Plant Controller- Manufacturing

Top Echelon Software, LLC; Backus (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Echelon Software, LLC is seeking a Plant Finance Leader to manage monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for the plant, ensuring accurate financial reporting and adherence to U.S. GAAP. The role owns cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis to drive profitability.

You will partner with the Plant Manager and operations leadership to provide insights, oversee inventory controls, and develop the annual operating budget and forecasts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5–10+ years in accounting or finance, with manufacturing experience.
• Prior plant-level finance experience strongly required.
• Experience in standard cost accounting.
• Proficiency in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Experience supporting plant operations or manufacturing leadership.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and manufacturing accounting practices.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for the plant.
• Prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, and schedules.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company policies.
• Maintain the plant’s balance sheet and income statement integrity.
• Own the plant cost accounting structure, including standard costing.
• Analyze production costs, labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption.
• Monitor key manufacturing metrics like cost per unit and scrap.
• Lead the development of the plant’s annual operating budget and forecasts.
• Provide variance analysis of results vs budget and forecast.
• Offer insights to improve profitability and operations.
• Partner with Plant Manager and operations leadership.
• Provide financial analysis to support productivity initiatives.
• Oversee inventory accounting and cycle counts, annual inventories.
• Establish and maintain internal controls over reporting and operations.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Manufacturing accounting

Excel and financial modeling

Cost variance analysis

Budgeting and forecasting

Inventory controls

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Job description

• 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.

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