Controller – Manufacturing & Distribution

Talent Wave Associates; Elmore (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Wave Associates is seeking a hands-on Divisional Controller to be the trusted financial partner to the Division President and plant leadership. You will focus on profitability, cost efficiency, and operational excellence across manufacturing and distribution functions.

You will lead month-end close, budgeting, forecasting, and the preparation of division-level P&L analyses, while actively engaging in standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost control initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Proven Divisional Controller experience in manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with standard costing, inventory, and process manufacturing.
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced Excel; familiarity with Power BI or Cognos preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and business partnering skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary financial partner to Division President and plant/operations leadership on financials, margins, costs, and performance.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries and variance analysis.
• Prepare and present financial statements, KPIs, and division-level P&L analysis; explain variances to operations and leadership.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling financial planning with division leadership.
• Oversee cost accounting: standard costs, inventory valuation, scrap, WIP, and overhead allocation.
• Drive manufacturing, transportation, and distribution cost improvements and margin enhancement initiatives.
• Manage intercompany transactions, internal controls, and support external audits.
• Support capital expenditure planning, ROI analysis, and project accounting.

Skills

Divisional Controller experience

Manufacturing finance

Strategic financial advisor

Business partnering

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Excel (Advanced)

Power BI

Cognos

Job description

Are you ready to serve as the trusted financial partner to divisional leadership and drive profitability, cost efficiency, and operational excellence in a manufacturing and distribution business?

Are you ready to serve as the trusted financial partner to divisional leadership and drive profitability, cost efficiency, and operational excellence in a manufacturing and distribution business?

About the Role

This hands-on role supports a manufacturing and distribution business. You will be the primary financial advisor for the Division President and plant/operations leadership, focusing on financial performance, margins, costs, customers, and operational results. The role is crucial for delivering strategic financial counsel while remaining deeply engaged in manufacturing, cost, inventory, transportation, and distribution finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as primary financial business partner and trusted advisor to the Division President and plant/operations leadership on financials, customer profitability, margins, costs, and performance.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Prepare and present financial statements, KPIs, and division-level P&L analysis; clearly explain variances to operations and leadership.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling financial planning in partnership with the Division President and plant leadership.
• Oversee cost accounting: standard costs, inventory valuation, scrap, WIP, and overhead allocation.
• Drive manufacturing, transportation, and distribution cost improvements and margin enhancement initiatives.
• Manage intercompany transactions, maintain internal controls, and support external audits.
• Support capital expenditure planning, ROI analysis, and project accounting.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Proven experience already in a Divisional Controller (or equivalent) role in manufacturing.
• Strong manufacturing finance experience with hands‑on standard costing, inventory, and process manufacturing.
• Understanding of operational manufacturing, transportation, and distribution finance.
• Ability to act as strategic financial advisor to senior leadership while remaining hands‑on.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel; financial reporting tools (Power BI, Cognos, etc.) preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and business‑partnering skills with a results‑oriented mindset and high integrity.