Plant Controller: Costing, Variance & Financial Planning

Kingfisher Recruiting; Backus (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingfisher Recruiting is seeking a Plant Controller for a Minnesota-based manufacturing facility. You will lead monthly close, cost accounting, budgeting, and variance analysis to drive profitability and operational performance.

This role partners with the Plant Manager and operations, ensuring GAAP compliance, maintaining internal controls, and developing standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost variance reporting.

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 cost accounting required.
• Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, and operational financial analysis.
• Experience supporting plant operations or manufacturing leadership teams.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and manufacturing accounting practices.
• Deep understanding of standard costing, inventory controls, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for the plant, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Maintain the integrity of the plant’s balance sheet and income statement.
• Own the plant cost accounting structure, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost variance analysis.
• Analyze production costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption.
• Monitor and report on key manufacturing metrics such as: cost per unit, scrap and yield, labor utilization, production variances
• Lead the development of the plant’s annual operating budget and periodic forecasts.
• Analyze financial results against budget and forecast, providing detailed variance analysis.
• Provide plant leadership with insights to improve profitability and operational performance.
• Serve as a key business partner to the Plant Manager and operations leadership team.
• Provide financial analysis to support operational initiatives, productivity improvements, and margin expansion.
• Oversee inventory accounting and controls, including cycle counts and annual physical inventories.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting and plant operations.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Variance analysis

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Standard costing

Inventory controls

Job description

Kingfisher Recruiting is seeking a Plant Controller for a Minnesota-based manufacturing facility. You will lead monthly close, cost accounting, budgeting, and variance analysis to drive profitability and operational performance.

This role partners with the Plant Manager and operations, ensuring GAAP compliance, maintaining internal controls, and developing standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost variance reporting.