What does a plant controller do?
A plant controller works at factories where they are primarily in charge of administrative duties and ensuring that operations adhere to budgets, schedules, and standards. As a plant controller, they are also responsible for gathering and analyzing financial data, analyzing cost reports, preparing financial statements, maintaining databases, performing audits and risk assessments, and overseeing the accounting team procedures. Additionally, they also supervise staff operations and address issues and concerns while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Plant controller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real plant controller resumes:
- 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.
- Maintain GAAP accounting in stand-alone and corporate environment.
- Coordinate financial reporting to senior management utilizing Hyperion tools.
- Develop and implement accounting and business procedures using newly implement ERP software.
- Implement financial reserve reporting and tracking procedures consistent with company initiatives for Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
- Implement internal and external financial reporting systems, controls and procedures according to contractual requirements and GAAP.
- Experience include payroll supervision, credit and collections, benefits administration and renewals, and fixed-asset accounting.
- Develop new inventory management procedures in QuickBooks to improve the accuracy of the company's financial statements.
- Prepare quarterly balance sheet account analysis and interface with internal and external auditors on SOX compliance and documentation.
- Direct all division-wide financial activities, including payroll, general accounting, budgeting, inventory management and cash management.
Plant controller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 6% of Plant Controllers are proficient in Internal Controls, GAAP, and Plant Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Plant Controllers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Internal Controls, 6%
Developed processes to improve internal controls, improve operational efficiency with the Finance organization as well as driving manufacturing operations improvements.
- GAAP, 5%
Promoted from initial position in Corporate Internal Audit Department with responsibility for ensuring compliance with GAAP and corporate policies.
- Plant Management, 5%
Streamlined and consolidated source documents for the creation of journal entries and facilitate monthly financial operational performance review with plant management.
- Continuous Improvement, 5%
Participated in the company's continuous improvement project of working capital reduction, and identified opportunities to reduce inventory.
- Reconciliations, 4%
Managed monthly closing process including, account reconciliations, account analysis, preparation of monthly financial statements and other management reports.
- Financial Analysis, 4%
Prepared financial forecasts, performed financial analysis, and provided sufficient periodic financial information and solutions to support the strategic objectives.
Common skills that a plant controller uses to do their job include "internal controls," "gaap," and "plant management." You can find details on the most important plant controller responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a plant controller to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what plant controllers do because "to assist executives in making decisions, financial managers need to evaluate data and information that affects their organization." Additionally, a plant controller resume shows how plant controllers use analytical skills: "provided relevant, accurate and timely reports, information and analysis on profitability and asset management performances for hangzhou ems plant. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform plant controller duties is communication skills. Plant controllers responsibilities require that "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." Plant controllers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "maintain close communication with mahle corporate accounting and arc board of directors for financial data. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for plant controllers to perform their duties. For an example of how plant controller responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "in preparing and analyzing reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, financial managers must be precise and attentive to their work in order to avoid errors." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a plant controller: "improved formats of reports and account reconciliations for detailed analysis and consistency. ".
Math skills. A big part of what plant controllers do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to plant controller responsibilities because "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical plant controller tasks: "tracked key operating statistics including labor and material costs, inventory and production levels and capital spending. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for plant controller responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of plant controllers all the time, as "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." An excerpt from a real plant controller resume shows how this skill is central to what a plant controller does: "created entire reporting systems covering sales, cash flow, business analysis, management communications, organizational development and charting. "
The three companies that hire the most plant controllers are:
- Robert Half58 plant controllers jobs
- Ingevity43 plant controllers jobs
- The Fusco Group11 plant controllers jobs
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Compare different plant controllers
Plant controller vs. 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. They also identify business opportunities that would provide revenue resources and profits by monitoring industry trends and public demands. A cost accounting manager must have excellent analytical skills and accounting principles knowledge, especially in resolving account and expense discrepancies.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a plant controller are more likely to require skills like "continuous improvement," "financial performance," "strong analytical," and "plant operations." On the other hand, a job as a cost accounting manager requires skills like "product cost," "balance sheet," "goods sold," and "kpi." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Cost accounting managers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $89,769. On the other hand, plant controllers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $111,014.cost accounting managers tend to reach similar levels of education than plant controllers. In fact, cost accounting managers are 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Plant controller vs. 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. They also perform research and assessments, gather and analyze financial data from different departments, coordinate staff, and solve issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, as a manager, they must lead and empower staff to reach goals while implementing company policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, plant controller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "plant management," "continuous improvement," "strong analytical," and "plant operations." Meanwhile, a manager finance planning and analysis has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "financial models," "visualization," and "business development." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Managers finance planning and analysis earn a higher average salary than plant controllers. But managers finance planning and analysis earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $109,735. Additionally, plant controllers earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $111,014 annually.In general, managers finance planning and analysis achieve higher levels of education than plant controllers. They're 5.7% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Plant controller vs. Manager/finance accounting
A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations. A manager of finance accounting must also maintain accurate financial records, identify any errors or inconsistencies, and perform support tasks for staff when necessary. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from plant controller resumes include skills like "plant management," "continuous improvement," "payroll," and "plant operations," whereas a manager/finance accounting is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "cpa," "due diligence," and "hr. "
Managers/finance accounting make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $92,198. On the other hand, plant controllers are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $111,014.Most managers/finance accounting achieve a similar degree level compared to plant controllers. For example, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Plant controller vs. Accounting director
An Accounting Director supervises the general accounting and financial reporting functions, as well as financial services within a company or organization. They also ensure that all transactions and financial policies for their organization meet federal regulations and standards.
Types of plant controller
Updated January 8, 2025
