial tools to streamline operations and advance the cost accounting system.
• Provide information to external auditors for the annual audit and data for the annual insurance renewal.
• Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.

Skills

Manufacturing finance

GAAP accounting

Cost accounting

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Communication

Ambiguity tolerance

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration

Advanced degree

Job description

The Controller directs the financial accounting and reporting activities. Oversees general accounting, cost accounting, tax filings, and monitors all expenditures.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises the accounting team and reports to the CFO.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures; implements a system of controls over accounting transactions to minimize risk.
• Oversee the production of periodic financial reports; ensure compliance with GAAP.
• Partner with operations to build visibility into the true cost of production, materials utilization, and manufacturing efficiency. Develop KPI dashboards to report daily performance.
• Lead the budgeting process and provide monthly variance analysis and forecasts.
• Collaborate with FP&A to develop robust financials modeling of pricing, costs, and margins.
• Leverage systems and financial tools to streamline operations and develop the next iteration of the standard cost system.
• Provide required information to the external auditors for the annual audit and company data for the annual insurance renewal.
• Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.

Business Acumen:

• A track record in manufacturing finance – how the product gets made and how that translates to pricing, cost, margin, and cash.
• Strong technical accounting skills with the judgement to know when precision matters and when speed does.
• Experience building or significantly improving cost accounting and reporting capabilities, not just inheriting a working system.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift, information is sometimes incomplete, and the ability to move forward with ambiguity is a genuine asset.
• A communicator who can translate financial complexity into clear, actionable language for operators and executives.
• Generates ideas about the organization’s future and translates them into tangible strategies and goals.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration required. Advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum 8-10 years of accounting experience in the manufacturing industry.
• Cleveland-based with minimal travel requirements.