Plant Controller - Decatur, IL

ADM; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM's Texturants business in Decatur, IL seeks a Plant Controller to join our Nutrition facility and oversee financial operations across Illinois and Nebraska, linking Operations and Finance and driving improvements.

You will lead budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, cost analysis, and capital project evaluation, partnering with operations, procurement, and performance management to optimize working capital and drive performance.

Qualifications

• Strong ability to influence actions using data driven insights and financial acumen.
• Robust analytical abilities, initiative, and critical thinking skills.
• Anticipate and mitigate material risks to operations and plan delivery.
• Effective communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Experience in continuous improvement based on process discipline.
• Proven leadership in inventory control and plant financial management.
• Strong cost accounting expertise in high volume manufacturing.
• Ability to partner with plant leadership across multiple locations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• 7-10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance.
• CMA or CPA a plus.
• Experience with Hyperion HFM and large ERP systems a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own and oversee financial operations at the plant level, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and reporting; lead plant performance reviews.
• Own Controls framework and drive compliance.
• Lead monthly close, forecasting, and variance analysis with actionable insights.
• Partner with commercial and finance teams to evaluate product profitability and margin.
• Explain Slow Time/Down Time and impact to OEE.
• Provide insights to plant management through cost analysis and actions to improve performance.
• Analyze drivers of yield, energy, and downtime costs; propose improvements.
• Review plant costs and allocations to ensure accurate cost reflection.

Skills

Data-driven insights

Analytical skills

Communication

Continuous improvement

Inventory control

Cost accounting

Leadership

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's in accounting/finance

CMA or CPA a plus

Tools

Hyperion HFM

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Position Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join ADM as a Plant Controller supporting our Texturants business, with primarily responsibilities in our Nutrition facility in Decatur IL, as well as financial oversight over additional facilities in Illinois and Nebraska. This role will serve as the primary link between Operations and Finance across these manufacturing locations and will support financial performance for this business line. It offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, partnering and collaborating across Operations, Accounting, Procurement, Performance Management, and Finance. The successful candidate is a highly motivated finance leader who will be deeply embedded in plant operations to drive improvements through actionable insights, working capital optimization, and disciplined execution. This position is based in Decatur, IL and will require periodic travel to other North America ADM locations to support plant leadership, review operational performance, strengthen financial controls, and ensure alignment with business objectives. The position will report to the Global Controller - Specialty Ingredients.

Job Requirements

• Strong ability to influence actions using data driven insights and financial acumen, to provide clear expectations and to give feedback, both positive and constructive
• Robust analytical abilities, initiative, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to anticipate and mitigate material risks to operations and plan delivery
• Effective communication skills across all levels of the organization
• Experience in and drive toward continuous improvement based on strong process discipline
• Proven leadership in inventory control and plant financial management
• Strong cost accounting expertise in high volume, continuous process manufacturing
• Ability to effectively partner with and influence plant leadership across multiple locations
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• 7-10+ years of relevant prior experience in a manufacturing environment
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or similar course of study
• CMA or CPA a plus
• Experience with Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) and large ERP systems a plus

Job Responsibilities

• Own and oversee financial operations at the plant level, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and reporting; serve as key finance voice in daily/weekly/monthly plant performance reviews
• Own Controls framework and drive compliance
• Lead monthly close, forecasting, and variance analysis with strong operational storytelling around key drivers including identification of risks/opportunities and actions to mitigate
• Partner with commercial and finance teams to evaluate product profitability and margin performance
• Explain Slow Time/Down Time and impact to OEE
• Provide actionable insights to plant management through analysis of manufacturing costs and variances, implement and track strategies to optimize financial performance and to improve cost efficiency; model financial impacts to support decision making
• Analyze and explain drivers of: Yield, energy and chemical consumption, upset loss and downtime cost
• Review plant costs and allocations across finished products to ensure costs are accurately reflected
• Provide Commercial leaders with overviews on cost analysis and key areas where capital projects will improve manufacturing costs
• Assist with standard cost development and periodic review of cost standards
• Lead inventory governance across raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and coproducts
• Drive improvements in processes addressing pain points including usage/intensity tracking, cycle counts and physical inventory, and book to physical reconciliation
• Partner with key stakeholders to optimize railcar utilization/availability, spare parts management, and storage constraints
• Lead financial evaluation of capital projects including ROI, payback, and risk
• Support Plant Engineering and Department Supervisors on the purchasing process, making sure the PO and Receiving Processes are executed properly. Monitor goods received not invoiced (GRNI)
• Ensure timely capitalization of projects and write offs of abandonments in accordance with ADM policy
• Develop performance metrics and strategies for continuous improvement
• Lead/Foster a culture of continuous improvement and problem solving
• Develop operations strategic objectives aligned with the corporate strategic objectives
• Monitor the plants monthly closing process in conjunction with accounting
• Establish and share best practices for operations and finance
• Educate the plant leadership and employees on the financial plan and actual results
• Serve as finance champion on site leadership team driving execution of strategic plan
• Support the financial reporting process via Hyperion Financial Management (HFM)
• Support relevant Internal/External audit processes. Ensure compliance with SOX and corporate accounting policies

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:112379BR