Manufacturing Plant Controller & Financial Insights Lead

Brilliant®; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Brilliant is seeking an experienced Plant Controller to lead financial operations at our Itasca, IL facility. You will partner with plant leadership to drive accounting, cost management, budgeting, and reporting, while delivering actionable insights to improve profitability and operational performance.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong manufacturing accounting background, and the ability to translate financial data into strategic guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience as Plant Controller or similar leadership role.
• Strong costing, inventory, and variance analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee plant-level accounting and financial operations, including month-end close and reporting.
• Lead cost accounting activities: standard costing, inventory valuation, variances, COGS.
• Partner with plant leadership to evaluate operations, identify cost-saving opportunities, improve profitability.
• Analyze manufacturing variances related to labor, materials, overhead, and efficiency.
• Develop and monitor plant KPIs, providing financial insights for decisions.
• Manage annual budgets, forecasts, capex, and working capital programs.
• Maintain strong internal controls, GAAP compliance, and policies.
• Oversee inventory controls, counts, reconciliations, and accuracy.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives for efficiency and cost reduction.
• Lead and develop plant accounting personnel with corporate finance.

Skills

Manufacturing accounting

Cost accounting

Budgeting & forecasting

GAAP compliance

Leadership

Financial analysis

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Brilliant is seeking an experienced Plant Controller to lead financial operations at our Itasca, IL facility. You will partner with plant leadership to drive accounting, cost management, budgeting, and reporting, while delivering actionable insights to improve profitability and operational performance.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong manufacturing accounting background, and the ability to translate financial data into strategic guidance.