Plant Controller

JAE Consulting Inc.; Franklin (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aluminum producer in Franklin, KY is seeking a Plant Controller to ensure financial integrity and drive performance. This pivotal role requires around 8 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, strong cost accounting skills, and a collaborative approach. Responsibilities include budget preparation, financial reporting, and supporting plant growth initiatives. The position demands excellent analytical skills and proficiency in Excel, while also offering exposure to business decision-making processes. Join a culture fostering innovation and teamwork.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience in a manufacturing industry with cost accounting expertise.
• Hands-on exposure to plant operations; engaging with production leaders.
• Experience in business case modeling including NPV, IRR, ROI.

Responsibilities

• Analyze monthly results and partner with plant leaders to identify cost drivers.
• Oversee the preparation of monthly consolidated financial statements.
• Lead budget preparation and monthly forecasting for strategic decision-making.
• Manage core financial operations including billing, A/R, A/P, G/L.
• Support external audits and contribute to ad hoc financial analysis.

Skills

Cost accounting expertise

Business analysis capability

Strong analytical skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Our client is a leading North American producer of high-quality recycled aluminum products, supplying slab and billet for the rolling, extrusion, and forging industries. With multiple facilities across the United States and Canada, they operate with world-class remelting technology and the capacity to produce millions of pounds of recycled aluminum annually.

Backed by strong shareholder partnerships, the organization is at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and the global energy transition. Their culture is collaborative and fast-paced, offering exposure to every aspect of the business and the opportunity to work alongside leaders who are shaping the future of the aluminum industry.

About the Role

As the Plant Controller at one of their U.S. operating sites, you will be a key member of the leadership team, directly supporting the Plant Manager and partnering closely with the CFO. This role is central to driving performance and ensuring financial integrity across operations. You will deliver timely and high-quality financial insights, provide data-driven recommendations, and help transform the finance function so it’s positioned for continued growth.

This is more than a finance position — it’s an opportunity to influence business outcomes, shape decision-making, and contribute to the long-term success of a plant that plays a vital role in the organization’s mission.

The Details

In this role, you will:

• Drive Business Performance | Management/Cost Accounting: Analyze monthly results, partner with plant leaders to identify cost drivers, and generate ideas that deliver measurable value.
• Close & Report | General Accounting: Oversee the timely preparation of monthly consolidated financial statements, ensuring compliance with IFRS, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and controls.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead annual budget preparation and monthly forecasting, providing insights that support effective and strategic decision-making.
• Transactional Accounting: Manage core financial operations including billing, A/R, A/P, G/L, inventory, cost accounting, and revenue recognition (except where centralized at the corporate office).
• Other Responsibilities: Support external audits, partner with other site controllers, and contribute to ad hoc financial analysis and special projects.

About You

You are a relationship-oriented finance professional who thrives on understanding the business behind the numbers. You bring both cost accounting expertise and the business analysis capability required to guide investment decisions in a plant expected to undergo meaningful growth. Resilient, collaborative, and solution-oriented, you are energized by working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where your insights have a direct impact on results.

You Bring

• ~8 years of experience in a similar manufacturing industry, with strong cost accounting expertise.
• Hands-on exposure to plant operations; comfortable walking the floor and engaging with production leaders.
• Proven experience in business case modeling: NPV, IRR, ROI, cash-flow modeling, scenario/sensitivity analysis
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and influencing skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to interpret complex financial statements.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, inclusive approach to leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8–10 years of experience in a comparable finance leadership role within manufacturing.
• Prior exposure to consolidation and trade-off evaluation in decision-making.
• Experience navigating audits and working cross-functionally across multiple sites.