Plant Controller

Position: Plant Controller

Location:
On-site

Reports to:
CFO / General Manager

Company Type:
Private Equity–Backed Operating Company

Subsidiaries:
Manufacturing and Construction

Role Overview

Totlani & Partners is assisting a client with their search for a
Plant Controller
. The Plant Controller is a senior, hands-on finance leader responsible for overseeing all financial activities at the manufacturing plant while serving as a key business partner to operations and executive leadership. This role goes beyond traditional accounting and requires
deep engagement on the plant floor
, strong
operational finance acumen
, and the ability to
communicate credibly with private equity sponsors, lenders, and external investors
.

The Plant Controller will drive cost discipline, margin improvement, and operational transparency while supporting growth initiatives across both the manufacturing and construction subsidiaries.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Reporting

• Own full P&L responsibility for the manufacturing plant
• Lead month-end close, forecasting, and annual budgeting processes
• Prepare accurate, timely financial statements and management reports
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal controls, and PE reporting standards
• Support audits, lender reporting, and financial due diligence activities

Operational Finance & Plant Floor Engagement

• Maintain a
  high-visibility presence on the plant floor
  , partnering directly with operations, production, engineering, and supply chain leaders
• Develop and analyze standard costs; lead variance analysis (material, labor, overhead)
• Drive inventory accuracy, valuation, and working capital optimization
• Translate operational drivers into financial outcomes and actionable insights
• Support pricing, quoting, make/buy, and capacity utilization decisions

Performance Improvement & Value Creation

• Identify cost-reduction, margin expansion, and productivity improvement opportunities
• Develop and track operational KPIs (OEE, scrap, yield, labor efficiency)
• Support capital investment analysis (CapEx ROI, throughput, automation)
• Contribute to integration, scaling, and process improvement initiatives

Cross-Subsidiary & Construction Support

• Partner with finance and operations leaders in the construction subsidiary on:
• Job costing and margin analysis
• WIP reporting and revenue recognition
• Cash flow forecasting and working capital management
• Support consistency and best-practice sharing across subsidiaries

Investor & Executive Interaction

• Prepare materials for
  board meetings, PE sponsor reviews, and investor updates
• Present plant-level financial and operational performance to senior leadership and investors
• Support strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, carve-outs, or exit planning
• Act as a trusted financial advisor to the CFO, Plant Manager, and executive team

Qualifications & Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 7–12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing finance or cost accounting
• Prior experience in a
  PE-backed or highly performance-driven environment
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and operational KPIs
• Demonstrated ability to work directly with plant operations and influence outcomes
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle)

Preferred

• CPA, CMA, or MBA
• Experience supporting construction or project-based accounting
• Exposure to M&A, integrations, or transaction support
• Prior interaction with PE sponsors, lenders, or boards

Success Profile

The successful Plant Controller will be:

• Operationally curious
  and comfortable spending time on the shop floor
• Commercially minded
  , not just compliance-oriented
• Able to
  bridge finance and operations
  with credibility on both sides
• Comfortable operating in a
  fast-paced, change-oriented PE environment
• Confident presenting to senior executives and investors

Why This Role

• Direct impact on operational performance and value creation
• High visibility with executive leadership and private equity sponsors
• Opportunity to shape finance and operational discipline in a growing platform
• Broad exposure across manufacturing and construction businesses