Plant Controller – Costing Systems & Performance

About the role

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Plant Controller to own the plant’s financial controlling, manufacturing cost accounting, and performance management activities. The role sits on the Plant Management Team while maintaining functional alignment with Finance, reporting directly to the Head of Finance and dotted‑line to the Plant Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the primary finance business partner to the Plant Manager and Plant Management Team.
• Monitor plant financial performance, including production costs, conversion costs, overheads, capacity utilization and profitability.
• Prepare and present monthly plant performance reports with clear financial and operational commentary.
• Lead the design, configuration, testing, implementation and continuous improvement of the ERP‑based manufacturing costing system.
• Define and maintain cost centers, cost elements, activity types, activity prices, allocation cycles and cost drivers.
• Ensure accurate standard costing, actual costing, overhead absorption and variance‑analysis processes within the ERP system.
• Validate ERP costing outputs against operational data, inventory records and the general ledger.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting and standard‑cost processes and constructively challenge operational assumptions.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a Plant Controller or in a similar finance role within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands‑on expertise in cost accounting, financial reporting and performance analysis.
• Ability to act as a Finance and Controlling Key User and to drive system improvements.
• Strong analytical mindset with the capacity to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.

Required skills

• ERP costing system (implementation and maintenance)
• Manufacturing cost accounting
• Variance analysis
• Financial reporting and KPI reporting