Plant Controller: Manufacturing Finance Leader

Hormel Foods; La Grange (IL); On-site; USD 103,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Bonuses and profit sharing

Job summary

Hormel Foods is seeking a Plant Controller for Fontanini operations in McCook, IL. This leadership role oversees location accounting functions and provides financial guidance to plant operations to ensure GAAP compliance and asset protection.

You will deliver timely reports, conduct cost and variance analyses, and drive continuous improvement in financial processes and controls. Leadership of a small team and collaboration with plant staff are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of manufacturing accounting experience with ownership of cost accounting activities or variance analysis.
• CPA or CMA certification (or progress toward certification).
• Experience supervising or coordinating a small team.
• Strong knowledge of inventory accounting, fixed assets, and period-end closing processes.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, or reforecast processes.
• Demonstrated involvement in process improvements or Lean/CI initiatives.
• Ability to translate financial analysis into operational insights.
• Must be a Citizen or National of the United States, a lawful, permanent resident, or have authorization to work in the United States.
• Applicants must not now, or in the future, require sponsorship for an employment visa.

Responsibilities

• Provide plant leadership with timely, accurate financial reporting and analysis, including weekly/period P&L estimates, quarterly reforecasts, period management reports, costing reports, operational activity reporting, and capital appropriation requests.
• Serve as the functional expert for key financial and operational systems.
• Ensure adherence to company policy and internal controls to protect all company assets, including oversight of fixed asset audits, expense review, yield and supply variance analysis, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage and oversee all office and accounting functions, including cost accounting, general accounting, payroll, fixed assets, accounts payable, inventory tracking, production reporting, and standard costing.
• Provide coaching, development, and mentorship to accounting staff, ensuring strong plant knowledge and supporting future career growth.
• Lead COGS and manufacturing variance analysis to understand cost drivers, identify trends, evaluate the financial impact of labor and overhead changes, and ensure accurate and insightful COGS reporting for both plant and corporate stakeholders.
• Partner with plant leadership to evaluate operational performance, identify opportunities for process improvements, and provide financial insight to support strategic and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead manufacturing variance planning for the Annual Operating Plan and quarterly reforecasts, ensuring accurate projections of key cost drivers, clear communication of assumptions, and meaningful analysis of changes that influence plant financial performance.

Skills

Manufacturing accounting

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Team leadership

Financial analysis to ops

Lean/CI knowledge

US work authorization

Education

CPA or CMA certification (or in progress)

Job description

Hormel Foods is seeking a Plant Controller for Fontanini operations in McCook, IL. This leadership role oversees location accounting functions and provides financial guidance to plant operations to ensure GAAP compliance and asset protection.

You will deliver timely reports, conduct cost and variance analyses, and drive continuous improvement in financial processes and controls. Leadership of a small team and collaboration with plant staff are essential.