Controller-Woodstock

Vaco; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Vaco is seeking a Controller to lead all plant finance and accounting activities in a manufacturing setting. You will own the month-end close, forecasting, cost/working capital, and internal controls, partnering with Operations leadership to improve profitability and compliance with policies.

Responsibilities include standard costing governance, variance analysis, capital planning, and building robust reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA strongly preferred.
• 5-10+ years progressive experience in manufacturing finance/accounting; automotive preferred.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, and internal controls.
• Advanced Excel (PowerQuery/Power Pivot). ERP/MRP experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant finance leadership and partnership with Operations to translate performance into financial actions.
• Own month-end close, forecasting, budgeting, and annual planning.
• Analyze drivers (labor, scrap, efficiency, materials, overhead) and drive corrective actions.
• Establish internal controls and coordinate audits; ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Manufacturing finance

Internal controls

ERP/MRP (AS400/CMS400)

Advanced Excel (PowerQuery/Power Pivot

Leadership

Education

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

CPA

Tools

AS400/CMS400 or similar

Job description

About the Company

Our client is an automotive manufacturing company. They are looking for a Controller who will be responsible for leading all plant finance and accounting activities, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and timely decision support to Operations. This role owns the month-end close and forecasting process, drives cost/working-capital performance, and partners with plant leadership to improve profitability, operational efficiency, and compliance with corporate policies and accounting standards.

Why Work Here

• Opportunity to act as theMini CFO for the plantwith significant ownership and visibility.
• Simple operation with a relatively small bill of materials.
• Close-knit, collaborative team.
• Highly visible role with the opportunity to directly contribute to the success of the plant.

About the Opportunity

Plant Finance Leadership & Business Partnering

• Serve as the primary finance partner to the Director of Operations and plant leadership team; translate operational performance into financial results and actions.
• Prepare daily/weekly metrics, month-end close, forecast updates, and annual plan.
• Provide clear analysis of key drivers (labour, scrap, efficiency, overtime, materials, freight, overhead absorption) and recommend corrective actions
• Drive a culture of accountability through standard reporting, KPIs, and disciplined follow-up.

Financial Reporting, Close, and Controls

• Own month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, inventory valuation, and reporting packages.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS and corporate accounting policies; maintain strong documentation and audit readiness.
• Establish, document and strengthen internal controls across all key processes and financial areas.
• Coordinate internal/external audit requests and ensure timely remediation of findings.

Costing, Inventory, and Operational Finance

• Own standard costing governance: BOM/routing integrity, labor and overhead rates, periodic cost rolls, and part profitability models.
• Lead variance analysis (PPV, usage, labor efficiency, overhead, scrap) and partner with Operations/Materials/Engineering to address root causes.
• Improve working capital performance through stronger processes for inventory, receivables, payables, and claims/chargebacks.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Long-Range Planning

• Lead annual business plan, quarterly and monthly forecasts, and longer-range planning (e.g., 3-5 year outlook) aligned with plant strategy.
• Build and maintain models for volume/mix sensitivity, margin bridge analysis, and productivity initiatives.
• Track performance to plan and communicate risks/opportunities with recommended actions.

Treasury, Cash, and Capital

• Manage plant-level cash planning and working capital
• Partner on capital planning: business cases, payback/ROI analysis, approval packages, and post-audit reviews.
• Ensure fixed asset accounting accuracy (additions, disposals, depreciation, CIP) and adherence to capitalization policies.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the plant finance team; set clear expectations, prioritize workload, and build capability in cost/controls/analysis.
• Drive performance management, training plans, and succession planning; support hiring decisions as needed.

Compliance & Other Responsibilities

• Support plant compliance requirements relevant to the role (IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and plant EHS standards).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

About You

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. CPA (or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Experience: 5-10+ years progressive experience in manufacturing finance/accounting; automotive preferred. Proven ownership of close, costing, and plant performance reporting.
• Technical: Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, and internal controls. Advanced Excel (PowerQuery/Power Pivot a plus). ERP/MRP experience required (AS400/CMS400 or similar).
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead a team, influence cross-functional leaders, and drive process improvement in a fast-paced plant environment.

Salary Range

$120,000 - $130,000/year

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Vaco/Highspring's client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity. A recruiter will be in touch with you if your profile meets our client's requirements for this role.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco