Accountant IV

The Assistant Plant Controller IV supports the Plant Controller in managing the financial performance, cost structure, and internal controls of a high-volume U.S. water heater manufacturing facility. This role serves as a hands-on finance business partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Plant Leadership, providing actionable financial insight to drive cost control, productivity, inventory accuracy, and continuous improvement.

The position has a strong emphasis on manufacturing cost accounting, variance analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and plant-level financial reporting, with regular presence on the shop floor.

This position will serve Water Heater Division in Montgomery, AL. 

Financial Reporting & Close

• Prepare and analyze monthly plant financial results, including: 

  • Labor, material, overhead, scrap, and efficiency variances

  • Inventory valuation and reconciliation

• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities in coordination with Corporate Finance

• Prepare financial schedules, journal entries, and account reconciliations in accordance with company policy and U.S. 

Cost Accounting & Inventory Control

• Maintain and validate standard costs for manufactured products, including: 

  • Bills of Material (BOMs)

  • Routings and labor standards

  • Overhead and burden rates

• Partner with Operations and Materials to: 

  • Improve inventory accuracy and cycle counts

  • Monitor slow-moving and obsolete inventory

  • Support working capital and inventory turns 

Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Assist in development of: 

  • Budgeting process based on volume and mix by platform with flexible scenarios

  • Monthly Forecasts with flexible scenarios

• Perform detailed variance analysis (VOP, MoM, YoY, VPY) and clearly communicate root-cause drivers to plant leadership

• Support productivity, cost-reduction, and capital investment initiatives with financial modeling and ROI analysis

Operational Partnership

• Act as a finance partner to: 

  • Plant leadership

  • Production and maintenance teams

  • Engineering and CI teams

• Provide financial insight for: 

  • Labor and efficiency improvements

  • Scrap and yield reduction

  • Make/buy and sourcing decisions

• Participate in Lean and continuous improvement initiatives with a strong cost-focus

Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Support adherence to internal controls and company accounting policies

• Assist with internal and external audits

• Identify control gaps and recommend corrective actions to improve financial discipline and compliance 

     Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and analyze data within ERP systems (Oracle or similar)

• Drive improvements in reporting accuracy, data integrity, and financial processes

• Support ERP enhancements, upgrades, or cost-module improvements as needed

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive experience in Manufacturing finance, Cost accounting or plant accounting.
• Strong working knowledge of Standard costing, Inventory accounting, Manufacturing variances.
• Experience working in an ERP environment (Oracle preferred)
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, financial analysis)
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, shop-floor manufacturing environment 

HOW TO STAND OUT:

• CPA or CMA certification
• Experience in high-volume or mixed-model manufacturing
• Exposure to Lean manufacturing or continuous improve