Controller

CFO Systems Recruiting Division; Lancaster (OH); On-site; USD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

CFO Systems Recruiting Division is seeking a Controller for a manufacturing organization in Lancaster, Ohio. This on-site leadership role focuses on building and guiding the finance function, with responsibilities spanning accounting, cost accounting, and financial planning.

You will partner with operations to improve productivity and profitability, shape financial infrastructure, and deliver actionable insights to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• 3+ years in a Controller/Accounting Leadership role.
• Strong manufacturing cost accounting experience.
• Solid knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Experience partnering with manufacturing and operations leaders.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Hands-on, collaborative leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting, general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Prepare timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and financial processes.
• Ensure GAAP compliance and manage relationships with external audit, tax, and banking partners.
• Own and enhance cost accounting across manufacturing operations.
• Develop and maintain standard costing, variance reporting, and KPIs; partner with operations to improve productivity.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and long-range planning.
• Develop dashboards and management reporting for visibility into performance.

Skills

Cost accounting

GAAP knowledge

Leadership

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Job description

Controller | Manufacturing |Lancaster, Ohio | On-Site

Work Arrangement: 100% in-office atLancaster, Ohio
Please note: This is an on-site leadership position. Remote applicants will not be considered.
Compensation: $125,000, with consideration given to experience

Ready for Your Next Challenge?If you're an experienced manufacturing accounting professional who understands cost accounting, enjoys partnering with operations, and wants the opportunity to help build and shape a finance function, we'd like to hear from you.

A newly created leadership opportunity with room to make an impact!A well-established, privately held manufacturing organization with more than 50 years in business is creating a Controller position to strengthen its financial leadership and support continued growth. The broader organization operates manufacturing businesses in multiple states, including an established operation in Lancaster, Ohio.

This is an opportunity for an experienced manufacturing finance professional who wants more than responsibility for the numbers. You'll have the opportunity to help shape the financial infrastructure, improve visibility into manufacturing performance, and become a trusted partner to operational and executive leadership.

What You'll Do

Lead the Accounting & Finance Function

• Oversee day-to-day accounting, general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and financial processes.
• Ensure GAAP compliance and manage relationships with external audit, tax, and banking partners.

Drive Manufacturing & Cost Accounting

• Own and enhance cost accounting across manufacturing operations.
• Analyze product costs, production efficiencies, yields, labor utilization, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variances.
• Develop and maintain standard costing, variance reporting, and operational KPIs.
• Partner directly with operations to identify opportunities to improve productivity and profitability.

Help Guide the Business Forward

• Support budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and long-range planning.
• Provide financial insight around profitability, cash flow, production capacity, capital expenditures, and strategic investments.
• Develop scenario analysis to support growth initiatives.
• Translate financial and operational data into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership.

Build for the Future

• Improve ERP utilization, reporting processes, and financial controls.
• Develop dashboards and management reporting that provide greater visibility into performance.
• Lead and mentor accounting staff and establish processes that can scale with the business.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• 3+ years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or similar leadership position.
• Strong manufacturing cost accounting experience.
• Solid knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Experience partnering directly with manufacturing and operations leaders.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.
• A hands-on, collaborative leadership style.

Preferred: CPA, CMA, or MBA, along with experience supporting rapid growth, plant expansion, capital projects, or inventory-intensive manufacturing environments.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This isn't a position where you'll simply inherit a process and maintain it. Because the Controller role is newly created, the right person will have the opportunity to influence how the finance function operates, improve financial visibility across the organization, and build stronger connections between finance, operations, and leadership.

For a Controller who enjoys getting into the details while also having a seat at the table, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Compensation:
$125,000 per year