Plant Controller

Phaxis; Daphne (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Phaxis seeks a Plant Controller to lead the plant's financial reporting, cost accounting, and internal controls from Sparta, TN. This senior finance role partners with plant leadership to drive cost discipline, inventory accuracy, and margin performance while ensuring GAAP compliance and SOX controls.

The successful candidate will own the monthly close, develop KPI reporting, and manage budgeting/forecasting in collaboration with corporate and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 6-8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, manufacturing/plant controllership preferred.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, manufacturing variance analysis, and inventory accounting.
• GAAP and SOX compliance experience.
• ERP experience with SAP or Oracle; strong Excel skills.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close processes.
• Ability to partner with plant operations and non-finance leaders to drive outcomes.
• Data-driven mindset and continuous improvement focus.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process for the plant, ensuring GAAP-compliant financials.
• Own and enhance weekly KPI reporting for plant leadership with actionable insights.
• Prepare plant P&L, balance sheet, and variance analyses for leadership.
• Maintain internal controls, including SOX compliance, and lead plant-level audits.
• Partner with corporate on consolidation, reporting packages, and budget/forecast cycles.
• Review capex requests and analyze ROI.
• Ensure compliance with tax, regulatory, and corporate reporting at the plant.
• Maintain standard costing system and update annual cost data.
• Analyze variances and work with operations to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Oversee physical and cycle counts to ensure inventory accuracy.
• Monitor productivity, scrap, and yield; drive cost improvements.
• Serve as finance business partner to Plant Manager and leadership team.
• Lead annual budgeting and ongoing forecast updates.

Skills

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Financial reporting

SOX/compliance

GAAP

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or CMA

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

A leading sustainable manufacturer serving the automotive and industrial markets in the US and international markets is looking to hire a Plant Controller. With nearly 40 years of company history, this private company has corporate centers located in greater Mobile, Alabama and Dallas, Texas. The Plant Controller will sit in Sparta, TN.
The Plant Controller is the senior finance leader for the manufacturing facility, responsible for the plant's full financial reporting, cost accounting, and internal controls. This role partners closely with plant leadership and operations teams to drive cost discipline, inventory accuracy, and margin performance, while ensuring compliance with corporate accounting policies and GAAP. The Plant Controller translates plant-level financial and operational data into clear insights that support capital planning, productivity initiatives, and day-to-day decision-making on the floor. What you\'ll do?

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process for the plant, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with GAAP and corporate policy.
• Own and continuously enhance weekly KPI reporting for plant leadership, delivering actionable insights and clear analysis of key performance drivers, variances, and operational impacts to support data-driven decision-making.
• Prepare and review plant-level P&L, balance sheet, and variance analysis for plant and corporate leadership.
• Maintain a strong internal controls environment, including SOX compliance where applicable, and lead plant-level audits.
• Partner with corporate accounting and FP&A on consolidation, reporting packages, and budget/forecast cycles.
• Review and approve capital expenditure requests, ensuring appropriate ROI analysis and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with tax, regulatory, and corporate reporting requirements at the plant level.
• Maintain the plant's standard costing system, including labor, material, and overhead rates, and lead the annual standard cost update.
• Analyze manufacturing variances (material, labor, overhead) and partner with operations to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Oversee physical inventory counts and cycle counts, ensuring inventory accuracy and appropriate reserves.
• Monitor and report on plant productivity, scrap, and yield metrics, identifying opportunities for cost improvement.
• Serve as the primary finance business partner to the Plant Manager and plant leadership team, supporting operational decision-making with financial insight.
• Lead the plant's annual budgeting process and ongoing forecast updates in partnership with plant and corporate leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• 6-8+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, with a focus on manufacturing/plant controllership preferred.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, manufacturing variance analysis, and inventory accounting.
• Exhibits a genuine curiosity and passion for continuous improvement, actively seeking new tools, technologies, and process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce turnaround times.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and internal controls, including SOX compliance experience.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and strong Excel skills.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with plant operations and non-finance leaders to drive business outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close processes.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present financial results clearly to plant and corporate leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional operational teams, driving accountability and results without direct ownership or formal authority.
• High degree of integrity and sound judgment in handling confidential financial information.
• Ability to work in a plant/manufacturing environment, including regular time on the production floor.
• Proven track record of using data-driven insights to lead cost reduction and operational improvement initiatives.
• Or ganizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience in a multi-plant or multi-site manufacturing organization.
• Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience.
• Experience with Oracle or similar large-scale ERP implementations.
• Prior experience supporting M&A integration or plant startup/turnaround.