Controller

PARENT COMPANY SUMMARY

MetalTek International (https://www.metaltek.com/) is a 100 year-old, American-owned manufacturer and global leader in specialized castings for high-performance applications. With approximately $225M in revenue, MetalTek serves industries such as aerospace, defense, petrochemical, energy, and industrial markets through its advanced casting capabilities, including centrifugal, investment, and sand casting. Headquartered in Wisconsin, the company operates multiple U.S.-based divisions, delivering innovative, high-quality solutions with extensive in-house machining, heat treatment, and testing.See a glimpse of MetalTek in action: https://youtu.be/TRDfi7YHB1A

CORE VALUES

MetalTek emphasizes "Making a Lasting Difference" through quality, innovation, and collaboration—values reflected in its long-standing customer partnerships and employee expertise.

OPERATIONAL STRENGTHS

• Expertise in high-performance alloys and complex components.
• A customer-focused approach, blending metallurgy and engineering to solve tough challenges.
• A workforce dedicated to technical excellence and operational reliability across its global network.

DIVISION SUMMARY

Sandusky International, a $20M division of MetalTek located in Sandusky, Ohio, specializes in centrifugal castings, producing large-scale components like tubes, rings, and sleeves for petrochemical, steel, and industrial applications. This unionized foundry employs ~70 people and serves a diverse customer base, including significant government contracts. Operating as a loud, hot, and dirty manufacturing site, Sandusky International combines hands-on production with a tight-knit, family-oriented culture.

• Revenue: ~$20M
• Employees: ~70
• Location: Sandusky, OH

CULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

With a Midwestern feel and high employee tenure, the division fosters a down-to-earth, collaborative atmosphere. As a smaller facility within MetalTek’s network, it offers a unique blend of site-level autonomy and corporate support, making it an ideal setting for impactful leadership.

CONTROLLER SUMMARY

The Controller serves as the top financial leader at Sandusky International, driving financial performance, cost management, and operational efficiency for this $20M plant. Reporting directly to the GM and indirectly to the CFO, this hands-on role is a key member of the site leadership team. The Controller balances strategic oversight with practical process improvements, collaborating with corporate executives while staying close to the action. This position suits an ethical, transparent leader eager to raise the bar in a small, family-oriented foundry environment.

• Reports to the General Manager, with a dotted line to the CFO. Manages 1 AP specialist and 1 cost accountant, partnering with peers on the site leadership team (Operations, Materials, Sales, Quality).
• Travel: minimal (10% or less)

RESPONSIBILITIES

FINANCIAL REPORTING & ANALYSIS

• Lead month-end close, ensuring timely, accurate financial statements compliant with GAAP and MetalTek policies.
• Conduct variance analysis on production costs, labor, and materials, identifying root causes and collaborating with operations to resolve inefficiencies.
• Oversee monthly GL reconciliations, coordinating with shared services to address discrepancies.

COSTING & PROFITABILITY

• Maintain accurate product costing systems, analyzing variances between actual and standard costs to support pricing and profitability decisions.
• Partner with production pola to optimize cost drivers, reduce waste, and improve resource utilization.
• Oversee inventory valuation, lead annual physical counts, and ensure compliance with costing practices.

BUDGETING & PLANNING

• Drive the annual budgeting process, aligning plant goals with corporate objectives.
• Lead monthly reforecasting, updating projections based on performance and market shifts.
• Develop multi-year financial models and business cases (e.g., DCF analysis) for capital projects and growth opportunities.

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

• Act as a financial advisor to plant operations, driving process improvements and efficiency initiatives.
• Develop and track KPIs (e.g., cost per unit, margin analysis) to monitor performance and guide decisions.
• Manage working capital (AR, AP, Inventory) to ensure positive annual cash flow.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

• Address gaps in documentation and processes, transitioning from spreadsheets to streamlined systems.
• Collaborate with the GM and operations to implement cost-saving and efficiency enhancements.

INTERNAL CONTROLS & COMPLIANCE

• Enforce internal controls and corporate finance policies, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Support annual audits, tax filings, and insurance renewals with accurate, organized data.
• Approve purchase requisitions and invoices, verifying alignment with budgets and terms.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Coach and develop a small finance team (AP specialist, cost accountant), setting goals and providing feedback.
• Engage in plant-wide hiring, GM staff meetings, and recognition programs to foster collaboration.
• Pursue professional development to stay current on manufacturing finance trends.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, or Business.
• 5 years as a Controller or similar role in manufacturing; 3 years in accounting leadership.
• Strong cost accounting, inventory management, and variance analysis skills; ERP and Excel proficiency.
• Hands-on, down-to-earth leader with a Midwestern mindset—transparent, collaborative, and process-driven.
• Ability to work on the plant floor and partner with cross-functional teams.

• KEY EXPERIENCE DIFFERENTIATORS
• Proven ability to improve processes and documentation in a small, old-school environment.
• Comfort with a loud, hot, unionized foundry setting and a small staff structure.