Operations Controller

Operations Controller – Confidential Search

Reports To: Corporate Controller

Location: Denver Metropolitan Area

The Client

Our client is a stable, privately held leader in the agribusiness sector with a long, successful history. They are a multidivisional company and are looking for a controller for their largest division, a multi-site manufacturing operation producing highly customized products for their customers.

Position Summary

The Operations Controller is a strategic finance leader responsible for partnering with operations management to improve profitability, operational efficiency, and financial performance across the company's manufacturing operations. This role serves as the primary owner of inventory controls, valuation, reconciliation, and reporting across all manufacturing facilities, while working closely with operations to maintain accurate inventory records and minimize variances.

In addition to inventory management, the Operations Controller will provide actionable financial analysis that helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and drive continuous process improvement across the organization.

The Operations Controller serves as a trusted business partner to operations directors, plant managers, procurement, logistics, technical teams, and executive leadership. This position is expected to grow into a broader leadership role with responsibility for overseeing the operations accounting function and managing a team of finance professionals.

Responsibilities

Inventory Management

• Oversee inventory accounting for raw materials, finished goods, and equipment
• Investigate inventory variances and implement corrective actions in coordination with the Operations team
• Coordinate and oversee physical inventory counts on-site, if necessary
• Monitor inventory turnover on specific items and assist with inventory management tasks as needed
• Support inventory valuation in accordance with GAAP

Operational Business Partner

• Provide financial guidance on operational initiatives
• Evaluate capital expenditure requests and return-on-investment analyses
• Oversee the process to pay third-party freight providers
• Oversee accounting for equipment transactions
• Partner closely with Operations Leadership, Plant Managers, Procurement & Logistics, technical/product teams, and capital projects leadership

Financial Analysis

• Analyze financial performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability
• Prepare monthly operational financial reports and KPI dashboards
• Develop financial analysis supporting strategic business decisions
• Analyze monthly results by manufacturing location

Additional Responsibilities

• Monitor accounts receivable aging to identify delinquent accounts and emerging collection risks
• Ensure compliance with company accounting policies
• Support external audits
• Lead ongoing accounting initiatives, including ERP and other system implementations and upgrades, as well as process enhancements focused on improving system efficiency, internal controls, and business processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• CPA preferred
• 4–10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience
• Experience with inventory accounting
• Proficient in ERP systems and Business Intelligence/reporting tools
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, inventory accounting, manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing, and variance analysis
• Experience in agriculture, food or animal nutrition manufacturing, commodity processing, or other process manufacturing preferred
• Strong accounting expertise with a hands-on understanding of inventory and manufacturing operations

Required Skills

• Strategic thinker
• Strong business acumen
• Excellent analytical skills
• Effective communicator
• Collaborative leadership style
• Process improvement mindset