Manager, Plant Accounting

Position SummaryThe Plant Accounting Manager leads plant-level accounting and financial analysis to support operational decision-making and executive reporting. This role is a key leadership position within the Accounting function, responsible for ensuring the integrity of month‑end close processes, delivering meaningful financial insights, and providing timely decision‑ready information to Plant Controller, SLT and ELT functions.This position requires strong critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and analytical capability to evaluate financial results, identify trends, and translate complex data into actionable business insights aligned with corporate goals. The role goes beyond traditional accounting by driving cost transparency, strengthening operational accountability, and advancing the use of data, analytics, and automation to improve financial performance and decision‑making.Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Close Leadership & GovernanceLead and coordinate all plant‑related month‑end close activities, including accruals, reclasses, reconciliations, and variance reviews.Ensure financials are accurate, complete, and aligned with operational activity prior to reporting deadlines.Establish and enforce strong financial controls and compliance with corporate accounting policies and Sox requirements.Drive continuous improvement in close processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.Financial Analysis & Decision SupportPerform comprehensive variance and trend analysis (Actuals vs. Forecast, AOP, and prior periods), identifying key cost drivers and root causes.Evaluate plant performance across manufacturing, maintenance, and support cost areas, providing insights and recommendations.Leverage critical thinking to challenge assumptions, identify risks/opportunities, and influence business decisions.Provide structured analysis to cost‑center owners to drive accountability and achievement of operational and financial targets.Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership on financial implications of operational decisions.Monthly Cost Review Leadership & Performance ManagementLead monthly cost review meetings with plant leadership, providing clear and actionable analysis of performance.Analyze fixed, variable, and maintenance costs and clearly articulate drivers of variances.Establish consistency and discipline in cost review processes across sites.Drive accountability by identifying actions, owners, and follow‑ups to address performance gaps.Enhance cost transparency and reporting to support better operational decision‑making.Executive Reporting & CommunicationLead development of monthly financial reporting packages.Translate complex financial and operational data into clear, concise, and actionable executive‑level insights.Deliver high‑quality presentations that clearly articulate financial performance, risks, and opportunities.Provide timely responses to leadership inquiries and support ad‑hoc analysis requests.Cross‑Functional Partnership & Operational AlignmentServe as a key liaison between Accounting and Operations teams.Partner with plant leadership to understand business drivers and ensure accurate financial representation of plant activity.Facilitate cross‑functional discussions to resolve issues, improve processes, and align financial objectives.Support operational initiatives and performance improvement efforts by providing financial guidance insights.Data Analytics, Automation & Process ImprovementIdentify and prioritize opportunities to improve reporting, forecasting, and analysis through data and automation.Lead development of dashboards, reporting tools, and financial models (e.g., Power BI, advanced Excel).Promote use of data‑driven insights across plant and finance teams.Partner with IT/data teams to improve data quality, data pipelines, and system integration.Drive automation of manual processes (reconciliations, reporting, accrual support) to improve efficiency.Apply advanced analytical techniques (trend analysis, forecasting, scenario modeling) to support decision‑making.Champion scalable, repeatable processes aligned with finance transformation initiatives.Leadership & Team DevelopmentDemonstrate "Builds Effective Teams" by coaching and developing team members and fostering cross‑functional collaboration.Drive accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement within the Accounting function.Support knowledge sharing and cross‑training to strengthen organizational capability.Review work product to ensure high‑quality outputs without excessive rework or oversight.Develop team capabilities in analytics, business partnering, and data‑driven decision‑making.Key CompetenciesCritical Thinking & Analytical RigorBusiness Partnership & Cross‑Functional CollaborationExecutive Communication & InfluenceFinancial Stewardship & ComplianceLeadership & Team DevelopmentContinuous Improvement & Transformation MindsetData & Technology Orientation (Finance Technologist mindset)What Success Looks LikeAccurate and timely close support with well‑documented analyses.Ownership and effectiveness of monthly cost review process with clear accountability.Clear, actionable financial insights provided to Controllers and Operations.Reduced rework through improved data quality, process discipline, and documentation.Increased use of dashboards, analytics, and automation in financial processes.Effective balance of execution (transactional accounting) and insight (analysis and projects).Recognition as a trusted financial leader and business partner to Operations.Skills & ExperienceRequiredBachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.10+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including plant or manufacturing accounting.Strong expertise in: Cost accounting (fixed, variable, maintenance)Manufacturing operations and cost driversMonth‑end close, reconciliations, and financial controlsDemonstrated experience leading teams and cross‑functional initiatives.Advanced Excel skills (financial modeling, large data analysis, automation techniques).Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.Proven ability to partner with and influence Operations leadership.Preferred / High‑Value SkillsAnalytics & ToolsExperience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar).Ability to work with large datasets and create scalable reporting solutions.Working knowledge of data extraction and manipulation (SQL or similar tools a plus).Advanced Analysis & Decision SupportExperience applying statistical and analytical techniques (trend analysis, forecasting, scenario modeling).Ability to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities beyond standard reporting.Finance Technology & AutomationExperience leading process improvements through automation and system enhancements.Strong ERP experience (Oracle preferred) and understanding of end‑to‑end data flows.Exposure to emerging tools (AI, Python, advanced analytics) a plus—not required.Leadership & CommunicationStrong executive presence and communication skills.Proven ability to lead discussions with senior leadership and drive decisions.Ability to translate complex financial data into clear business insights.All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without needing any company sponsorship.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.#J-18808-Ljbffr