Plant Controller, Cranston

CTS Corporation; Cranston (RI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

Paid Time Off

Holiday Pay

Employee Assistance Program

Pet Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

CTS Corporation is seeking a Site Controller for its Cranston, RI manufacturing facility. The role partners with the General Manager, operations, and CTS leadership to provide full financial oversight, including cost accounting, forecasting, budgeting, and compliance with defense industry requirements.

The ideal candidate will be hands‑on and forward‑thinking, building scalable processes while ensuring accuracy, discipline, and adherence to FAR/DFARS and US GAAP across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• 7+ years of progressive finance experience, preferably in manufacturing or defense.
• Experience with government contracts and FAR/DFARS/CAS.
• Strong knowledge of ASC 606 over‑time revenue.
• Experience with ERP implementations.

Responsibilities

• Lead site finance team and partner with General Manager and operations.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, standard costs, and working capital.
• Manage monthly close and financial reporting for the site.
• Support cost accounting, inventory valuation, and program tracking for defense contracts.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, CAS, and US GAAP.
• Provide data‑driven insights to drive performance improvements.

Skills

Financial analysis

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

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We are committed to finding smart solutions that enable an intelligent and seamless world. Our success as a world-class leader in technology has evolved from humble beginnings. In 1896, the enterprising father and son team of A.J. and George A. Briggs partnered with S.A. Buffington, a Chicago lawyer, to establish Chicago Telephone Supply Company (later to become CTS).

Today, CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of sensors, actuators, and electronic components for suppliers and original equipment manufacturers. We have over 20 locations in 12 countries and more than 3,500 employees. Our innovative sensing, connectivity, and motion solutions offer a diverse range of products across diversified end markets including transportation, medical, aerospace and defense, and industrial. We are at the forefront of supporting innovating life‑changing technology, focusing on quality to keep people safe, healthy, and happy.

SyQwest is a recent CTS acquisition that engineers, designs, and manufactures highly‑complex sonar systems and components for the U.S. Navy.

Position Summary

The SyQwest Site Controller serves as the financial leader for our Cranston, RI manufacturing facility, partnering closely with the General Manager, operations, supply chain, engineering, and CTS leadership. This role is responsible for full financial oversight of site performance, including cost accounting, forecasting, budgeting, compliance, and strategic decision support. The ideal candidate is both hands‑on and forward‑thinking—comfortable building processes in a scaling environment while ensuring accuracy, discipline, and compliance with defense industry requirements and driving results.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as the primary financial business partner to the General Manager and operations leadership.
• Provide clear, data‑driven insights to support strategic decisions and operational improvements.
• Primary lead on the site’s activities within forecasts, budgeting, standard costs, working capital and the annual operating plan.
• Oversees and participates in the monthly close and reporting process.

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Responsible for SyQwest’s standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance reporting.
• Maintain accurate job costing and program‑level financial tracking for defense contracts.
• Monitor the implementation of SyQwest’s strategic initiatives, supplying the financial analysis to assist the management team in making operational decisions.
• Manage production reporting used to collect data for costing.
• Review and present financial results to site managers and corporate management.
• Lead site‑level compliance with ASC 606, ensuring accurate and timely recognition of over‑time revenue for long‑term defense programs.
• Oversee the development, validation, and ongoing refinement of Estimate‑at‑Completion (EAC) and Estimate‑to‑Complete (ETC) models.
• Partner with operations to ensure performance obligations, cost‑to‑cost measures, and progress‑toward‑completion metrics are properly defined and consistently applied.
• Review and challenge key assumptions, risks, and opportunities embedded in program estimates to ensure financial integrity and alignment with corporate policy.
• Ensure all revenue‑related judgments, methodologies, and changes in estimates are well‑documented, auditable, and compliant with FAR/DFARS and internal controls.
• Support internal and external audits related to revenue recognition, contract accounting, and program financial performance.

Operational Performance Management

• Develop and monitor KPIs that measure productivity, efficiency, and financial performance.
• Partner with operations to drive continuous improvement initiatives and cost‑reduction programs.
• Support capacity planning, throughput analysis, and scenario modeling as the site scales.
• Interact with the various departments to understand current business issues and financial implications.

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure adherence to government contracting requirements, including FAR/DFARS and CAS.
• Implement and maintain strong internal SOX controls and support internal/external audits.
• Oversee accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with US GAAP, corporate and regulatory standards.
• Responsible for maintaining and calculating indirect rates.

Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Lead and develop a small, high‑performing plant finance team.
• Collaborate with corporate finance and accounting, program management, supply chain, and engineering.
• Champion a culture of accountability, transparency, and operational excellence.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong finance and accounting knowledge and skills.
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with responsibilities and strong analytical skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to provide fresh ideas and methodologies.
• Strong planning, organizational, and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong presentation skills and ability to communicate financial information to financial and non‑financial managers including CTS leadership.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Proven ability to operate in a high‑growth or scaling environment.
• Exceptional analytical skills, business acumen, and communication abilities.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel/analytics tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive finance experience, ideally in manufacturing or defense/aerospace.
• Strong knowledge of ASC 606 over‑time revenue, cost accounting, standard costing, and inventory management.
• Experience working with government contracts and understanding of FAR/DFARS/CAS.
• Experience with ERP system implementations.

Join Us

At CTS, one of the ways we recognize the value of our employees is through our comprehensive benefits program. Highlights of our benefits program for full‑time employees include:

• 401K
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Pay
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. CTS considers a variety of factors when setting base salary rates including, without limitation, a candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

United States EEO Statement

CTS Corporation is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer who complies with all applicable federal, state and local employment laws. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at CTS Corporation will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. It has been and shall continue to be both the official policy and the commitment of CTS Corporation to further equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of, among other characteristics, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable Federal, State or Local law.

ADA accommodation statement: If you require reasonable accommodation in the application process, call Human Resources at 630.577.8811. All other applications must be submitted online.

United States Additional Considerations

It is unlawful in all states where the Company operates, including Massachusetts, to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates applicable laws may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. The Company does not require a lie detector test as a condition of employment nor continued employment.

Applicants must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

No agencies, please. We do not accept any unsolicited resumes and are not looking to engage an agency. We receive inquiries from agencies daily. Do not direct any inquiries or emails to hiring managers. It is not our standard practice to utilize agencies; we are a federal contractor and need to comply with the same process for all.

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