Plant Controller

Guided Search Partners; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Executive Search firm is seeking a Plant Controller in Sacramento, CA. This onsite role focuses on manufacturing finance, including cost accounting and inventory management. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, 5+ years of experience, and strong skills in ERP systems and Excel. This key role aims to protect financial integrity while supporting better decision-making and improved operational performance within the plant. Collaboration with leadership and operational teams is essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of manufacturing accounting experience, preferably in cost accounting.
• Experience managing inventory and internal controls.
• Comfortable working in an onsite plant environment.

Responsibilities

• Own plant-level accounting and finance activities.
• Lead cost accounting and variance analysis.
• Manage inventory accounting and controls.
• Prepare monthly financial results and forecasts.
• Support compliance and audit-related activities.
• Build and improve financial reporting processes.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory control

Financial modeling

Data management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

ERP software (JD Edwards, SAP, Oracle)

Excel

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.

We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a stable, publicly traded manufacturing organization with a broad U.S. footprint and long-term demand for its products. This plant operates with a lean structure and a “plant-as-a-business” approach—meaning the site finance leader is expected to be close to operations, visible with leadership, and hands‑on with the numbers.

This Plant Controller role is open due to a recent retirement. In the interim, the work has been supported at the area level, and the business is ready to bring a dedicated controller back into the plant to strengthen reporting, cost visibility, inventory controls, and financial partnership. If you enjoy manufacturing finance that’s equal parts accounting discipline and operational influence, this role offers real impact and the opportunity to improve how the plant runs.

This is an onsite role in Sacramento, CA, working standard business hours.

What You’ll Do

• Own plant-level accounting and finance activities, partnering closely with the Plant Manager and maintaining alignment with area/corporate finance.
• Lead cost accounting work—standard costing support, variance analysis, and insights tied to plant performance.
• Manage inventory accounting and controls, including support for physical inventory processes and inventory accuracy.
• Prepare monthly financial results, forecasts, and analysis that connect operational drivers to financial outcomes.
• Support internal controls and compliance, including audit and SOX-related activities.
• Build and improve reporting through data management, data pulls, and financial modeling (Excel-heavy).
• Work cross-functionally to keep decisions aligned to budget, forecasts, and cost expectations.

Who You Are

You’re a plant-facing finance partner who can listen to operations, bring structure, and keep the leadership team grounded in what the numbers are saying. You’re comfortable being hands‑on, asking good questions, and turning data into decisions. You’re steady, organized, and collaborative—able to influence without needing a big team behind you.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• 5+ years of manufacturing accounting experience (cost accounting strongly preferred).
• Inventory control/management experience, including physical inventory exposure.
• Familiarity with audits and internal controls (SOX exposure is a plus).
• ERP experience (JD Edwards, SAP, or Oracle) and strong Excel skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner across functions.
• Comfortable in an onsite plant environment; no direct reports in a lean structure.

Why This Role Matters

This role protects the financial integrity of the site while improving how the plant understands costs, inventory, and performance drivers. You’ll be a key member of the leadership team—bringing clarity, discipline, and actionable insight that supports better decisions and stronger execution.