Plant Controller

MRA Search; Tolleson (AZ); On-site; USD 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Not disclosed in the ad is seeking an experienced Plant Controller for its Tolleson, Arizona facility. This role will serve as the primary financial leader for the plant, partnering with operations and corporate finance.

The successful candidate will focus on cost accounting, inventory, variances, budgeting, forecasting, and operational financial analysis to support profitability and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or related field.
• Experience in manufacturing accounting and cost accounting.
• Private equity-backed environment experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting and financial activities for the Tolleson facility.
• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Provide plant-level financial reporting and analysis.
• Manage cost accounting, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and COGS analysis.
• Analyze variances: material, labor, overhead, purchase price, usage, efficiency.
• Partner with Plant Manager and operations to improve profitability and productivity.
• Lead annual budgeting and ongoing forecasting for the plant.
• Monitor inventory levels, cycles, and physical counts.
• Develop plant KPIs and financial dashboards for ops decisions.
• Support capital expenditures analysis and manufacturing efficiency initiatives.
• Ensure integrity of plant financial records and internal controls.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory controls

Budgeting

Forecasting

Manufacturing variances

GAAP knowledge

ERP systems

Internal controls

Financial analysis

Audit support

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Our PE Owned client is almost $500 Million in revenue is the leading manufacturer of disposable food service products, including cups, containers, lids, straws, and sustainable packaging solutions. The company operates multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States and serves customers throughout the food service, retail, and consumer products markets.

Our client is a private equity-backed organization operating in a fast-paced, results-oriented manufacturing environment.

Position Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Plant Controller for its manufacturing facility in Tolleson, Arizona. This position will serve as the primary financial leader for the plant and will partner closely with plant operations and corporate finance leadership.

The Plant Controller will be responsible for all aspects of plant-level accounting and financial reporting, with a particularly strong emphasis on cost accounting, inventory, manufacturing variances, budgeting, forecasting, and operational financial analysis.

The successful candidate will bring approximately 7–12+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including significant experience in a manufacturing environment. Prior experience as a Plant Controller or in a comparable plant-level financial leadership role is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the accounting and financial activities for the Tolleson manufacturing facility.


• Own and manage the plant’s monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.


• Provide accurate and timely plant-level financial reporting and analysis.


• Manage all aspects of manufacturing cost accounting, including standard costing, product costing, inventory valuation, overhead allocation, and cost-of-goods-sold analysis.


• Analyze manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, purchase price, usage, efficiency, and production variances.


• Partner closely with the Plant Manager and operations leadership to identify opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, and operating performance.


• Lead the plant’s annual budgeting process and provide ongoing forecasting and financial planning support.


• Analyze actual results against budget and forecast and provide clear explanations of significant variances.


• Monitor inventory levels, inventory accuracy, reserves, cycle counts, and physical inventory processes.


• Develop and maintain plant-level KPIs and financial dashboards to support operational decision-making.


• Provide financial analysis related to capital expenditures, manufacturing efficiency, capacity, labor utilization, scrap, waste, and other operational initiatives.


• Ensure the integrity of plant financial records and compliance with corporate accounting policies and procedures.


• Maintain and strengthen internal controls within the plant.


• Support internal and external audit requirements.


• Work closely with corporate accounting, FP&A, operations, supply chain, procurement, and other functional leaders.


• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting, controls, and overall financial visibility within the facility.


• Serve as a hands-on financial business partner to plant leadership while maintaining strong accounting discipline and financial controls.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field required.


• Approximately 5–10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.


• Significant accounting experience within a manufacturing environment required.


• Prior Plant Controller experience or comparable plant-level financial leadership experience strongly preferred.


• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing variances, and cost-of-goods-sold.


• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and operational reporting.


• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial accounting principles.


• Experience working with ERP and manufacturing accounting systems.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate financial information into actionable operational insights.


• Ability to work effectively with both financial and non-financial leaders in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.


• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to operate effectively in a private equity-backed, performance-driven organization is highly desirable.

Compensation

Our client offers a competitive compensation package consisting of:

Target Base Salary: Up to $130,000

Annual Bonus: 5% target bonus opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manufacturing accounting professional to take ownership of the financial function for a significant company's manufacturing operation and serve as a key business partner to plant and corporate leadership.