Controller — Manufacturing

Summit Products; Altoona (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Parental leave

Professional development assistance

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

Summit Products in Altoona, Iowa is seeking an experienced Controller to lead accounting and financial activities in our manufacturing operation. This role partners with leadership to drive accurate reporting, cost visibility, and internal controls that support profitable growth.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing finance leader who understands how financial decisions connect to shop floor, materials, labor, inventory, production performance, and customer service.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience with leadership.
• Experience in manufacturing finance and cost accounting is preferred.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and internal control experience.
• Advanced Excel and ERP system proficiency.
• Ability to translate financial data into operational actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting function, including month-end and year-end close and general ledger oversight.
• Prepare monthly financial reports, forecasts, budgets, variance analyses, and dashboards.
• Collaborate with operations to analyze costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and margins.
• Own costing, inventory valuation, cycle counts, and COGS reporting.
• Maintain internal controls, policies, and documentation.
• Coordinate budgeting, forecasting, audits, and tax reporting with external partners.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll coordination, and collections support.
• Provide leadership and development for the accounting team.

Skills

Financial leadership

GAAP knowledge

Cost accounting

Excel proficiency

Strong communication

Leadership and coaching

On-site collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA/CMA/MBA (preferred)

Tools

ERP accounting systems

Job description

Location: Altoona, Iowa
Company: Summit Products
Schedule: Full-time, on-site — Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Summit Products is seeking an experienced, operationally minded Controller to lead accounting and financial activities in our manufacturing operation. This role is an important business partner to leadership and operations, responsible for accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, cost and inventory visibility, and forward-looking financial analysis that supports profitable growth.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on manufacturing finance leader who understands how financial decisions connect to the shop floor, materials, labor, inventory, production performance, and customer service.

What you’ll do

• Lead the company’s accounting function, including month‑end and year‑end close, general ledger oversight, account reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and cash‑flow management.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly financial reports, forecasts, budgets, variance analyses, and management dashboards.
• Partner with operations and leadership to analyze manufacturing costs, labor efficiency, material usage, overhead allocation, scrap, inventory accuracy, and margins.
• Own and improve standard costing, product costing, inventory valuation, cycle‑count processes, and cost‑of‑goods‑sold reporting.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and prior periods; clearly explain variances and recommend practical corrective actions.
• Maintain effective internal controls, accounting policies, approval processes, and documentation practices.
• Coordinate annual budgeting, ongoing forecasting, audit support, tax reporting support, and relationships with external accountants, banking partners, and other financial vendors.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll coordination, credit/collections support, and other core accounting processes as applicable.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability for accounting team members.
• Help evaluate capital investments, equipment purchases, pricing decisions, and other key business initiatives.
• Improve systems, workflows, reporting tools, and financial processes to increase accuracy, timeliness, and operational insight.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax requirements, and company policies.

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or similar credential preferred, but not required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including leadership responsibility.
• Prior Controller, Assistant Controller, Plant Controller, Senior Accounting Manager, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Strong manufacturing, distribution, or inventory‑intensive business experience is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with cost accounting, standard costing, inventory controls, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, reconciliations, and month‑end close processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with ERP/accounting systems.
• Clear, practical communication skills and the ability to translate financial information into operational decisions.
• High level of integrity, discretion, organization, and follow‑through.
• Willingness to work fully on site in Altoona and partner directly with operations and leadership.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person