Plant Controller

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

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Hybrid from our downtown Chicago office / your Chicagoland home office

The Plant Controller  will be responsible for providing comprehensive financial leadership to the plant. The Plant Controller functions as the leading accounting professional in the plant and is responsible for the accurate reporting of results and maintenance of the company’s assets, through balance sheet integrity and providing a rigorous control environment. The Plant Controller also serves as the business partner to the Plant Manager and Plant Leadership Team to focus largely on providing financial and operational leadership and improvements, including identifying and driving cost reductions. This position leads a team that is a combination of Cost Accountants, Production Clerks, and Plant Buyers.

What You’ll Do:

Provide accurate reporting of results and maintenance of the company’s assets through balance sheet integrity and providing a rigorous control environment as the lead accountant and financial professional at the plant:

• Foster a strong control environment in the plant and ensure balance sheet integrity and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
• Adhere to sound internal control processes, improve any control deficiencies, and set the proper routines and processes related to internal controls.  Mitigate business risks as they are identified.
• Work cross-functionally with central accounting to lead control and efficiency initiatives resulting in a better control environment that is easier to monitor. 
• Manage a complete and thorough month end close process, including owning all plant accounting operations, reporting, and plant financial statements
• Prepare and manage the annual budget process, and coordinate and manage regular forecast updates.
• Analyze and interpret plant operation results, evaluating variances, and assessing the effects on the plant’s operations
• Monitor financial performance to identify and drive cost reductions
• Serve as project manager on cost reduction initiatives, working cross functionally with engineers, procurement, and plant operators to drive cost reductions
• Coordinate with plant operations to prepare business cases to support capital investments, including financial justification and proper accounting treatment.
• Act as a strong example of integrity and ‘Doing the Right Thing’ 
• Drive negotiations with key vendors either directly or via partnering with procurement

Serve as the business partner to the Plant Manager and Plant Leadership Team to focus on providing financial and operational leadership and improvements, including identifying and driving cost reductions:

• Provide daily, weekly and monthly reports for plant and corporate management
• Provide management with the strategic tools and reports to drive business results
• Manage plant performance on improvement goals and KPI’s
• Drive operational improvements, including development, implementation, and maintenance
• Support multiple manufacturing production lines

Manage others and provide leadership, ongoing development, mentoring, and strong learning experiences:

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of 3-5 Cost Accountants, Buyers, and/or Clerks
• Delegate day-to-day accounting activities to accounting staff as appropriate
• Providing effective leadership to staff, direct reports, and others in the Company to improve their performance and directing their career development
• Train and develop staff to ensure that their work is progressing as desired in the areas of proper collection, calculation, and reporting of cost, production, inventory, and other financial information to aid in career progression

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Accounting, Finance or related discipline required.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in manufacturing; cost accounting experience required
• Master’s Degree in related field preferred; CPA or CMA preferred
• Prior leadership/management experience required
• ERP systems software experience required, SAP preferred
• “Shop floor” experience in a manufacturing environment (not just assembly)

What You’ll Receive:

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
• 401(k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
• Paid holidays, paid vacation including Jury Duty and bereavement leave
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions - Fire Resistant Siding to Help Rebuild the Grizzly Flats Community | James Hardie

• And more

Apply now and come “home” to Hardie!

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James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.