How to hire a plant controller

How to hire a plant controller, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plant controller hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a plant controller job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new plant controller
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a plant controller do?

Post a plant controller job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the plant controller you need to hire. Certain plant controller roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a plant controller to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a plant controller that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of plant controller salaries for various roles:

   Type of Plant Controller	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Controller	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$34-65
   Cost Accounting Manager	A cost accounting manager is responsible for analyzing and evaluating pricing and costing systems of the goods and services of an organization, ensuring its adherence to the internal guidelines and state regulations. Cost accounting managers review business and financial transactions to generate accounting reports for management reference... Show more	$32-56
   Manager Finance Planning And Analysis	A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly... Show more	$36-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Internal Controls
   • GAAP
   • Plant Management
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Reconciliations
   • Financial Analysis
   • Payroll
   • Fixed Assets
   • Variance Analysis
   • ERP
   • SOX
   • Financial Performance
   • General Ledger
   • Financial Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and correct balance sheet issues including property taxes, miscellaneous accruals, inventories, and capital work- in-progress accounts.
   • Implement Sarbanes-Oxley internal control policy and procedures which lead to successful annual internal and external audits.
   • Manage general accounting functions, including monthly financial statements and audit reports, and monthly account reconciliations.
   • Manage monthly closing process including, account reconciliations, account analysis, preparation of monthly financial statements and other management reports.
   • Participate in the implementation of an ERP system that accomplish key strategic initiatives including job costing and a perpetual inventory system.
   • SAP (at the plant level) and Hyperion (at the corporate level) are used in financial reporting.

   More plant controller duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant controller job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A plant controller salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, plant controllers' average salary in south dakota is 34% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant controllers earn 47% less than senior-level plant controllers.
   • Certifications. A plant controller with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a plant controller's salary.

   Average plant controller salary

   $99,550yearly

   $47.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant controller salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average plant controller salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$124,095	$60
   2	Massachusetts	$110,986	$53
   3	Connecticut	$107,148	$52
   4	New Jersey	$104,602	$50
   5	Maryland	$101,920	$49
   6	Ohio	$97,237	$47
   7	Illinois	$97,174	$47
   8	Virginia	$95,770	$46
   9	Washington	$95,547	$46
   10	Utah	$94,434	$45
   11	North Carolina	$92,769	$45
   12	Georgia	$92,024	$44
   13	Tennessee	$91,252	$44
   14	Michigan	$90,935	$44
   15	South Carolina	$90,904	$44
   16	Texas	$90,437	$43
   17	Oregon	$89,843	$43
   18	Wisconsin	$89,137	$43
   19	Indiana	$87,360	$42
   20	Colorado	$83,682	$40

   Average plant controller salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Arkema	$116,756	$56.13	5
   2	Corning Incorporated	$113,716	$54.67	16
   3	Celanese	$111,374	$53.55
   4	Marzetti	$110,351	$53.05
   5	The Clorox Company	$110,261	$53.01	7
   6	Sherpa	$109,907	$52.84	6
   7	Stanley Black & Decker	$109,306	$52.55	9
   8	BD	$108,612	$52.22	3
   9	California Dairies	$104,774	$50.37	2
   10	Campbell Soup	$104,739	$50.36	13
   11	Teleflex	$104,635	$50.31
   12	Reckitt Benckiser	$104,549	$50.26
   13	Johnson & Johnson	$103,395	$49.71	7
   14	Dairy Farmers of America	$103,316	$49.67	22
   15	International Flavors & Fragrances	$103,229	$49.63	1
   16	Dahl Consulting	$103,175	$49.60	3
   17	Daltile	$102,545	$49.30
   18	Lactalis	$101,936	$49.01	2
   19	Smithfield Foods	$101,552	$48.82	35
   20	Red Gold	$101,501	$48.80	2

4. Writing a plant controller job description

   A plant controller job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a plant controller job description:

   Plant controller job description example

   • Responsible for month end closing processes to include SAP process order reconciliation, semi-finished and finished good material inventory reconciliation, review and analysis of variance accounts, and distribution of the month end financial reporting package. This also will include ensure proper accounting for spending in the appropriate periods and implementing processes to streamlining the accounting.
   • Work with plant management to analyze and define a monthly financial forecast, lead the creation of models to forecast trends and study the plant's key performance indicators.
   • Ownership of all financial processes for $50-75 million+ budget for the Charleston Plant.
   • Primary liaison for the plant between internal/external auditors and accounting/finance, this will include implementation and continuous monitors of controls and processes to ensure proper accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
   • Ownership for annual SAP standard updating and continuously work with the plant, supply chain and master data coordinators to ensure integrity of existing bill of materials, recipes and purchasing information records.
   • In this position, you will help develop and strengthen Ingevity's financial systems while helping us stretch our business to a new level of world-class quality through further innovation and advancement in strategic financial management.
   • Lead in the development of detailed plant budgets for the annual plan, track variances to the plan & work with plant management to drive cost reductions and improve profitability.
   • Partner with process owners to develop/track financial metrics and validate assumptions for productivity improvement projects to ensure tangible savings are delivered to the P&L.
   • Review of all centralized, outsourced finance functions impacting business unit.
   • Guide continuous process reviews and suggest recommendations for improvements to ensure adequate internal controls and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and audit requirements.
   • Lead and/or assist in ad hoc financial analyses and special projects as required by plant management and Corporate departments.

   What you need to succeed:

   • Bachelor's degree in Business with emphasis in Accounting is required

   • CPA/CMA or in current pursuit of CPA/CMA is preferred

   • 3+ years of Big Four (or similar) experience is preferred

   • 5+ years' experience in Financial Reporting/Financial Analysis (Preferably in a manufacturing location)

   • Strong understanding and knowledge of U.S. GAAP is required

   • ERP experience required (SAP preferred), specifically product cost accounting

   • Proficient PC Skills in Microsoft Office applications, specifically Excel

   • Attention to detail & constant eye toward Improvement

   • Ability to grasp and understand new programs and systems is a must

   • Must work well with employees at all levels of Operations, Supply Chain, and Management

   • 10% travel may be required

   • This role maybe eligible for a hybrid work schedule (remote and onsite) after an initial onboarding period

   • This role is eligible for relocation assistance to Charleston, SC.

   • This role is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. The successful candidate must not now, or in the future, require sponsorship to work in the US.

   Ingevity is a company made up of extraordinary people of every race, religion and background, all worthy of the same dignity. Our differences are one of our great strengths. Join us in building a culture of increasing diversity and respect - a culture where everyone belongs.

   Ingevity is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.

   Recruiting Agencies: Ingevity does not accept unsolicited resumes and therefore, will not be responsible for any fees associated with unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find plant controllers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your plant controller job on Zippia to find and recruit plant controller candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with plant controller candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new plant controller

   Once you have selected a candidate for the plant controller position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a plant controller?