Division Controller

Castle Alliance, Inc.; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Division Controller to join their dynamic team. This pivotal role involves partnering with senior leadership to drive market growth and sustain profitability through financial planning and analysis. You will lead a high-performing finance team, enhance decision-making, and foster collaboration across divisions. Your expertise in financial reporting, cost reduction, and operational excellence will be crucial in achieving strategic goals. If you're passionate about developing talent and driving results in a collaborative environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in financial reporting and analysis in manufacturing.
• 3+ years in a financial leadership role with people management.
• Proven track record as a financial business partner.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leadership to develop annual plans aligned with strategy.
• Lead financial planning and analysis for capital investments.
• Oversee day-to-day financial operations and governance.

Skills

Financial Reporting

Financial Analysis

Cost Reduction

Inventory Control

Operational Accounting

ERP Implementation

MS Excel

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Master's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Financial Reporting Software

Business Intelligence Tools

Job description

Position Summary

As a pivotal member of the ITW Divisional Leadership Team ("DLT"), the Division Controller partners with the Vice President/General Manager and Divisional Leadership Team to drive market growth and sustain profitability. This role leads financial planning, analysis, and governance to support above-market organic growth and operational excellence. The Division Controller leverages ITW’s 80/20 business model to simplify processes, enhance decision-making, and foster a high-performing finance team through talent development and cross-functional collaboration.

Structure

• Reports to the VP/GM.
• Manages two direct reports (accounting/finance) and three indirect reports. IT and A/R are shared with the sister division. Peers include divisional Operations, Marketing, Engineering, Business Unit Manager, and HR leaders (Divisional Leadership Team Members).

Location

• Glenview, IL

Travel

• <10% (mostly local, minimal airplane travel).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the VP/GM and Divisional Leadership Team to develop and execute annual and long-range plans aligned with the division’s Strategic Intent.
• Leverage in-depth financial analysis to evaluate potential capital investments, acquisition opportunities, 80/20 growth projects, restructuring initiatives, and other critical opportunities.
• Lead the Long-Range Plan (LRP) process, providing financial planning and analysis to support above-market organic growth.
• Drive continuous improvement in reporting tools to enhance Strategic Sales Excellence and revenue realization.
• Partner with sister divisions to optimize intercompany financial results and shared processes, fostering a collaborative, win-win mindset.
• Partner with the Operations Director and operational locations to drive operational excellence through financial analysis and support for Enterprise Initiatives (e.g., Strategic Savings and FTB savings projects).
• Oversee day-to-day financial and IT operations/processes, including Accounts Payable, Credit/Collections, Inventory/Cost Accounting, Payroll, and IT systems/support.
• Lead 80/20 initiatives to ensure the division meets or exceeds Annual Plan targets for Revenue, Operating Income, Inventory, and Accounts Receivable.
• Support ERP implementation by aligning business processes and providing functional expertise.
• Establish and maintain a robust governance framework to ensure accounting excellence and internal financial controls across all locations.
• Prepare monthly financial statements with detailed analysis, including variance explanations for actuals compared to plan, forecast, and prior year.
• Manage the financial planning and forecasting processes, delivering accurate and timely monthly financial forecasts and measurable targets to evaluate business performance.
• Monitor and support continuous improvement to achieve above-average financial audit results and compliance.
• Identify, lead, and develop talent by building a deep understanding of the Finance team’s capabilities and creating a strong talent pipeline.
• Coach and mentor the Finance team to strengthen cross-functional business partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Business Acumen: Deep understanding of business operations, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes; leverages financial insights to drive strategic decisions.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops and adapts strategies to capitalize on market opportunities and address challenges, aligning with organizational goals.
• Driving Execution: Ensures effective execution of key initiatives, aligning resources and processes to exceed financial and operational targets.
• Building Organizational Talent: Attracts, develops, and retains top talent, fostering a learning environment to meet future challenges.
• Developing Strategic Relationships: Builds effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and results.
• Communicating with Impact: Delivers clear, concise, and tailored communications to influence and engage diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in financial reporting, analysis, cost reduction, inventory control, and operational accounting, with a focus on manufacturing and commercial environments.
• 3+ years in a financial leadership role with direct people management responsibility.
• Proven track record as an influential financial business partner to senior leadership, delivering actionable insights and driving results.
• Experience in financial controlling roles; construction industry experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead ERP implementations and work with business intelligence tools.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Excel and financial reporting software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information and adapt to various audiences.
• Growth mindset with experience driving change while maintaining stakeholder alignment.

Key Experience Differentiators

• Influential business partner to senior leadership, delivering actionable insights.
• Track record of exceeding financial goals through proactive risk anticipation.
• Talent manager who builds high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Growth mindset with stakeholder alignment during change.