Accountant, Plant Maintenance | Primient

About Primient

Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We are a privately held company with locations across the US, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. We’re investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we’re focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate.

About the Role

The Plant Maintenance Accountant is responsible for overseeing the financial and accounting activities related to plant maintenance, including tracking maintenance costs, managing fixed assets, and ensuring compliance with financial reporting requirements. This role plays a key part in supporting plant operations by analyzing maintenance expenditures, assisting with budgeting and forecasting, and ensuring proper cost allocation for plant-related expenses.

The role also will help challenge the current systems and tools of maintenance cost spending, data collection and protocol, and impacts to financial statements to modify and refine reporting and ensure the expectation of accountability and credibility within the organization.

Partnering with key stakeholders to execute on various initiatives and leverage current understanding of manufacturing maintenance cost pending is a fundamental responsibility. This position reports to the Decatur, IL Plant Controller and be based in Decatur, IL.

Key responsibilities: Accountant, Plant Maintenance  

Accountabilities with Key Outcomes

Deliver on core Operations Finance responsibilities & help improve the function through:

Financial Reporting & Analysis:

• Monitor and track maintenance-related costs, ensuring proper accounting treatment and cost control.
• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual reports related to maintenance expense
• Conduct variance analysis on maintenance spending against budget and forecast.
• Support financial close processes, including accruals, reconciliations, and journal entries.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Assist in the preparation of maintenance budgets and forecasts.
• Work closely with plant management and maintenance teams to understand cost drivers and recommend cost-saving initiatives.
• Provide financial insights to support decision-making for maintenance investments and cost management.

Fixed Assets & Capital Expenditures:

• Maintain accurate records of fixed assets, including additions, disposals, and depreciation.
• Ensure proper capitalization of maintenance-related capital expenditures.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance teams to track asset performance and lifecycle.

Collaboration & Support:

• Work closely with plant operations, maintenance, and procurement teams to ensure accurate cost tracking.
• Assist in developing financial models and reports to support strategic decision-making.
• Provide financial training and support to non-financial plant personnel as needed.

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Quickly develop a detailed understanding of the business and market, including products/services, business segments, customers, and competitors
• Ensure compliance with applicable financial regulations, accounting standards, and internal control policies within manufacturing operations. 
• Assess and mitigate financial and operational risks, developing risk management strategies and contingency plans. 
• Collaborate with internal audit to facilitate audits and address any findings or recommendations. 

 

About You

• BA/BS Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA preferred
• 3 to 5 years of experience in financial management, cost accounting, or related financial analysis.
• Experience with plant maintenance accounting or fixed assets, or cost accounting is a plus.
• Profici