Enjoy a career, packaged with care, whilst helping protect food, people and the planet
We are a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions. We’re on a mission to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Every day, we ensure the hygiene and safety of food and drink for people around the world. We are Huhtamaki.
You could be part of our vision. Because it’s our talented people that make it happen. Our people on the shop floor producing innovative, sustainable products. Our people in our offices delivering excellence for our customers every day. It’s every one of us working together.
We offer a place where you can feel safe, be supported, and make an impact so we can all focus on the future together.
About Huhtamaki
Huhtamaki is a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, delivering innovative products for many of the world’s most recognized foodservice, consumer goods, and retail brands. With operations in 36 countries and 81 manufacturing sites, we enable safe, convenient, and sustainable consumption experiences for billions of people. Our North America business includes the iconic Chinet® brand and provides packaging for major foodservice operators and consumer goods customers.
Join a purpose driven company committed to protecting food, people, and the planet—advancing packaging that is renewable, recyclable, and responsibly sourced.
About the Role
We are looking for a Plastics Operations Controller to serve as the financial leader for our US plastics manufacturing facilities in Coleman, MI and New Vienna, Ohio. In this highly visible role, you will partner closely with the Plant Managers at both facilities and serve as a key member of the site leadership teams. This position drives cost leadership, operational performance, and strategic decision making across the plastics plants.
With transactional accounting supported by our centralized finance team near Kansas City, you’ll focus on helping the plants achieve world class operations through delivering valuable insights and shaping strategy.
The role operates within a matrix organization, reporting to the Plant Managers for daily operational leadership and functionally to the North America Operations Controller for financial governance, standards, and strategic direction. Role will support both sites and may be located at either Coleman or New Vienna, but be expected to travel at least monthly to the other location.
What You’ll Do
Drive Operational & Financial Excellence
Deliver insights that improve performance, productivity, and cost competitiveness.
Lead product costing, cost modeling, variance analysis, and cost to serve studies.
Own financial forecasting, budgeting, and monthly performance reviews.
Support the Plant Managers at both locations on decisions related to inventory, cost accounting, and capital investments.
Enable Strategic Decision Making
Translate analytics into clear, actionable recommendations.
Prepare and present operational KPIs and performance trends.
Evaluate and monitor capital projects, ROI, and capacity utilization.
Apply for and track state and local incentives.
Strengthen Controls & Compliance
Ensure strong internal controls across operational finance processes.
Support local, state, and federal reporting requirements.
Partner with centralized Finance teams to maintain alignment and integrity.
Lead People & Continuous Improvement
Manage and develop a small, high-performing finance team across both plants.
Champion continuous improvement projects as finance expert or process owner.
Enhance reporting through automation, visualization, and ERP discipline.
What You Bring
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; Master’s desirable.
5+ years of operations finance leadership experience in manufacturing.
Strong digital and analytical skills (data visualization, dashboards, automation).
Ability to influence cross functional partners at all levels.
Experience leading change and continuous improvement (Lean, Kaizen, CI).
Strong communication skills and the ability to simplify complex analysis.
Preferred
CPA or CMA certification.
Experience with Oracle, BI tools, and advanced Excel.
Work Environment
Primary work location: Coleman, MI or New Vienna, Ohio manufacturing site.
Onsite role with regular engagement on the shop floor and with the plant leadership team.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
High visibility and influence within a key manufacturing site.
A culture focused on safety, sustainability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Opportunity to help shape financial strategy and process improvement at the plant.
Supportive partnership with our centralized finance structure—allowing you to focus on value creation.
Career growth opportunities within the North America segment and global Finance organization.
Join us. Help protect food, people and the planet.
Top Skills
What We Do
Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, enabling wellbeing and convenience. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, ensuring hygiene and safety, and help prevent food waste. We embed sustainability in everything we do. We are committed to achieving carbon neutral production and designing all our products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030.
We are a participant in the UN Global Compact and EcoVadis has awarded Huhtamaki with the Gold medal for performance in sustainability. To play our part in managing climate change, we have set science-based targets that have been approved and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
With 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage we operate in 37 countries and 103 operating locations around the world. Our values Care Dare Deliver guide our decisions and help our team of around 18 000 employees make a difference where it matters. Our 2023 net sales totaled EUR 4.2 billion. Huhtamaki Group is headquartered in Espoo, Finland and our parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. Find out more about how we are protecting food, people and the planet on www.huhtamaki.com
