Strategic Site Controller for Mining & Manufacturing

USA Rare Earth LLC; Wheat Ridge (CO); On-site; USD 165,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal employment opportunities

Disability accommodations

Job summary

USA Rare Earth is seeking a Site Controller to lead financial operations for our mining and manufacturing activities in Wheat Ridge, CO. You will manage month-end close, GL integrity, budgeting, and internal controls while partnering with Operations, Engineering, and leadership to drive productivity and margins.

The role requires 10+ years in accounting/finance, 5–7 years in leadership, and strong GAAP/ERP expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, ideally within mining and manufacturing in a public company.
• 5–7 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close process including reconciliation of all general ledger accounts; prepare and review consolidated financial statements and variance reports.
• Maintain the general ledger with accurate and timely transaction recording; ensure proper account coding and financial statement presentation in accordance with GAAP.
• Prepare variance reports comparing actual to budget and forecast; analyze significant variances and communicate findings to management.
• Prepare financial support schedules and notes for external audit purposes; coordinate with auditors on year-end close activities.
• Oversee accounts payable function including invoice processing, approval workflows, and payment processing for operating expenses, capital purchases, and supplier invoices.
• Oversee accounts receivable function including customer invoicing, collections, and credit management.
• Manage bad debt reserve estimates and write-off procedures in accordance with GAAP.
• Lead comprehensive annual standard cost rolls for rare earth ore extraction, concentration, and separation processes using validated reserves data, mining estimates, processing assumptions, and overhead allocation methodologies.
• Ensure standard costs accurately reflect current mining conditions, ore grades, recovery rates, and processing efficiency.
• Develop and maintain overhead absorption rates for mining operations, including direct mining costs, indirect processing overhead, and site-wide support costs.
• Perform detailed mining variance analysis including extraction variances, ore grade variances, recovery rate variances, processing cost variances, scrap and waste variances, and overhead absorption impacts.
• Investigate significant variances to identify root causes and support operations teams with corrective action plans; track and communicate variance trends to management.
• Prepare monthly inventory aging analysis and obsolescence assessments for lower-grade or off-spec material.
• Own implementation and effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (SOX Section 404(a and b)) across all accounting functions including GL, AP/AR, payroll, cost accounting, fixed assets, and inventory
• Develop and manage annual budgeting processes for all operating expenses, mining costs, processing costs, capital expenditures, and site-wide overhead
• Serve as the financial liaison to mining, processing, and operations leadership, providing insights that drive productivity and cost efficiencies
• Lead initiatives in cost savings, process optimization, automation, inventory optimization, and operational standardization
• Champion continuous improvement culture by implementing lean accounting practices and financial controls aligned with business strategy
• Support ERP implementation and enhancements and digital reporting tools that improve financial visibility and operational decision-making
• Collaborate with Operations on production planning and cost impact analysis; provide financial support for new projects and capital initiatives
• Conduct cost modeling to evaluate pricing, capital investments, product changes, and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Deliver product and customer profitability models to support strategic planning.
• Own the fixed asset register and maintenance of capital asset accounting; track acquisition, capitalization, depreciation, and retirement of all mining equipment, processing equipment, buildings, and infrastructure
• Manage asset capitalization decisions and documentation; ensure proper classification of capital vs. repair and maintenance expenses in accordance with GAAP

Skills

GAAP knowledge

ERP experience

Excel proficiency

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

USA Rare Earth is seeking a Site Controller to lead financial operations for our mining and manufacturing activities in Wheat Ridge, CO. You will manage month-end close, GL integrity, budgeting, and internal controls while partnering with Operations, Engineering, and leadership to drive productivity and margins.

The role requires 10+ years in accounting/finance, 5–7 years in leadership, and strong GAAP/ERP expertise.