Senior Plant Financial Analyst

Slate; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Slate is seeking a Senior Plant Financial Analyst to partner with plant operations, manufacturing engineering, and supply chain to drive cost transparency and financial discipline across our U.S. manufacturing footprint.

You will own budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close for manufacturing programs, and develop robust cost models to support launches and capacity planning. Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in plant accounting or automotive manufacturing finance, strong Excel and ERP experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• 5+ years of plant accounting, manufacturing finance, or cost accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience with ERP systems, NetSuite preferred.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Support budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, and operational financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Plant Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to improve cost management.
• Analyze costs, labor, overhead, inventory movements, and capex to inform decisions.
• Prepare detailed cost models and analyses for production, tooling, launches, and manufacturing ops.
• Assist in monthly, quarterly, and annual closes ensuring GAAP compliance.
• Perform variance analysis against budget/forecast and identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Help implement internal controls and financial processes.
• Monitor KPIs like scrap, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, throughput, and cost performance.
• Support inventory accounting activities including cycle counts and reconciliations.
• Coordinate with FP&A and corporate finance for forecasting accuracy and reporting alignment.
• Assist capex tracking, fixed assets accounting, and project monitoring for equipment/facilities.
• Support audit activities and SOX/internal control compliance.
• Provide financial insights to plant leadership to improve efficiency.
• Help develop scalable reporting structures and dashboards for a high-growth EV manufacturing environment.

Skills

Plant accounting

Cost accounting

Forecasting

Excel

ERP systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial reporting

SOX compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or CMA preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Excel

Job description

About Slate

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

Who We Are Looking For

Slate is looking for a dynamic, detail-oriented, and highly analytical Senior Plant Financial Analyst to support the financial operations of our manufacturing organization. This role will serve as a key finance partner to plant operations, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, and program leadership teams, helping drive financial accuracy, cost transparency, and operational performance across manufacturing activities. The ideal candidate brings strong automotive manufacturing accounting experience, deep understanding of plant operations and cost accounting, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment while helping build scalable financial processes and controls.

What You Get To Do

• Support financial operations for manufacturing programs, including budgeting, forecasting, month-end close activities, and operational financial reporting.
• Partner closely with Plant Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Program Management teams to support plant financial performance and cost management initiatives.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, labor utilization, overhead absorption, inventory movement, and capital spending to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Prepare and maintain detailed cost models and financial analyses related to production, tooling, launches, and manufacturing operations.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring accurate accounting treatment and timely reporting.
• Perform variance analysis between budget, forecast, and actual plant performance, identifying risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Assist in development and implementation of internal controls, accounting procedures, and financial processes to support a growing manufacturing organization.
• Monitor and analyze key operational KPIs including scrap, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, throughput, and manufacturing cost performance.
• Support inventory accounting activities including cycle counts, physical inventories, inventory reserves, and reconciliation processes.
• Collaborate with FP&A and corporate finance teams to support forecasting accuracy, reporting alignment, and management reviews.
• Assist with capital expenditure tracking, fixed asset accounting, and project financial monitoring for manufacturing equipment and facility investments.
• Support audit activities and ensure compliance with company accounting policies, SOX/internal control requirements, and GAAP standards.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to plant leadership to improve operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Help develop scalable reporting structures, dashboards, and financial processes suitable for a high-growth EV manufacturing environment.

What You Bring To The Team

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA or CMA preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in plant accounting, manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or automotive operations finance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting, inventory accounting, standard costing, variance analysis, and financial reporting.
• Experience supporting automotive, EV, or high-volume manufacturing operations preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret operational and financial data.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems; NetSuite experience preferred.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with manufacturing, engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving startup manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly to both finance and operational teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive process improvements.
• Knowledge of internal controls, compliance requirements, and manufacturing financial processes.
• Strong attention to detail with proactive mindset and ability to anticipate operational and financial needs.

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.

Safety FirstDelight CustomersOne TeamRelentless ImprovementFast, Frugal, and ScrappyRespectful CollaborationPositive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff…

We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at.