What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Controller position at Techniplas?
Job Details
Plant Controller Job Description
Techniplas is a global supplier of sophisticated plastic components and design-focused, multifunctional surfaces that are primarily for the automotive sector, as well as the industrial, consumer goods, medical and other markets. The company’s products follow industry trends like weight reduction and vehicle electrification, innovative operating concepts, high-quality surface finishes, and an increasing focus on convenience and safety.
The Techniplas Group runs 30 sites worldwide with production, sales and / or technology hubs and employs just under 4,000 members of staff. The company serves customers and platforms around the world, focusing on technological expertise and collaboration with customers in the fields of design and engineering. Techniplas has long-term relationships with many of the world’s leading automotive and industrial OEMs.
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
While reporting through Corporate Accounting team, the Plant Controller works very closely with the Plant Manager and their management team on a variety of complex and important accounting and business management activities including, but not limited to, financial reporting and budgeting, KPI development and tracking, inventory cost accounting and reporting, standard cost develop and maintenance, manufacturing variance analyses, fixed asset/tooling accounting, and various product/customer/project profitability analyses. Specifically excluded from the scope of this role is transaction processing of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable, which are managed through a shared services organization; however, ensuring proper accounting for such transaction is in scope.
JOB DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Responsible for plant’s month-end close process. Ensure all month-end close processes are completed on time and all manual accounting entries are completely and accurately recorded.
- Prepares monthly plant financial package and participates in monthly financial review meeting with leadership team.
- Responsible for the regular upkeep and accuracy of financial reporting and balance sheet account reconciliations for all accounts on the facilities trial balance. Responsible for the reconciliation of the applicable subledgers (e.g., trade A/R, trade A/P, inventory, etc.) to the general ledger which includes overseeing processes for capture and daily posting of production and related transactions.
- In partnership with Plant Manager and other plant leadership functions, develop and track against the annual budget and periodic forecast updates for their facility, products, and customers. Local responsible party for the successful completion of the annual budgeting process resulting in the development of monthly financial statement forecasts (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow and KPIs).
- Responsible for review and analysis of New Product BOMs, Engineering Change Notices and overall facility BOM management and associated financial impacts.
- Responsible for providing Plant Manager with weekly KPI data that is consistent with other facilities.
- Establishes and maintains the reserves for excess and obsolete inventory. Work in partnership with Operations and Purchasing in the timely disposition of slow-moving and obsolete inventory with a focus on maximum recovery.
- Assists Operations in the development and implementation of annual physical and cycle count procedures, processes and results, with a focus on moving toward the implementation of more frequent cycle counting processes where appropriate.
- Responsible for working with Plant Manager and local operations team to define optimal inventory levels, set period targets for improvement, report on deviations from plan, and assist in establishment of actions for improvement.
- Performs budgeting and cost analyses to develop, recommend and maintain standard material, labor and overhead rates for ERP product costing applications.
- Prepares frequent materials, labor and overhead expense reports and analyses for management consumption and action planning.
- Performs analysis and reporting of manufacturing variances. Actively engages with the Plant Manager and their team to explain manufacturing variances, assist in root cause analysis and issue mitigation.
- Responsible for reconciliation of tooling projects including the setup, completion and closure of those programs.
- Responsible for capital expenditure programs including the setup of those projects, cost tracking against the authorized balance and closure/transfer of assets to the subledger.
- Responsible for providing Sales, Operations and Engineering with calculations and recommendations of inventory/project/customer product costing and related parts sales pricing strategies and target margin achievement.
- Maintains customer sales database and ensure proper sales cutoff and maintenance of sales data with the Sales per the General Ledger. Reviews actual gross margins by customer and by product each period to identify sub-standard profitability, report on the key drivers and assist in the development of improvement plans.
- Assists Sales/Inventory/Operations Planning Manager (SIOP) with sales forecasting, margin analysis and inventory obsolescence review.
- Operates as one of the location ERP experts for purposes of usage, upgrade and maintenance of the facility’s ERP system(s).
- Provides backup and support to US Controller and/or other Plant Controllers as needed.
- Completes and performs other duties/tasks as may be assigned by the Divisional Controller or Plant Manager.
- This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES):
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
- CPA preferred.
- Five to seven years of previous financial analysis/cost accounting experience in a complex manufacturing environment.
- Previous experience with new program launches, including costing and revenue forecasting, is highly preferred.
- Previous experience in a growing manufacturing environment, including implementation of standard processes, is highly preferred.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are required. Data base and reporting/consolidations software a plus. Experience being a power user of ERP systems a plus (e.g. Plex, IQMS, SyteLine used in North America). Must be able to adapt easily to new software and programs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally throughout all levels of the organization.
- Team player with demonstrated organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Ability to lead by example through stressful scenarios.
- Ability to work independently without a lot of structure.
- Ability to influence others, with strong problem-solving and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiples priorities and deadlines simultaneously. This includes the ability to focus in the midst of multiple competing priorities.
- Self-starter with effective decision making and follow-through skills.
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse work group at all levels of the organization.
