Financial Controller

Materials Research Furnaces (MRF); Allenstown (NH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Materials Research Furnaces seeks a Controller to protect financial assets and drive sound accounting controls across a manufacturing environment. You will supervise the finance team, perform month-end closings, cost accounting, budgeting and forecasting, and partner with operations to improve profitability.

The right candidate has a BS in Accounting or Finance, 5–10 years in manufacturing accounting with cost accounting experience, and strong Excel skills.

Qualifications

• BS Accounting or Finance degree required.
• 5-10 years accounting experience with manufacturing focus.
• Cost accounting experience required.
• Prior management experience with direct reports preferred; controller experience a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel and data mining tools.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations including general accounting, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Lead product costing and margin analysis, budgeting and forecasting.
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations and fixed assets schedules.
• Educate department leaders on cost drivers and variances to improve performance.
• Manage outsourced HR provider.
• Prepare for financial audits and insurance negotiations.

Skills

Cost accounting

Data mining

Excel

Data analysis

Communication

Education

BS Accounting or Finance

Tools

Acumatica ERP

ERP implementation

Job description

Materials Research Furnaces is a manufacturer of specialized high-temperature heating systems designed for scientific and industrial research applications in materials science, engineering, metallurgy, ceramics, nanotechnology, and more. They allow precise control of temperature, atmosphere (vacuum, inert gas, reducing/oxidizing environments), and sometimes pressure to study, synthesize, or process materials under controlled high-temperature conditions.

At the core of the Controller position is the protection of the company's financial assets through accurate accounting and controls. It will be essential to work with all functions of the company to research, analyze and monitor expenditures and ensure the company’s financial fundamentals are sound, ethical, legal and accurate.

Requirements

• BS Accounting or Finance
• 5-10 years of accounting experience
• Manufacturing experience is a MUST, including cost accounting experience
• Prior management experience with direct reports strongly preferred; Plant Controller or Corporate Controller experience is a plus
• High level of comfort using various business systems and data mining
• Special expertise using Microsoft Office, specifically proficiency in Excel
• Highly analytical problem solver with strong attention to detail
• Preference given to candidates with Acumatica ERP and/or ERP implementation experience

Leadership Attributes

• Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills; effectively communicates with associates across all levels of the organization
• Encourages the free exchange of information and opinion; appropriately shares viewpoints, even when negative or unpopular; possesses strong collaborative skills
• Acts with a sense of urgency that transcends the comfort zone of others
• Results driven and strives for continuous improvement; able to coach, direct and hold support staff accountable for expected results
• Natural curiosity that drives focused, in-depth analysis to solve problems
• Courage to identify problems and recommend solutions; proactive, not reactive
• Serves as the conscience of the company and upholds the highest standards of ethics
• Willingly embraces changes needed to adapt to new circumstances
• Inspires confidence through professional experience, abilities and personal qualities
• Demonstrates a winning, can do attitude with resiliency, persistence, high energy and commitment to achieving goals

Necessary Skills

• Builds robust relationships with colleagues across all departments
• Ability to extract, organize, analyze and report data in a manner relevant to business decisions
• Change agent with proven capability to establish new processes and enhance existing processes
• Identifies and implements efficiencies in accounting and administrative processes
• Grasps short and long term goals and works with a strategic focus
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment; effectively prioritizes multiple projects and tight deadlines
• Proven ability to maximize financial and manufacturing information technology
• Ensures work is accurate and presented with executive quality
• Self-starter who is self-directed and drives ad hoc tasks to completion

Responsibilities

As the primary support to the CFO and a member of the financial team, the Controller will have a significant impact on the organization's critical, tactical and strategic initiatives. He or she will lead day-to-day finance operations, including general accounting, month-end closing, monthly reporting and analysis, product costing and margin analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and quarterly reporting to the BOD.

The Controller will be instrumental in developing, improving and maintaining an appropriate control environment. This will include timely and accurate balance sheet reconciliations, monthly accruals and maintenance of fixed assets.

The Controller will be a highly valued partner in the organization and will work closely with manufacturing to understand operating issues and their impact on financial results. He or she will educate department leaders on cost drivers and variances, propose solutions and identify opportunities for the finance function to better support operations.

The Controller will also have management responsibility for the Company’s outsourced HR provider.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Performing accurate and timely month-end closings, with financial statement distribution by the 10th of the following month; monitoring and analyzing operating results against budget/forecast and preparing income statements, balance sheets and statements of cash flow
• Percentage of completion revenue and COGS recognition
• Creating the annual budget and periodic forecasts in coordination with Sales and Operations
• Performing monthly balance sheet reconciliations and ensuring sub-ledgers reconcile to the general ledger, especially inventory, accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Ensuring all accruals are supported and reconciled monthly
• Developing and documenting internal control processes and mitigating control weaknesses
• Serving as primary liaison for financial audits and general insurance negotiations
• Maintaining a forward looking focus rather than simply reporting historical results; forecasting the business, anticipating changes in performance and cash flow, and providing management early visibility into risks and opportunities
• Performing all work with the highest ethical standards and appropriate attention to detail

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to President of MRF with dotted-line reporting to the IDI CFO