Plant Controller (Poultry)

Role Purpose

The Plant Controller is responsible for leading all financial management, cost accounting, and reporting activities at the poultry processing facility. This role provides critical insights into plant performance, ensures compliance with financial standards, and partners with operational leadership to drive profitability and cost efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Reporting

• Oversee all plant-level accounting functions, including month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

• Prepare, review, and analyze plant financial statements, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.

• Develop and present financial reports to plant management and corporate leadership, highlighting performance drivers, risks, and opportunities.

Cost Accounting & Analysis

• Lead all aspects of cost accounting, including product costing, variance analysis, and margin reporting.

• Establish and maintain standard costs for live bird supply, processing, packaging, distribution, and by-products.

• Monitor production yields, labor, overhead, and raw material costs, ensuring accurate allocation and reporting.

• Provide financial insights into operational KPIs (e.g., yield loss, throughput, downtime) and recommend improvements.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Develop and manage annual plant budgets and rolling forecasts in collaboration with operations leadership.

• Track actual performance against budget, explain variances, and recommend corrective actions.

• Support strategic planning, capital investment appraisals, and scenario analysis.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Maintain strong internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure compliance with GAAP/IFRS, corporate policies, and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with internal and external auditors to support audits and implement corrective measures as required.

Business Partnering & Leadership

• Act as a key financial partner to the Plant Manager and operations leadership team.

• Translate financial insights into operational actions, driving cost savings, efficiency, and profitability.

• Lead, coach, and develop plant finance and accounting staff, ensuring a high-performance culture.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA, CMA, or equivalent certification preferred).

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, with at least 3 years in a manufacturing or food processing environment.

• Strong expertise in cost accounting, standard costing, and variance analysis.

• Experience in poultry, meat, or food manufacturing industry strongly preferred.

• Advanced Excel and ERP systems knowledge (SAP, Oracle, or similar).

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

• Excellent communication and business partnering skills; able to influence non-finance stakeholders.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

• Demonstrated leadership and team development experience.

• Results-driven with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.