Plant Controller

Location: Champaign, Illinois

A. POSITION PURPOSE

The Plant Controller is responsible for ensuring compliance with company, corporate, and legal requirements while safeguarding company assets. This role provides accurate and timely financial analysis, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, and cost accounting support to plant and corporate leadership. The Plant Controller oversees financial controls, purchasing controls, inventory accuracy, and accounting processes that drive operational and financial success.

B. SUBORDINATE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

• Supervises approximately 1-3 team members, which may include:

Accounting Assistant

Senior Accounting Assistant

Provides leadership, development, coaching, and performance management for direct reports.

C. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze and report monthly financial results to plant and corporate leadership.
• Prepare monthly forecasts, annual operating plans, budgets, and strategic plans.
• Ensure all financial reporting and transactions are completed accurately and timely.
• Provide meaningful financial analysis to support operational decision-making.
• Monitor and report key plant financial metrics and performance indicators.
• Support capital expenditure planning and investment analysis.

Cost Accounting & Inventory Management

• Develop and maintain standard costs and bills of materials.
• Monitor labor, material, manufacturing overhead, distribution costs, returns, and inventory levels.
• Lead physical inventory processes and monthly inventory audits.
• Investigate and explain inventory variances and reconcile inventory records.
• Maintain accurate perpetual inventory records.
• Analyze excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.

Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain effective internal controls for plant operations and finance functions.
• Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and corporate policies.
• Safeguard company assets and financial resources.
• Partner with corporate finance to resolve accounting and control-related issues.
• Support internal and external audit activities.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, coach, and develop accounting team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting efficiency, inventory accuracy, and operational performance.
• Partner with plant leadership to drive cost reduction initiatives and improve profitability.

Plant Partnership

• Attend daily production meetings and function as a member of the plant leadership team.
• Collaborate with Operations to address production, costing, efficiency, and inventory issues.
• Provide financial insight and recommendations to support plant objectives and business decisions.

Safety & Food Safety

• Support all company safety initiatives and promote safe work practices.
• Identify and address safety concerns within the work environment.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Safety, and HACCP requirements applicable to the position.

D. DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

Minimum five (5) years of progressive manufacturing accounting experience.

Strong background in

• Cost accounting
• Financial reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Variance analysis
• Inventory control and reconciliation
• Experience supervising and developing employees.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with both operational and corporate teams.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

E. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• CPA, CMA, or MBA.
• Multiple years of experience as a Plant Controller.
• Experience with JD Edwards, SAP, Oracle, or similar manufacturing ERP systems.
• Experience with ERP implementations or system conversions.
• Multi-site manufacturing experience.
• Strong knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley and internal control environments.

F. SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general direction of the Plant Manager and Group Controller.

G. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk, and stand. The ability to see, speak, and hear is critical to this job. Physical dexterity requirements of the job include the use of a telephone and computer/electronic equipment.

Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental efforts required on a daily basis include those related to reading, writing, basic arithmetic, mathematics, visualizing conclusions, analyzing data, searching for solutions, creating methodologies, managing resources, and evaluating performance of others.

H. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level of the work environment is normal. The condition of the air is normal. The surface on which work is performed is level. Approximately 2 hours per day is spent working under time pressures, and approximately 7 hours per day is spent working rapidly. 100% of the time is spent indoors working at a desk.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Silgan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or the presence of a disability, which would not prevent the performance of essential job duties with, or without reasonable accommodation of any other protective status.

Silgan is a drug-free workplace.

EEO/M/W/Vet/Disability