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Plant Finance Co-Pilot

Fisher Barton - Zenith Cutter

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Watertown, WI
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Job Description

As posted by the hiring company

Job Overview:

Plant Finance Co-Pilot | Cost Accountant | Senior Plant/Manufacturing Accountant

Are you a cost accountant or plant accountant ready for the next step in your career? Do you love the energy of the manufacturing floor but also want a seat at the leadership table?

We are seeking a versatile Plant Finance Co-Pilot. This unique role bridges the gap between the production floor and executive leadership. You will serve as our primary Cost Accountant, manage day-to-day plant operations accounting, and act as the right-hand partner reporting to the Plant Controller. If you are bored by repetitive bookkeeping and want a dynamic role with a direct track to a Controller position, this is your next move.

Your Three-in-One Impact

 

The Cost Accountant 

Cost Accounting & Inventory: Lead standard costing, variance analysis, labor/overhead rate calculation, cost rolls, Job/WIP monitoring, reserve analysis and cycle count/annual physical inventories.

Financial Control & Strategy: Partnered with the Controller on strategic planning, operational budgets, capital investing, and forecasting.

Reporting & Analysis: Maintained general ledgers, performed full-cycle financial reporting, and monitored KPIs to explain performance trends.

Operational Excellence: Spearheaded process improvements resolved transactional issues (AP/AR), and completed special plant management projects.

 

The Senior Plant/Manufacturing Accountant

Financial Management: Managed full-cycle accounting, journal entries and accruals, monthly close, account reconciliation, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow for 3 Manufacturing plants – Accurate Specialties, Fisher Barton Blades and Fisher Barton Specialty Products.

Analysis & Reporting: Developed ad-hoc monthly performance reports, Ensure accuracy of financial statements and support schedules, Capital ROI/cost analyses, and companywide KPIs to drive executive decision-making.

Process Improvement: Spearheaded cross-functional cost-savings initiatives and standardized shared service functions (AP, AR, and Payroll).

Compliance & Operations: Annual audit, budgets and costing.

 

The Plant Finance Co-Pilot

Financial Leadership: Act as the backup for the Plant Controller and lead the finance team during month-end closing.

Budget & Forecast: Assist in building the annual plant budgets, cost rolls and financial forecasts.

Internal Controls: Maintain accounting policies and ensure internal/external audit compliance.


What You Bring to the Table

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Experience: 3–5 years of cost accounting / plant accounting experience strictly within a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Technical Chops: Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and deep familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor). Epicor preferred not required. High Attention to detail and accuracy

Communication: The ability to speak "finance" to executives and "operation" to the team on the shop floor.

Mindset: An ambitious self-starter who looks at numbers and sees the story behind them.


Work Environment:

  • Office and Manufacturing

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Work Location:  - 570 Bluemound Road | Waukesha | WI | 53188 and Secondary – Possible fluctuating between 1040 S. Twelth Street | Watertown | WI | 53094


Benefits Package:

  • Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Prescription Drug Benefits
  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
  • 10 Paid Holidays
  • Open PTO
  • FSA (Health and/or Dependent Flexible Spending Account)
  • And more!