PLANT CONTROLLER

In Demand Recruitment and Consulting Inc.; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. is seeking a hands-on Plant Controller for a manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The role partners with the Plant Manager and leadership to connect operational performance with financial results and drive cost control, productivity, and profitability. You will lead manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting, while developing the plant accounting team and maintaining strong internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5–8+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience as a Plant Controller, Manufacturing Controller, Plant Finance Manager, or similar plant-level finance leader strongly preferred.
• Strong experience in manufacturing and cost accounting, including standard costing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures, labour, overhead, headcount costs, and variance analysis.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, general accounting, and financial analysis.
• Knowledge of auditing, internal controls, and financial compliance.
• Experience analyzing and supporting capital expenditures.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Plant Managers, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Materials, HR, and other functional leaders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant financial activities, including manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, product costing, general accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Analyze plant performance and variances across sales, volume, direct and indirect labour, salaried labour, overhead, depreciation, and other manufacturing costs.
• Manage monthly and annual financial reporting, including income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, reconciliations, and related reporting.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and support ongoing forecasting and financial planning.
• Develop cost models, pricing scenarios, and financial analyses to support commercial and operational decisions.
• Partner closely with the Plant Manager, Manufacturing, Operations, Materials, Engineering, HR, and Commercial teams to improve plant performance.
• Provide financial analysis for capital expenditures, tooling, and engineering projects.
• Oversee payroll and support Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, banking, and related accounting activities.
• Lead and develop the plant accounting team, including performance management and employee development.
• Maintain strong financial controls, audit compliance, policies, procedures, and reconciliations.
• Monitor plant operational metrics and use financial and operational data to identify opportunities for cost reduction, productivity improvement, and increased profitability.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, Gemba walks, Kaizen events, and other plant improvement activities.

Skills

Manufacturing finance

Financial leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Variance analysis

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional partnership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Job description

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. is currently assisting our client in their search for an experienced PLANT CONTROLLER for their manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Our client is a leading manufacturer of flexible polyurethane foam and engineered foam products serving the automotive, furniture and bedding, industrial, technical, and specialty markets. The Greensboro operation employs approximately 200 people.

This is a hands-on plant finance leadership role with overall responsibility for the facility’s financial operations. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, the Plant Controller will partner closely with the Plant Manager and functional leaders to connect operational performance with financial results and drive cost control, productivity, profitability, and continuous improvement.

The position will lead a small accounting team consisting of a Senior Plant Accountant and Accounting Specialist.

Local Greensboro-area candidates are strongly preferred.

What You’ll Do

As Plant Controller, you will lead the financial activities of the manufacturing operation while serving as a strategic business partner to plant leadership.

You will:

• Lead all plant financial activities, including manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, product costing, general accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Analyze plant performance and variances across sales, volume, direct and indirect labour, salaried labour, overhead, depreciation, and other manufacturing costs.
• Manage monthly and annual financial reporting, including income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, reconciliations, and related reporting.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and support ongoing forecasting and financial planning.
• Develop cost models, pricing scenarios, and financial analyses to support commercial and operational decisions.
• Partner closely with the Plant Manager, Manufacturing, Operations, Materials, Engineering, HR, and Commercial teams to improve plant performance.
• Provide financial analysis for capital expenditures, tooling, and engineering projects.
• Oversee payroll and support Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, banking, and related accounting activities.
• Lead and develop the plant accounting team, including performance management and employee development.
• Maintain strong financial controls, audit compliance, policies, procedures, and reconciliations.
• Monitor plant operational metrics and use financial and operational data to identify opportunities for cost reduction, productivity improvement, and increased profitability.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, Gemba walks, Kaizen events, and other plant improvement activities.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on manufacturing finance leader who understands the plant floor as well as the financial statements. You should be comfortable working directly with Operations and Plant Leadership and translating manufacturing performance into meaningful financial insight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 5–8+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience as a Plant Controller, Manufacturing Controller, Plant Finance Manager, or similar plant-level finance leader strongly preferred.
• Strong experience in manufacturing and cost accounting, including standard costing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures, labour, overhead, headcount costs, and variance analysis.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, general accounting, and financial analysis.
• Knowledge of auditing, internal controls, and financial compliance.
• Experience analyzing and supporting capital expenditures.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Plant Managers, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Materials, HR, and other functional leaders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a Plant Controller who genuinely understands manufacturing operations and enjoys being an active member of the plant leadership team.

You understand standard costing, labour and overhead variances, budgeting, forecasting, plant KPIs, cost control, and profitability, but you’re equally comfortable working with Operations to understand why the numbers are moving and what can be done to improve them.

You are analytical, hands‑on, commercially minded, and capable of providing the Plant Manager with the financial insight needed to make better operational and business decisions.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of the financial function for an established manufacturing facility while having a direct influence on plant performance, cost management, productivity, and profitability.

You’ll work closely with senior plant leadership, lead and develop a dedicated accounting team, and have meaningful involvement in both the financial and operational sides of the business.

Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. may use artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools to support certain aspects of our recruitment process, including the screening and assessment of applications. These tools are used to assist with organizing, reviewing, and evaluating candidate information and do not replace human judgment or decision-making.