Job Description

Controller

Full-time | Effingham, IL | Finance

Salary: Pays up to $130K + 5% bonus. 401k offered

Description

We're seeking an experienced accounting professional to join our finance team as Controller at our Effingham manufacturing site. This is a hands-on role for someone who knows manufacturing accounting and wants clear ownership of a well-defined scope within a stable, established company. You'll work directly with production leaders, supervisors, and corporate finance as part of a small, capable team — someone who's as comfortable on the plant floor as they are in the general ledger.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the month-end close process and prepare monthly financial statements.
• Own the general ledger, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Perform bank reconciliations and monitor cash activity.
• Oversee A/P and A/R processes, ensuring accuracy and timely processing.
• Own fixed-asset accounting, capital expenditure tracking, and depreciation schedules.
• Lead inventory accounting including cycle counts, BOM validation, variance analysis, and reconciliation of raw materials and finished goods.
• Prepare budget-to-actual and variance analyses, including production cost and margin reporting for leadership.
• Manage annual audit activities and serve as primary point of contact for external auditors.
• Maintain and continuously improve internal controls and standard accounting procedures.
• Manage state and local filings including sales/use tax and business registrations.
• Partner with production and operational leaders to understand cost drivers, standard costs, and financial impacts on the floor.
• Provide ad hoc reporting and analysis in support of corporate finance requests.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• 7–10 years of accounting experience in manufacturing or a related industry; direct experience with cost accounting, standard costing, or plant-level finance required.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and internal controls.
• Familiarity with manufacturing mechanics — BOMs, cycle counts, production variances, and cost of goods — is essential.
• Experience with ERP or accounting systems; ability to learn manufacturing systems quickly.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Detail-oriented, reliable, and comfortable owning processes end to end with a small team.
• Effective communicator who can work cross-functionally with production, HR, corporate finance, and leadership.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Clear ownership of a well-defined accounting function within a stable, established manufacturing company.
• A collaborative, small-team environment where your work has direct visibility and impact.
• Consistent schedule, strong leadership support, and a company that values people who show up and do the job well.

Must-Haves

• Accounting degree
• 7–10 years in manufacturing accounting
• Hands-on with cost accounting — standard costs, variance analysis, BOMs
• Comfortable with margin analysis and product profitability reporting
• Comfortable on — and genuinely enjoys being on — the plant floor

You should be proficient in:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Cost Accounting
• Bank Reconciliation

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• ERP Software
• Accounting Software