Senior Plant Controller (Manufacturing Finance & Product Costing)

5-7 Years

Job Description

Cost Control & Analysis:

Develop, implement, and maintain effective cost control systems and procedures for all plant operations.
Monitor and analyze actual costs against budgets and forecasts, identifying variances and investigating their root causes.
Prepare detailed cost reports, highlighting key trends, performance metrics, and areas for improvement.
Lead monthly/quarterly cost reviews with department managers to discuss performance and action plans.
Drive continuous improvement in cost management by identifying and implementing cost-saving opportunities.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

Lead the annual plant budgeting process, collaborating with departmental managers to establish realistic and achievable cost targets.
Develop accurate and reliable cost forecasts based on production plans, material prices, and operational changes.
Monitor capital expenditure (CAPEX) budgets and project costs, ensuring adherence to approved plans.

Product Costing & Pricing Support:

Understanding accurate standard costs for all products, and respective allocation of direct and indirect costs.
Analyze product profitability and provide cost data to support pricing decisions and new product development.
Conduct should cost analysis and value engineering studies to identify cost reduction opportunities in product design and manufacturing.

Production Analysis:

Work closely with production and supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels and reduce waste.
Analyze production variances (e.g., efficiency, scrap, rework) and their impact on overall costs.
Provide financial insights into production efficiency and bottleneck identification.

Reporting & Compliance:

Prepare and present financial reports to plant management, corporate finance, and other stakeholders.
Ensure compliance with corporate policies.

Leadership & Collaboration:

Mentor and potentially supervise junior cost staff (if applicable).
Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales.
Act as a financial business partner to plant operational leadership, providing proactive financial guidance and support.

System Improvement:

Identify opportunities to improve costing systems, processes, and tools (e.g., reporting automation).

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience

5-7 years of progressive experience in cost accounting or financial analysis within a manufacturing environment.
Proven track record of driving cost reductions and process improvements.

Technical Skills

Strong proficiency in SAP (S4 as preference) with hands-on experience in cost modules.
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, financial modeling).
Experience with business intelligence (BI) tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is a plus.
Solid understanding of standard costing, activity-based costing, and variance analysis.

Soft Skills

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong leadership capabilities and the ability to influence others.
Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy.
Proactive and results driven.