Controller III, Plant

Job Summary

The Plant Controller III is the senior financial position at a production facility for California Dairies, Inc. This position is responsible for all the accounting activities at the plant. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, timely and accurate recording of daily production of all finished goods product lines, ensuring accurate inventories of finished goods, recording of daily receipts of milk and other fluid dairy products, recording of daily sales and transfers of all fluid dairy products, and KPI reporting. Additional responsibilities will include annual budgeting, production forecasting, bills of materials analysis, financial variance analysis, and cost accounting.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate extensive expertise in managing the general ledger, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial data.
• Lead timely preparation, analysis, and posting of journal entries, ensuring alignment with accounting standards and corporate policies.
• Lead comprehensive account reconciliations and execute all aspects of the month-end and year-end closing processes with precision and adherence to accounting standards
• Provide extensive leadership in product costing, developing, maintaining, and rigorously analyzing standard costs across all product lines.
• Conduct thorough evaluations of bills of materials (BOMs), validating the accuracy of ingredient and packaging formulas to ensure full alignment with operational efficiencies and production standards.
• Identify/lead continuous improvement initiatives and drive enhanced transparency in cost accounting processes to support margin optimization.
• Manage the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for accurate accounting of consolidated business results.
• Demonstrate extensive leadership in the development and preparation of the annual budget, leveraging advanced financial modeling and data analysis to create robust, forward-looking financial forecasts.
• Deliver high-impact insights that align operational financial plans with long-term corporate strategy and performance metrics.
• Provide management with reports that specify and compare factors that affect prices and profitability of products or services.
• Ensure quality control over financial transactions and financial reporting.
• Lead the preparation and presentation of comprehensive weekly and monthly performance reports and provide deep insights into plant operations.
• Drive detailed reporting on yield performance, labor, maintenance spend, utilities, volume/mix impacts, and other key components of the plant financial results. 
• Conduct in-depth variance analysis and root cause assessments, identifying key performance drivers and recommending strategic corrective actions.
• Engage with cross-functional teams to communicate solution-oriented insights, optimizing operational efficiency and driving superior financial performance outcomes.
• Provide extensive guidance in the evaluation, design, and continuous refinement of internal control processes to ensure stringent adherence to financial compliance standards.
• Collaborate closely with operations management team to strengthen internal governance frameworks, mitigate financial risk and maintain the integrity of all financial reporting.
• Take proactive leadership in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the effective execution of compliance protocols across the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Controller will supervise and support a small finance/accounting team (2 or more employees).

Lead:

• Clearly communicate the company's vision & goals and how the team's work contributes to them.
• Set a positive example through their own work ethic, attitude, and commitment to quality.
• Develop and empower team members by delegating tasks effectively and providing opportunities for growth and development.

Guide:

• Provide clear instructions and expectations, along with the “why”, for tasks and projects.
• Offer regular feedback and coaching to help team members improve their skills and performance.
• Foster a sense of teamwork and shared purpose, emphasizing that the team is stronger together.

Support:

• Recognize and celebrate team accomplishments and individual contributions.
• Advocate for the team's needs and concerns, up, down, and across the organization.
• Encourage and support the team to challenge the status quo, to identify and suggest process improvements, and to embrace innovation.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Experience leading and developing a team of people responsible for accounting activities.
• Excellent data analysis skills with a focus on problem solving.
• Strong computer skills, specifically in Excel and Microsoft Dynamics365.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to delegate effectively.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and work with employees at all levels of the organization as well as our member/owners and external stakeholders.
• Perform tasks with a high level of confidentiality.
• Flexible and positive in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
• Must demonstrate good judgment when carrying out duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in Accounting or Finance.
• 8 or more years of manufacturing accounting experience (Dairy Industry preferred).
• Previous supervisory experience required.
• Previous experience in standard cost development required.
• Previous experience in sales pricing required.
• Knowledge of GAAP and internal controls.

Language Skills

English is required as the written and spoken language. 

Equipment

Computer, copiers, calculator and other basic office equipment

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship if such an accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

ADA/FEHA

The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Physical Demands.

The physical requirements outlined here represent those necessary for successful performance of this position's core responsibilities. Upon request, the company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these fundamental job duties, provided such accommodations do not create an undue burden on the organization.

Sitting/Standing/Walking: Stands, walks and sits during completion of job responsibilities.

Lifting/Carrying: Occasional lifting requirements as job demands. Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 lbs. on an occasional basis.

Pushing/Pulling: Occasional pushing or pulling requirements.

Bending/Stooping: Occasional bending and stooping requirements.

Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: Occasional kneeling or crawling requirements.

Twisting/Turning: Ongoing twisting or turning requirements.

Climbing/Balancing: Climbing and balancing is required during plant inspections, and other related job requirements.

Reaching: Ongoing reaching requirements associated with job requirements.

Grasping/Manipulating: Grasping and manipulating of papers, objects, and equipment will be required. Ability to keyboard for data input will be required on an ongoing basis.