Position Summary:

The Plant Finance Controller is responsible for leading all finance and accounting activities at the manufacturing plant, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting, cost optimization, statutory compliance, and business partnering with plant leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Analysis:

- Prepare annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and monthly financial projections for the plant.

- Analyze manufacturing costs, variances, and operational performance.

- Provide actionable financial insights to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

- Monitor plant financial KPIs and recommend corrective actions.

Cost Accounting:

- Manage standard costing, product costing, and cost roll-ups.

- Perform material, labor, overhead, yield, and production variance analysis.

- Monitor inventory valuation and ensure accurate cost allocation.

- Drive initiatives for cost reduction and process improvement.

Financial Reporting:

- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual plant financial reports.

- Ensure timely month-end and year-end closing activities.

- Present plant performance dashboards to senior management.

- Analyze production, inventory, and profitability trends.

Inventory & Working Capital Management:

- Ensure accurate inventory accounting and reconciliation.

- Monitor inventory ageing, slow-moving and obsolete stock.

- Lead physical inventory verification and cycle count programs.

- Optimize working capital through inventory and receivable management.

Internal Controls & Compliance:

- Implement and monitor strong financial controls across plant operations.

- Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.

- Coordinate internal and external audits.

- Address audit observations and implement corrective actions.

Manufacturing Business Partnering:

- Partner closely with Plant Head, Production, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, and Maintenance teams.

- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals and investment decisions.

- Support business cases for process improvements and productivity initiatives.

- Participate in strategic planning and operational reviews.

Cash Flow & Capital Expenditure:

- Monitor plant cash flow requirements.

- Review capital expenditure requests and monitor project spending.

- Conduct post-investment performance reviews.

Team Leadership:

- Lead and mentor the plant finance team.

- Drive continuous improvement in finance processes.

- Develop team capabilities through coaching and training.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

- Manufacturing cost reduction

- Budget adherence

- Inventory accuracy and inventory turns

- Cost variance control

- Month-end closing timelines

- Audit compliance

- Working capital improvement

- Financial reporting accuracy

- Productivity improvement initiatives

Educational Qualifications:

- Chartered Accountant (CA) preferred.

Experience:

- 10 - 15 years of progressive finance experience in manufacturing organizations.

- Minimum 5 years in a plant finance or factory finance leadership role.

- Experience in industries such as Chemicals, Paints, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals is preferred.