Plant Controller: Costing, Budgeting & Insights Lead

Management Performance Associates; Backus (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Management Performance Associates seeks a Plant Controller to lead monthly, quarterly, and yearly closes for a manufacturing site in Minnesota. You will own cost accounting, standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis to drive profitability.

The role partners with plant leadership to improve operational performance and budgeting accuracy. Responsibilities include analyzing production costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption, while maintaining strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
• 5–10+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• Prior experience in manufacturing or plant-level finance strongly required.
• Experience in standard costing, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for the plant and ensure GAAP-compliant reporting.
• Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and schedules.
• Own cost accounting structure including standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost variance analysis.
• Analyze production costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption.
• Develop the plant’s annual operating budget and periodic forecasts.
• Provide financial analysis to support operational initiatives and margin improvement.
• Oversee inventory accounting, cycle counts, and annual physical inventories.
• Maintain internal controls over financial reporting and plant operations.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Cost accounting

Budgeting and forecasting

Variance analysis

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Manufacturing finance

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Financial modeling software

Job description

Management Performance Associates seeks a Plant Controller to lead monthly, quarterly, and yearly closes for a manufacturing site in Minnesota. You will own cost accounting, standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis to drive profitability.

The role partners with plant leadership to improve operational performance and budgeting accuracy. Responsibilities include analyzing production costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption, while maintaining strong