Senior Plant Controller

STEM Search Group
Mason, OH

About the opportunity…

This role supports a global manufacturer known for highly specialized, formulation-driven products used across a wide range of consumer applications. The company partners with many of the world’s most recognized brands, creating a unique environment with thousands of raw materials and constantly evolving formulations.

You’ll step into a highly visible, plant-facing role working directly with operations leadership, playing a key role in how cost, margin, and performance decisions are made.


What you’ll do…

  • Serve as the lead finance partner supporting two manufacturing facilities, working closely with Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to drive cost visibility and profitability.
  • Own product costing and manufacturing finance activities within a high-mix, complex formulation environment, ensuring accuracy in standard and actual costs, BOM structures, and inventory valuation.
  • Analyze manufacturing variances (materials, labor, overhead), identify root causes, and partner with operations to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement.
  • Support margin and profitability analysis across products, customers, and business segments, providing insight into pricing, cost drivers, and performance trends.
  • Support budgeting and forecasting processes, with a focus on cost inputs, operational assumptions, and plant-level financial visibility.
  • Prepare and deliver monthly reporting and KPIs, including manufacturing performance, inventory, and cost metrics for site and regional leadership.
  • Partner cross-functionally to support new product introductions, formulation changes, and process improvements, ensuring financial accuracy and visibility.
  • Leverage SAP S/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud, and Power BI to maintain data integrity, enhance reporting, and support ongoing system improvements and automation initiatives.
  • Act as a hands-on financial resource within the plants, translating data into actionable insights and supporting day-to-day decision-making.


What we’re looking for…

  • 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, controlling, or cost accounting within a manufacturing environment.
  • Experience in high-mix, complex formulation manufacturing environments with large volumes of raw materials, detailed BOM structures, and dynamic costing considerations.
  • Strong hands-on experience with SAP, specifically S/4HANA, including FI/CO and manufacturing-related modules (MM/PP).
  • Deep understanding of product costing, manufacturing variances, inventory accounting, and plant-level financial performance.
  • Proven ability to partner with operations and cross-functional teams to drive cost improvements, solve problems, and influence decisions.
  • Experience supporting pricing, margin analysis, and customer/product profitability in a manufacturing setting.
  • Background in industries such as specialty chemicals, food & beverage, flavor & fragrance, or similar process manufacturing environments preferred.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CMA, CPA, or MBA a plus.
  • Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a hands-on, fast-paced environment.


What this role offers…

In this role, you’ll influence how cost, efficiency, and profitability are managed across plants, working side-by-side with operations leadership on day-to-day decisions.

You’ll be a key financial voice within a well-established, global organization known for its stability, strong culture, and long-standing relationships with some of the most recognized brands in the world.

The role offers broad exposure across operations and the opportunity to grow into larger scope over time, within a company known for long employee tenure and a steady, well-run environment.

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