Job Summary
The Plant Controller plays a pivotal role in ensuring the financial health and operational efficiency of the plant. They are responsible for overseeing various financial aspects including inventory control, overhead management, and supporting the site's productivity agenda. The ideal candidate will possess a strong financial acumen coupled with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead analysis of material, labor, overhead, yield, usage, waste, downtime, and other manufacturing cost drivers. Ensure significant variances . in a practical, action-oriented way: what happened, why it happened, whether it is timing or true performance, and what needs to happen next. Work with Operations and other functions to identify root causes, quantify losses, and drive corrective actions.
- Help the team manage overhead costs. Protect and improve the plant’s cost structure by challenging spending and identifying waste and inefficiency without compromising food safety, quality, service, maintenance, or inventory accuracy.
- Spend time in the plant and develop a practical understanding of production, warehouse, inventory, and support processes.
- Bring constructive, solution-oriented input to meetings and help teams stay focused on the decision or outcome required.
- Lead cross-functional improvement projects and follow through from problem identification to root cause, action plan, and measurable result.
- Monitor cycle counts to ensure accuracy of inventory records and reconcile any discrepancies.
- Assist with building the annual budget as well as reforecast results as needed, and lead the monthly department spend meetings to explain actuals vs. budget across overhead expense categories.
- Build financial acumen across the site by training and developing at all levels.
- Contribute to the site leadership team beyond the Finance agenda. Lead cross-functional projects and take on additional responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience
- 5+ years of experience in Finance, preferably including experience as a Site/Plant Controller.
- Experience in Food preferred.
- Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Business or related discipline.
Required Attributes
- Proven ability to build financial plans and deliver insight through analysis.
- Commitment to financial controls.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Drive to make a difference.
- Proven ability to collaborate and work across sites.
- Superior Excel skills and the ability to learn new systems.
- Ability to multi-task, make quick decisions and work under short timelines.
- Creative problem-solving skills.
- Courage and curiosity.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in Finance
- Experience as a Site or Plant Controller
- Experience in the food industry
- Bachelor's or graduate degree in Business or a related discipline
- Ability to build financial plans and deliver insight through analysis
- Commitment to financial controls
- Excellent communication and influencing skills
- Ability to collaborate and work across sites
- Superior Excel skills and ability to learn new systems
- Ability to multitask, make quick decisions, and work under short timelines
- Creative problem-solving skills
What We Do
Kettle Cuisine is a food production company specializing in high-quality frozen and refrigerated meal solutions. Founded in 1986, they focus on artisan-quality soups, broths, sauces, meats, and sides for foodservice operators and retailers across the United States, utilizing traditional cooking techniques and scratch-made stocks to deliver consistent, safe, and wholesome food options at scale.
