North American Plant Controller Job

The Arkema Group; Greenville (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkema Inc. seeks a Finance Business Partner to join the Plant Leadership Team in Greenville, SC. You will provide financial guidance, coordinate conversion costs, capital, and headcount budgets, and support site decision making to drive financial goals.

Responsibilities include monthly reports, variance analysis, internal controls, audit support, and mentoring manufacturing staff on costing, inventory control, and cost analysis, while travel about 25%.

Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. in accounting or finance with 3+ years in industry.
• ERP experience (SAP preferred).
• Strong analytical, budgeting and cost control skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and travel ~25%.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate plant conversion costs, budgets, and forecasts.
• Provide financial guidance and analysis to plant leadership.
• Monitor inventory valuation, BOM variances, and cost performance.
• Manage month-end close and financial reporting per IFRS/US GAAP.
• Support audit requirements and internal controls across the site.
• Mentor manufacturing staff on accounting, costing and inventory control.

Skills

Spreadsheets

Financial analysis

Accounting systems

Cost control

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

Tools

SAP

Job description

Objectives

• As the Finance Business Partner on the Plant Leadership Team, this role works collaboratively with the members of the Plant leadership team and actively influences plant level decision making to enable continued success. The controller provides financial guidance, direction, and analytical support for appropriate functional areas and all corresponding departments within the two plants. This position will coordinate the development of conversion cost, capital, and headcount budgets, and forecasts for assigned areas.
• The controller provides comprehensive financial support for assigned departments, including, but not limited to monthly performance reports, financial analysis, expense variance review, recommendations for corrective actions when needed, and special projects as required.
• This role ensures adherence to internal control & compliance to financial policies & procedures.

Position Scope

• Dual reporting to the C&C North America Finance Director with a matrix line to the C&C USA Industrial Director.

Activity

Provide financial guidance, direction, and analytical support in the following areas:

• Plant conversion costs – Understand site conversion costs including monitoring and controlling spend to ensure the site achieves its financial goals including headcount, total spend and cost per ton. This includes cost allocations, expenditure commitments, timely receipt of goods/services, supporting plant managers in monitoring plant performance. Ensure that plant level costs are recorded in accordance with Bostik policy. Communicate issues timely.
• Material and production costs – Review and understand Actual and Standard Costing for their site. Complete cost estimate calculations, review Bill of Materials to ensure proper Material Usage Variance (MUV) analysis throughout the year. Analyze and communicate actual product cost variances including but not limited to Purchase Price Variance, Scrap and MUV. Inform manufacturing manager and BU finance director of any alteration on production process performance, track and communicate under/over absorption at production work centers and UG level.
• Inventory valuation – Ensure accurate inventory valuation by reviewing and approving finished goods product Weighted Average Cost (WAC). Identify and communicate raw material costing issues for their site(s), monitors cycle counts/physical inventories to ensure adherence to policy. Monitor spare parts and inventory, manage (analyze, adjust, validate) inventory provisions (slow moving and quality based on identified issues).
• Financial statements – control and detect any variances regarding budget, Group Reporting Manual, IFRS, US GAAP, request any corrective manual entries as needed.
• Industrial investment – Work in close coordination with fixed asset accountant to review fixed-assets inventories. Perform fixed asset inventories in accordance with Bostik Policy. Ensure assets are appropriately identified and disposed of with the addition of any new/replacement capital.
• Month end close – Provide timely communication to the BU leaders in accordance with reporting schedule.
• Budget and forecast – Responsible for coordinating the plant budget process. Prepare costing data for the next year (calculate activity rates, validate BOMs and routings, analyze standard cost run for the plant). Compile the annual conversion cost budget (cost center hierarchy, headcount, payroll, maintenance costs, etc.), review and adjust allocation keys for shared expenses, analyze yearly conversion cost evolution versus year‑end‑forecast, provide the BU a detailed presentation.
• Financial reporting – Communicate site financial results, providing a monthly financial report to Finance Managers – BU and Corporate.
• Audit support – Support year end audit requirements regarding plant financials to external/internal auditors.
• Mentoring – Lead training and development of local manufacturing staff on accounting principles, internal controls, financial statement analysis, cost analysis and inventory control.

CONTEXT AND ENVIRONMENT

• Context: Dalton 45%, Greenville 45%, and BU initiatives 10%. Approximately 121 employees at the two plants.
• Constraints: ensure the proper application of Group Reporting Manual rules, Core Model processes, ARKEMA Internal Control policy, closing deadlines respect.
• Travel: approximately 25% of the time.
• Education: B.S. or B.A. in accounting or finance with at least 3‑years of experience in an industrial or public accounting.
• Practice safe work habits in accordance with OSHA and EPA guidelines and Bostik specific EHS expectations.
• ERP experience (SAP preferred), knowledge of metrics / KPI.
• Demonstrated competency in the use of spreadsheets and accounting systems for the purpose of analysis and financial modeling is required.
• Good relationship building skills, analytical insight, organizational skills, reactivity, ability to see the whole picture and neutrality, analytical capacities to proactively detect drifts.

Arkema Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Arkema Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting and hiring.

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