Financial Controller

Controller – Manufacturing Finance & Operations

Location: North Georgia

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports To: COO / Ownership

Position Summary

Trenton Pressing is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to lead the Accounting and Finance function while serving as a strategic business partner to Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and Executive Leadership.

This position is ideal for a manufacturing finance professional who enjoys improving processes, building teams, solving operational problems, and partnering across the organization to improve financial performance.

The Controller will oversee all aspects of financial reporting, cost accounting, inventory valuation, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow analysis, and internal controls while driving continuous improvement in the Company's financial systems and processes.

A significant focus during the first year will be leading the continued development of the Company's standard costing methodology, strengthening inventory valuation processes, improving ERP utilization, enhancing financial reporting, and building a scalable finance organization capable of supporting continued business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Reporting

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Develop meaningful financial analysis and executive reporting for ownership.
• Prepare monthly variance analysis, KPI reporting, and management presentations.
• Coordinate annual financial audits and support tax compliance activities.
• Ensure balance sheet reconciliations are completed timely and accurately.

Manufacturing Cost Accounting

Serve as the Company's financial leader for manufacturing accounting and inventory valuation.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the ongoing development and maintenance of the Company's standard costing model within Plex.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation and cost of goods sold reporting.
• Oversee cost roll updates, standard cost reviews, and inventory revaluations.
• Analyze manufacturing variances, including:
• Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
• Labor variances
• Material variances
• Scrap
• Yield
• Overhead absorption
• Develop meaningful product and customer profitability reporting.
• Partner with Engineering to validate:
• Bills of Material (BOM)
• Routings
• Work Centers
• Production rates
• Labor standards
• Overhead rates
• Establish governance processes to maintain long-term costing accuracy.

Inventory Management

• Oversee monthly inventory valuation and reconciliation processes.
• Lead physical inventory planning and execution.
• Ensure perpetual inventory accuracy.
• Review inventory reserves and obsolete inventory.
• Develop inventory reporting and inventory performance metrics.
• Improve inventory controls and reconciliation procedures.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process.
• Maintain rolling financial forecasts.
• Support cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Develop scenario modeling for business planning.
• Support capital expenditure planning and investment analysis.
• Assist leadership with strategic financial planning.

ERP & Financial Systems Leadership

Serve as Finance owner of the Plex ERP environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Improve utilization of Plex financial and manufacturing functionality.
• Partner with Operations to improve master data quality.
• Lead financial process improvements within Plex.
• Reduce reliance on manual spreadsheets through improved ERP reporting.
• Support future ERP enhancements and reporting initiatives.
• Maintain integrity of financial master data.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Strengthen internal controls across Finance and Accounting.
• Document and standardize accounting procedures.
• Develop scalable month-end close procedures.
• Improve segregation of duties.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows through automation and technology.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives throughout the Finance organization.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Accounting team.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
• Promote cross-training and succession planning.
• Build strong working relationships with Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, Human Resources, and Executive Leadership.
• Foster a collaborative, continuous improvement culture within Finance.

Business Partnership

Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership by providing financial insight that supports operational decision-making.

Responsibilities include:

• Analyze customer profitability.
• Support pricing decisions.
• Evaluate capital investment opportunities.
• Assist Operations in identifying cost reduction opportunities.
• Provide financial support for new business opportunities.
• Develop operational KPIs that improve business performance.

First-Year Priorities

The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in strengthening the Finance organization by focusing on:

• Stabilizing and improving the month-end close process.
• Continuing implementation and validation of the Plex standard costing model.
• Improving inventory valuation accuracy and costing governance.
• Developing meaningful customer and product profitability reporting.
• Strengthening financial reporting and executive dashboards.
• Enhancing internal controls and accounting documentation.
• Developing accounting staff through coaching and cross-training.
• Improving collaboration between Finance, Engineering, and Operations.
• Reducing manual processes through improved ERP utilization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience within manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing cost accounting.
• Strong understanding of inventory valuation and standard costing.
• Experience leading month-end and year-end close processes.
• Strong understanding of GAAP.
• Experience working with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred

• CPA and/or CMA certification.
• Experience with Plex ERP or comparable manufacturing ERP systems.
• Experience supporting metal stamping, automotive, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Experience implementing or improving standard costing systems.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Project management experience.

Desired Leadership Characteristics

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Hands-on leadership style.
• Strong business acumen.
• Intellectual curiosity and continuous learning.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build credibility with Operations and Engineering.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to influence without relying solely on authority.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Collaborative communication style.
• High level of integrity and accountability.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first twelve months, the successful candidate will have:

• Established confidence in the Company's inventory valuation and standard costing methodology.
• Improved the consistency and efficiency of the monthly close process.
• Strengthened financial reporting and management visibility into business performance.
• Developed strong partnerships across Finance, Operations, Engineering, and Purchasing.
• Enhanced ERP utilization and reduced reliance on manual reporting.
• Strengthened internal controls and accounting documentation.
• Developed the accounting team through coaching, cross-training, and leadership.
• Positioned Finance as a proactive business partner supporting strategic decision-making.