Plant Controller

Employee Relations Associates, Inc.; Stone Mountain (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Employee Relations Associates, Inc. is recruiting a Plant Controller for a manufacturing facility in Stone Mountain, GA.

The role leads financial operations, cost accounting, and reporting, partnering with plant and corporate teams to optimize cost and profitability. The ideal candidate has a strong background in manufacturing cost accounting, inventory management, and financial analysis with a hands-on leadership style.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing and variances.
• Experience with month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Solid understanding of GAAP, internal controls, and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant-level accounting activities: month-end close, journal entries, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Analyze monthly results, identify variances, and provide actionable recommendations to improve performance.
• Ensure GAAP compliance, internal controls and policy adherence.
• Partner with corporate finance on consolidated reporting, planning, and audit needs.
• Oversee cost accounting and inventory management, including standard cost and overhead allocation.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting for plant operations and monitor performance versus plan.
• Communicate financial analysis to non-finance stakeholders to drive decisions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost and improve efficiency.

Skills

Manufacturing cost accounting

GAAP / internal controls

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Vicinity

FastCore

Excel

Job description

Location: Stone Mountain, GA
Position Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 annually

Position Overview

TalentBridge is partnering with a growing manufacturing organization to identify a Plant Controller to lead financial operations, cost accounting, and financial reporting for its manufacturing facility in Stone Mountain, GA. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced accounting professional who combines strong technical accounting expertise with a hands-on, operational mindset.

The Plant Controller will oversee plant-level financial performance, lead budgeting and forecasting, strengthen internal controls, and provide financial insights that drive cost optimization, operational efficiency, and profitability. Working closely with plant leadership, production, supply chain, and corporate finance, this individual will translate complex financial data into actionable business recommendations while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in manufacturing cost accounting, inventory management, and financial analysis, along with the ability to build relationships across departments and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Lead plant-level accounting activities, including month-end close, journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting.

Analyze monthly financial results, identify variances and trends, and provide recommendations to improve financial performance.

Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, and internal control requirements.

Partner with corporate finance and accounting teams on consolidated reporting, financial planning, and audit requirements.

Cost Accounting & Inventory Management

Oversee manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costing, cost of goods sold, labor, materials, and overhead allocation.

Analyze production costs, manufacturing variances, scrap, waste, and inventory movements to identify cost savings and improve margins.

Manage inventory valuation, reconciliations, cycle counts, physical inventories, and inventory reserves.

Evaluate product costs, manufacturing efficiencies, and overhead absorption to support profitability and operational decisions.

Collaborate with production and supply chain teams to improve inventory accuracy, cost controls, and working capital management.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Analysis

Lead the annual budgeting process, periodic forecasts, and ongoing financial performance analysis for plant operations.

Monitor actual results against budget and forecast, explain key variances, and recommend corrective actions.

Develop and track key performance indicators related to labor efficiency, material usage, production costs, overhead, and inventory performance.

Evaluate capital expenditures, equipment investments, and operational improvement initiatives.

Provide financial modeling and analysis to support business planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.

Operational Leadership & Process Improvement

Serve as a trusted financial partner to plant management, production, operations, and supply chain leadership.

Translate financial results into actionable insights that improve productivity, cost efficiency, and profitability.

Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting accuracy, financial visibility, and internal controls.

Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, operational performance, and resource utilization.

Establish and maintain consistent financial processes, reporting practices, and controls across plant operations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including significant experience in a manufacturing environment.

Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis.

Experience overseeing month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting.

Solid understanding of GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting requirements.

Experience working with ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present financial information and recommendations to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

A hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across departments.

Preferred Qualifications

CPA, CMA, or MBA.

Previous experience as a Plant Controller, Assistant Controller, Cost Accounting Manager, or similar manufacturing finance leader.

Experience in consumer products, personal care, beauty, cosmetics, chemicals, or related manufacturing industries.

Knowledge of bills of materials (BOMs), production routings, standard cost development, and manufacturing overhead allocation.

Experience with one or more of the following systems:

Vicinity: Manufacturing management and production processes.

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains): General ledger, accounting, and financial reporting.

FastCore: Logistics and inventory management.

Experience supporting ERP enhancements, reporting automation, and process improvement initiatives.

Background in a growing or evolving manufacturing organization.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Competitive compensation of $120,000–$150,000 annually.

• Direct-hire opportunity with the ability to make a meaningful impact on plant performance.

• Cross-functional partnership with manufacturing and corporate leadership.

• Opportunity to drive cost optimization, strengthen financial processes, and influence business decisions.