Plant Controller

Littelfuse is one of America’s Best Mid-Sized Companies (Forbes) and has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois (Best Companies Group) for 11 consecutive years. With its global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Littelfuse is a leading, global manufacturer of electronic components serving more than 100,000 end customers across industrial, transportation, and electronics end markets. We have more than 17,000 employees with operations in 15 countries. From semiconductors to sensors… switches to fuses and more… we produce billions of electronic components that help our customers empower a sustainable, connected, and safer world. In 2021, Littelfuse had net sales of $2.1 billion.

The Controller leads all financial reporting, cost accounting, and planning activities for the site, ensuring accurate, transparent, and timely results. They play a critical role in driving profitability, optimizing manufacturing costs, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and maintaining a robust internal control environment.

1. Financial Management

• Ensure accurate and timely month-end closing, reconciliations, and financial reporting for the site.

• Provide detailed variance and performance analysis versus budget and forecast to guide business decisions.

• Oversee accounts payable, intercompany transactions, and prepayments, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

• Manage and maintain control of fixed assets, including physical verification and depreciation tracking.

• Lead the site’s financial planning cycle — monthly, quarterly, annual, and 5-year plans — ensuring alignment with divisional and corporate objectives.

• Support capital project financial evaluations and ROI analysis.

• Develop and maintain meaningful dashboards and KPIs that enhance transparency and accountability in operations.

2. Cost Accounting

• Lead and validate the annual standard cost review, ensuring accuracy and proper cost alignment.

• Analyze variances between standard and actual costs to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.

• Support cost estimation for new product introductions and manufacturing changes.

• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to identify and implement cost-saving initiatives.

• Ensure proper control and accuracy of inventory valuation, revaluation, LCM, and E&O reserves.

3. Compliance and Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with both US GAAP and Mexican GAAP, as well as Littelfuse corporate accounting policies.

• Maintain a strong internal control framework, ensuring Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

• Lead periodic reviews and testing of key financial and operational controls.

• Proactively identify risks and implement mitigation actions to strengthen the control environment.

4. Audit and Reporting

• Support internal and external audit activities, ensuring timely responses and resolution of findings.

• Lead regular physical inventory audits and ensure proper reconciliation.

• Partner with regional and corporate finance to deliver consistent, audit-ready documentation and compliance reporting.

5. Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Plant Manager, providing actionable financial insights and recommendations.

• Participate actively in plant operations reviews and performance discussions.

• Drive financial analysis on key plant metrics such as productivity, scrap, absorption, and cost per unit.

• Support decision-making for capital investments, footprint optimization, and process improvements.

• Deliver clear, data-driven narratives to communicate financial performance and strategic opportunities.

6. Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the local finance and cost accounting team, promoting professional growth and accountability.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and operational excellence.

• Ensure the team is cross-trained and capable of maintaining high performance under changing priorities.

• Promote alignment between plant operations, corporate finance, and regional FP&A.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred.

• Experience: 7+ years in financial management roles within manufacturing, including cost accounting, internal controls, and operational finance.

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in ERP systems (preferably SAP); advanced Excel and analytical tools.

• Knowledge: Strong understanding of both US GAAP and Mexican GAAP; experience with Sarbanes-Oxley controls.

• Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading finance teams and influencing cross-functional leaders.

• Communication: Fluent in English and Spanish, with strong presentation and storytelling skills.

• Mindset: Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, high attention to detail, and passion for operational excellence.