Plant Controller II

Darigold is seeking a Plant Controller II to serve as the financial leader for up to two dairy manufacturing plants. This role partners closely with Plant Leadership and Operations to drive cost discipline, operational performance, and financial integrity.The Plant Controller II owns plant-level financial reporting and leads the team responsible for plant accounting activities. This role provides clear insight into production and cost trends and partners with plant leadership to support informed decisions that drive growth and profitability. The position requires a strong operational presence, building relationships with production teams to understand processes firsthand and ensure accurate reporting of production activity, labor, and inventory. This is a hands-on leadership role with broad exposure across accounting, forecasting, cost management, internal controls, and continuous improvement initiatives.This position reports to the Director of Operations Accounting and will be a hybrid onsite role at one of our dairy manufacturing plants. Travel between plant locations and headquarters may be required (typically less than 20%).Your Areas of OwnershipLeadership & Team DevelopmentDirectly manage plant accounting team members responsible for production reconciliations and inventory true-upsProvide hands-on coaching to ensure production activity and inventory adjustments are accurate, timely, and well supportedDrive consistency in processes, controls, and reporting across team members and plant locationsReview reconciliations and analysis to reinforce strong controls and data integrityIdentify process improvement opportunities within production reporting and inventory management workflowsFoster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvementMentorshipServe as a mentor to junior members of the broader Operations Accounting function, sharing best practices and strengthening technical consistency across plantsSupport succession planning and talent development within the Operations Accounting organizationFinancial Close & ReportingLead and coordinate monthly plant close activities, ensuring timely and accurate financial reportingOversee preparation and review of journal entries and plant account reconciliationsAnalyze plant results, including labor and overhead, and clearly communicate key drivers and variancesIdentify and share recommendations for operational and cost improvements with Plant ManagementEnsure compliance with company policies and U.S. GAAPInternal Controls and ComplianceAssess and strengthen plant-level internal controls to support accurate financial reporting and safeguard assetsProvide recommendations to enhance process discipline and data integrityEnsure adherence to company policies and financial standardsCost AccountingPartner with the Cost Accounting team to ensure accuracy of standard costing for monthly close and reporting, including inventory valuation, production reporting, key statistical entries, and manufacturing variance analysisPrepare and review plant account reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with financial reportingPlanning, Forecasting, and CapitalLead development of the plant Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and budgetPrepare monthly forecasts and variance analysis, sharing insights with plant leadershipPartner with Plant Leadership to evaluate capital improvement projects, prepare supporting requests, and monitor spendSupport execution of cost management initiativesContinuous Improvement & SystemsParticipate in problem-solving and Continuous Improvement initiatives as the finance subject matter expertSupport analysis related to process performance, line efficiency, inventory management, capital spending, etc.Collaborate with IT and cross-functional partners to enhance reporting tools and streamline processesLead or support special projects, including user acceptance testing for systems implementationsDocument and standardize processes to reduce inefficiencies and drive consistency across plantsfield1What You BringBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (or equivalent progressive experience)7-15 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environmentPrior experience leading and developing direct reportsStrong knowledge of standard cost accounting and inventory control in manufacturingSolid understanding of U.S. GAAP and internal control designAdvanced Excel skillsDemonstrated ability to analyze and translate complex data into clear, practical financial insight and recommendationsStrong communication skills and experience partnering with operations leadersProven ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environmentA mindset focused on continuous improvement and challenging the status quoStrong team player with effective communication skills, both oral and writtenSalary Range: $94,772 to $142,158 annuallyBenefits of Working at DarigoldWe understand that as an employee, benefits that support you and your family in and out of work are important. We're proud to offer eligible positions a competitive total rewards package - that includes:Employer 401K contributionComprehensive medical, dental & vision benefitsEmployer paid life & disability coveragePaid time off and paid HolidaysEight weeks of paid paternal LeaveEducation assistanceFlexible (hybrid) working arrangement - must live a commutable distance from the Pasco plantCommunity giving through matching donationsAccess to great dairy products & participation in our employee butter purchaseProgramPlease Note: We are not engaging with external recruiters or agencies for this role. Kindly refrain from outreach regarding candidates.Our Commitment to DiversityOur Commitment to Diversity Achieving our vision to Lead Dairy Forward requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. As a condition of employment, applicants offered a role will be required to successfully pass our pre-employment background screen& confirm eligibility to work in the U.S. We participate in E-Verify - please follow the links for details, English / Spanish & view our Right to Work Statement, English / Spanish.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.