Sr. Controller

Talent Wave Associates; Elmore (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Wave Associates seeks a Divisional Controller to serve as the trusted financial partner for the Division President and plant leadership. You will own financial performance, margins, costs, inventory, and operational results across manufacturing and distribution.

You will lead the close processes, budgeting, forecasting, and ROI analysis, while staying hands-on with standard costing, cost accounting, and internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Experience as a Divisional Controller (or equivalent) in manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with standard costing, inventory, and process manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing finance including transportation and distribution.
• Proven ability to advise senior leadership while being hands-on.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel; Power BI or Cognos preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and business-partnering skills with integrity.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Division President and plant leadership on financials, customer profitability, margins, costs, and performance.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Prepare KPIs and division P&L analyses; clearly explain variances to operations and leadership.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling financial planning in partnership with the Division President and plant leadership.
• Oversee cost accounting: standard costs, inventory valuation, scrap, WIP, and overhead allocation.
• Drive manufacturing, transportation, and distribution cost improvements and margin enhancement initiatives.
• Manage intercompany transactions, maintain internal controls, and support external audits.
• Support capital expenditure planning, ROI analysis, and project accounting.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Business partnering

Strategic mindset

Education

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

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Power BI

Cognos

Job description

Are you ready to serve as the trusted financial partner to divisional leadership and drive profitability, cost efficiency, and operational excellence in a manufacturing and distribution business?

About the Role

This hands-on role supports a manufacturing and distribution business. You will be the primary financial advisor for the Division President and plant/operations leadership, focusing on financial performance, margins, costs, customers, and operational results. The role is crucial for delivering strategic financial counsel while remaining deeply engaged in manufacturing, cost, inventory, transportation, and distribution finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as primary financial business partner and trusted advisor to the Division President and plant/operations leadership on financials, customer profitability, margins, costs, and performance.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Prepare and present financial statements, KPIs, and division-level P&L analysis; clearly explain variances to operations and leadership.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling financial planning in partnership with the Division President and plant leadership.
• Oversee cost accounting: standard costs, inventory valuation, scrap, WIP, and overhead allocation.
• Drive manufacturing, transportation, and distribution cost improvements and margin enhancement initiatives.
• Manage intercompany transactions, maintain internal controls, and support external audits.
• Support capital expenditure planning, ROI analysis, and project accounting.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Proven experience already in a Divisional Controller (or equivalent) role in manufacturing.
• Strong manufacturing finance experience with hands-on standard costing, inventory, and process manufacturing.
• Understanding of operational manufacturing, transportation, and distribution finance.
• Ability to act as strategic financial advisor to senior leadership while remaining hands-on.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel; financial reporting tools (Power BI, Cognos, etc.) preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and business-partnering skills with a results-oriented mindset and high integrity.