Junior Controller (Operations)
Sandvik · South Beloit
Job Title: Junior Controller (Operations)
Department: Finance
Reports to: CFO
Classification: Exempt
Location: Assigned GWS location
Travel: As needed
Job Summary: The Junior Controller (Operations) serves as a hands-on finance partner to GWS Tool Group’s operations team and assigned manufacturing locations. This role translates production and financial data into actionable insights that improve cost performance, inventory accuracy, working capital, and operational profitability. Working closely with location leaders, production, procurement, and Financial Control, the Business Controller investigates performance variances, identifies root causes, and follows corrective actions through measurable results.
Duties/Responsibilities
Manufacturing Costs and Operational Performance
- Analyze material, labor, and overhead costs by location, product, work order, or process to identify cost drivers and opportunities for improvement.
- Investigate actual performance against standard cost, prior periods, budgets, and forecasts; explain material usage and purchase price variances, labor efficiency, scrap and rework, overhead absorption, and production volume impacts.
- Partner with plant leaders to validate findings on the production floor, develop corrective actions, and track financial results and sustainable savings.
- Review costing inputs, including bills of material, routings, labor and machine rates, and overhead allocation methods; coordinate corrections and cost updates with operations and finance.
- Develop consistent operational KPIs and reporting for productivity, conversion costs, scrap, capacity utilization, and inventory performance; present clear explanations and recommended actions.
Inventory and Working Capital
- Monitor raw materials, work in process, and finished goods; reconcile inventory subledgers to the general ledger and investigate valuation, quantity, and transaction discrepancies.
- Partner with locations to strengthen cycle counting and physical inventory procedures, investigate count variances, and address recurring control weaknesses.
- Analyze inventory aging, excess and obsolete stock, and reserve requirements; recommend appropriate adjustments in coordination with Financial Control.
- Work with operations and procurement to improve inventory turns, reduce excess stock, and manage working capital while supporting production and customer service requirements.
Financial Reporting and Operational Planning
- Coordinate timely month-end close activities for assigned locations with General Accounting team, including inventory and cost accounting entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
- Validate location results and prepare concise operational performance reviews, highlighting key variances, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions in accordance with corporate reporting requirements.
- Support location budgets and forecasts using production volumes, staffing, material costs, operating expenses, and capital plans; challenge assumptions with operations and explain deviations.
- Prepare and validate business cases for capital investments, capacity changes, make-versus-buy decisions, and process improvements; assess payback, return on investment, and post-investment performance.
Controls Systems and Continuous Improvement
- Standardize costing, inventory controls, reporting, and analysis across assigned locations in partnership with Financial Control and operations.
- Improve ERP data quality and reporting tools; support finance system enhancements, process documentation, and training for location teams.
- Support internal and external audits, maintain appropriate documentation, and promote compliance with applicable accounting standards and corporate policies.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Five or more years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including direct responsibility for manufacturing cost accounting, inventory, and operational variance analysis.
- Experience with standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead absorption, account reconciliations, and manufacturing financial controls.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience analyzing ERP data; experience with Infor Visual ERP and multiple manufacturing locations preferred.
- Ability to investigate beyond summary reports, connect financial results to production activity, and communicate practical recommendations to operations leaders.
- Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage competing deadlines and influence cross-functional teams.
Required Skills/Abilities: .
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Proficient in accounting and tax preparation software.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or similar software.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Ability to travel to assigned locations
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other factors prohibited by law.
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