Production Controller

Zentis Group; Mishawaka (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zentis Group in Plymouth, Indiana, seeks a Production Controller to serve as the finance business partner for manufacturing operations. You will lead cost analysis, drive productivity initiatives, and ensure accurate reporting.

This role focuses on labor deployment, line efficiency, and cost management, collaborating with plant leadership, operations, HR, and engineering to maximize profitability through data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum BA degree in accounting, finance or related field.
• Prior manufacturing company experience.
• Manufacturing ERP experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis and reporting of production costs, including direct labor, indirect labor, overhead, utilities, and other costs.
• Monitor variances in labor, efficiency, yield, scrap, and overhead absorption.
• Develop cost models to evaluate production processes, product profitability, and operational performance.
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve cost competitiveness and margin performance.
• Partner with Operations and HR to identify staffing and labor deployment opportunities.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, and financial reporting for the plant.
• Ensure internal controls and assist with audits and cost accounting for manufacturing inventory and job costing.

Skills

Excel

Cost accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Planning & organization

ERP systems

Education

BA degree in accounting or finance

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Zentis is Europe's number one fruit processing company and one of the leading brand manufacturers of jams, sweets, and custard-based desserts. The Company's North America operations are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Plymouth, Indiana, where we produce fruit and dairy preparations for a variety of customers including yogurt, ice cream and bakery manufacturers. We are currently looking to recruit a Production Controller for our Plymouth location.

The Production Controller serves as the key finance business partner to manufacturing operations, responsible for providing financial leadership, cost analysis, and operational insights that optimize production performance and profitability. This role focuses on labor productivity, production line efficiency, manufacturing cost management, staffing models, loss reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring accurate financial reporting and strong internal controls across the plant.

The Production Controller collaborates closely with Production, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Human Resources, and Plant Leadership to identify cost-saving opportunities, improve manufacturing efficiencies, reduce production losses, and support strategic decision-making through data-driven analysis. In addition to traditional plant controlling responsibilities, this position plays a critical role in evaluating labor deployment, production economics, and operational performance to maximize productivity and financial results.

Primary Responsibilities:

Production Cost Management & Analysis

• Lead the analysis and reporting of production costs, including direct labor, indirect labor, manufacturing overhead, utilities, consumables, and other non-personnel production expenses.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances, including labor, efficiency, waste, yield, scrap, and overhead absorption.
• Develop cost models to evaluate production processes, product profitability, and operational performance.
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve cost competitiveness and margin performance.

Production Line Staffing & Labor Optimization

• Develop, maintain, and validate production line staffing models based on throughput, production requirements, labor standards, and operating conditions.
• Analyze labor productivity, utilization, and workforce efficiency across manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Operations and Human Resources to identify opportunities for workforce optimization and labor cost reduction.
• Assess overtime trends, staffing requirements, labor deployment, and resource allocation to improve productivity and service levels.

Manufacturing Efficiency & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor key production performance indicators such as labor efficiency, OEE, throughput, yield, scrap, downtime, and capacity utilization.
• Identify and quantify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Measure and validate financial benefits from operational improvement projects.

Business Partnership & Decision Support

• Act as the primary finance partner to Plant Management and Production Leadership.
• Present operational and financial performance insights to plant leadership teams.
• Translate manufacturing performance metrics into financial impacts and business recommendations.
• Drive accountability for productivity, efficiency, and cost management targets across the organization.

Cost Savings & Productivity Programs

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize production-related cost reduction opportunities.
• Develop financial business cases supporting productivity investments, automation projects, and process improvements.
• Track and report realized savings against approved targets.
• Support capital expenditure evaluations through ROI, payback, NPV, and productivity analyses.

Plant Controlling & Financial Stewardship

• Support in Plant controlling leadership including budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, financial reporting, and variance analysis.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation, standard costing, product costing, and manufacturing accounting processes.
• Monitor inventory levels, production variances, and manufacturing cost performance.
• Support annual operating plans and long-range financial planning processes.

Compliance, Controls & Governance

• Maintain strong internal controls and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Ensure integrity and accuracy of manufacturing cost reporting and financial data.
• Promote financial awareness and cost discipline throughout manufacturing operations.

Formal Education Required:

• Minimum: B.A. degree in accounting, finance or related.

Specific Experience and Key Knowledge Requirements:

• Prior manufacturing company experience
• Manufacturing ERP (enterprise resource planning) experience preferred
• Advanced knowledge of Excel required

Special Skills and Abilities Required:

• Excellent written and oral communication
• Excellent attention to detail
• High energy and strong curiosity, including finding new ways for the company to improve
• Comfortable walking the manufacturing floor
• Prepares internal and external reports for use by management.
• Assists with general ledger close activity.
• Cost accounting functions for manufacturing as it pertains to inventory, job costing, and ERP maintenance
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Strong analytical skills

Language Requirements:

• German not required, but a plus

Travel Requirements:

• Travel to our headquarters in Aachen, Germany within the first year for training is required.
• After the first year, 10% locally and internationally.