Farmers Union Industries, LLC, also known as FUI, is a leading agricultural-based manufacturing company headquartered in Redwood Falls, MN. Our current operations include Central Bi-Products, Northland Choice, Midwest Grease, Artex Manufacturing, Redwood Farms Meat Processors, and Performance Pet Products. Please visit our website at fuillc.com to learn more!
FUI is excited to post for the brand-new position of Division Controller. This role is responsible for leading financial accounting, cost accounting, internal controls, and administrative functions for our Central Bi-Products/Northland Choice/Midwest Grease divisions in Redwood Falls, Long Prairie, Waite Park, and Estherville locations.
We offer a salary of $140-160K/Yr. (based on experience) plus a benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays, 401K match, and much more!
Schedule
Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. Willing to consider alternative or flexible schedule.
Areas of Accountability
All areas of accountability to be delivered with GRIT - our values of Generosity, Relationships, Integrity, and Teamwork
Financial Accounting & Reporting Cost Accounting, Yields, & Operating Analysis
Inventory Integrity & Internal Controls Plant Administration & People Leadership
Planning, Forecasting, & Capital Systems and Process Improvement, & Business Partnership
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Own the accuracy and timeliness of month-end closing, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, plant financial statements, and management reporting for all assigned facilities
Ensure consistent accounting for raw materials, work in process, finished goods, production activity, freight, and intercompany transactions, in accordance with GAAP and FUI policies
Investigate unusual results, resolve accounting discrepancies, and support audit requests and financial reviews
Lead reliable product and plant cost accounting including raw materials, direct labor, utilities, maintenance, freight, and manufacturing overhead
Analyze raw material volumes and costs; fat and protein recoveries; production yields; manufacturing cost per incoming ton; finished-product costs; and contribution margins
Identify and explain drivers of cost, mix, yield, and inventory variances; distinguish operational performance changes from measurement or accounting issues
Partner with plant leaders on margin improvement, processing efficiencies, operating expense management, and comparable KPI reporting across sites
Oversee transactional controls related to purchasing, receiving, production, inventory movements, shipping, invoice processing, and reconciliations
Coordinate inventory counts and cycle-count practices; review adjustments, shrinkage, valuation, and aging; and resolve discrepancies promptly
Establish documented, risk-based controls and compensating review procedures, especially at sites with one administrative employee
Directly manage the five initial administrative employees: one each at North Redwood, Estherville, and Waite Park, and two at Long Prairie
Own hiring input and selection, onboarding, scheduling and coverage planning, coaching, training, performance reviews, development, and corrective action, in coordination with Human Resources
Define job duties, deliverables, deadlines, authority levels, and service expectations; standardize workflows where practical while accounting for plant-specific requirements
Oversee plant administrative processing, such as purchasing support, invoice documentation, production and inventory entry, shipping documentation, payroll/timekeeping administration, and operational reporting, as applicable
Build cross-training and backup capacity across the four facilities; evaluate workload balance, opportunities to share work, and single-person dependency risks
Coordinate daily plant support priorities with plant managers while retaining direct supervisory and functional authority over the administrative team
Lead facility-level budget inputs, operating forecasts, and monthly actual-versus-budget analysis; clearly explain the financial impacts of volume, commodity prices, yield, and operating costs
Support ROI, payback, and financial-risk analysis for plant capital projects, equipment replacements, and process improvements
Monitor capital project spending, fixed asset accounting, and post-investment operating benefits in collaboration with plant management and corporate finance
Develop consistent scorecards, reconciliations, reporting packages, and data-quality standards across facilities
Improve utilization and integrity of ERP and plant production systems, including Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Vicinity, and other systems in use, where applicable
Participate in plant operating reviews, explain results in practical language, and make actionable recommendations to plant managers and corporate leadership
Reduce unnecessary manual work, clarify process ownership, and support automation and standardization initiatives
Maintain regular and predictable on-site attendance
Travel to other FUI divisions, as needed
Situations may arise that require employees to temporarily or permanently assume responsibility for tasks not specifically outlined in this job description. Employees may be requested to work additional hours and/or accommodate a heavier than normal workload.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field
7-10 years of progressive accounting experience, including substantial manufacturing cost accounting and inventory responsibility
Experience leading people, delivering accurate month-end financial reporting, and working directly with manufacturing operations
Strong GAAP and internal-control knowledge, advanced Excel skills, and proficiency using ERP systems
Ability to regularly visit multiple plants, prioritize competing needs, and communicate effectively with non-financial leaders
CPA or CMA; previous Plant Controller, Division Controller, or comparable multi-site role, preferred
Experience in rendering, agricultural processing, commodity-based operations, food production, or other process manufacturing, preferred
Experience with manufacturing yields, product recovery analysis, and Business Central or Vicinity systems, preferred
Physical Requirements
Perform desk work (sitting or standing) for up to 100% of workday
Repetitively use wrist, hand, and/or fingers
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
- 7-10 years of progressive accounting experience
- Substantial manufacturing cost accounting and inventory responsibility
- Experience leading people
- Experience delivering accurate month-end financial reporting
- Experience working directly with manufacturing operations
- Strong GAAP knowledge
- Strong internal-control knowledge
- Advanced Excel skills
- Proficiency using ERP systems
- Ability to regularly visit multiple plants
- Ability to prioritize competing needs
- Effective communication with non-financial leaders
- CPA or CMA certification
- Previous Plant Controller, Division Controller, or comparable multi-site experience
- Experience in rendering, agricultural processing, commodity-based operations, food production, or other process manufacturing
- Experience with manufacturing yields and product recovery analysis
- Experience with Business Central or Vicinity systems
What We Do
Farmers Union Industries, LLC is an agricultural-based manufacturing company that processes by-products from farmers into usable items. It is owned by farmers and has operations in rendering, meat processing, and pet food production.
