Plant Controller: Finance Leader for Operational Excellence

ADM; Southport (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM in Southport, NC seeks a Plant Controller to bridge Operations and Finance at its Citric Acid facility. The role will embed in plant operations to drive improvements through insights, working capital optimization, and disciplined execution.

The successful candidate reports to the Finance Director - E2E Operations & Supply Chain and will lead monthly closes, forecasting, and performance reviews, enabling data-driven decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to influence actions across diverse stakeholders in a demanding environment.
• Use data driven insights and financial acumen to provide clear expectations and feedback.
• Robust analytical abilities, initiative and problem-solving 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 in strong process discipline.
• Proven leadership in inventory control and plant financial management.
• Strong cost accounting expertise in high volume, continuous process manufacturing.
• 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.
• Experience with Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) and large ERP systems a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own and oversee framework for all controls and processes impacting financial results; govern timely compliance with policies; review outputs for accuracy.
• Own full site financial performance; serve as key finance voice in plant performance reviews.
• Lead monthly close, forecasting and variance analysis with operational storytelling around drivers and risks/opportunities.
• Explain Slow Time/Down Time and impact to OEE.
• Provide actionable insights to plant management through analysis of manufacturing costs and variances; model financial impacts to support decisions.
• Analyze and explain drivers of yield, recovery variance, energy and chemical consumption, and downtime cost.
• Review plant costs and allocations across finished products to ensure accurate costing.
• Lead inventory governance across raw materials, WIP, finished goods, and coproducts.
• Drive process improvements addressing pain points, cycle counts, and physical vs book reconciliation.
• Partner with stakeholders to optimize railcar utilization, spare parts management, and storage constraints.
• Lead financial evaluation of capital projects including ROI, payback, and risk.
• Support purchasing processes (PO/GRNI) and ensure capitalization of projects.

Skills

Influence across stakeholders

Data-driven insights

Analytical abilities

Problem solving

Effective communication

Continuous improvement

Inventory control leadership

Cost accounting

Microsoft Office proficiency

Manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Tools

Hyperion Financial Management (HFM)

ERP systems

Job description

ADM in Southport, NC seeks a Plant Controller to bridge Operations and Finance at its Citric Acid facility. The role will embed in plant operations to drive improvements through insights, working capital optimization, and disciplined execution.

The successful candidate reports to the Finance Director - E2E Operations & Supply Chain and will lead monthly closes, forecasting, and performance reviews, enabling data-driven decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.