Plant Controller

CarsonLynch Professional Search; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

CarsonLynch Professional Search places a senior Plant Controller with a global manufacturing client in Cincinnati. You will be the senior finance leader for a large operation, partnering with plant leadership to influence decisions and drive financial and operational performance on the plant floor.

This hands-on role blends manufacturing finance with operations, turning data into actionable insights and leading a team to achieve cost reductions and profitability targets in a complex production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.
• Progressive experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or plant controllership.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience partnering with plant leadership and operational teams.
• Demonstrated success driving process improvements and cost-saving initiatives.
• Advanced analytical, financial modeling, and business partnering skills.
• Experience supporting large, multi-site or complex manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary finance business partner to plant leadership.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and monthly financial reporting processes.
• Analyze manufacturing performance, labor utilization, inventory, scrap, and production variances.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and operational improvement efforts.
• Provide insight and recommendations to improve profitability and performance.
• Oversee standard costing, inventory controls, and inventory valuation processes.
• Support capital investment analysis and strategic decision-making.
• Lead and develop plant accounting and finance personnel.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and financial reporting requirements.

Skills

Financial modeling

Business partnering

Analytical skills

Cost accounting

Plant leadership collaboration

Education

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

Job description

A global manufacturing organization is seeking a Plant Controller to serve as the senior finance leader for a large, complex manufacturing operation. This is far more than a traditional accounting role. You'll partner directly with plant leadership, influence key business decisions, and help drive financial and operational performance across the facility.

This is an opportunity for a hands‑on manufacturing finance professional who enjoys being on the plant floor, collaborating with operations, and turning financial data into business action.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the primary finance business partner to plant leadership
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and monthly financial reporting processes
• Analyze manufacturing performance, labor utilization, inventory, scrap, and production variances
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and operational improvement efforts
• Provide insight and recommendations to improve profitability and performance
• Oversee standard costing, inventory controls, and inventory valuation processes
• Support capital investment analysis and strategic decision‑making
• Lead and develop plant accounting and finance personnel
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and financial reporting requirements

What Makes This Opportunity Different

• Highly visible leadership position with direct exposure to executive and operational leadership
• Opportunity to influence business decisions, not just report results
• Large‑scale manufacturing environment with meaningful operational complexity
• Strong partnership with operations, supply chain, and plant leadership
• Career growth potential within a global organization
• Ability to make a measurable impact on both financial and operational performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline
• Progressive experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or plant controllership
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing operations
• Experience partnering with plant leadership and operational teams
• Demonstrated success driving process improvements and cost‑saving initiatives
• Advanced analytical, financial modeling, and business partnering skills
• Experience supporting large, multi‑site or complex manufacturing operations

If you're looking for a role where you'll have a true seat at the leadership table and the ability to impact business performance on a daily basis, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect!