Operations Controller
ARCHIVED
We can't find an active application page for this role right now. It may reopen or be listed elsewhere. Use Next Steps to search for an active apply link and similar live jobs.
Operations Controller Gurnee, IL | OnsiteDirect Hire | Robert Half ClientAbout the Opportunity This is a GREAT opportunity with GREAT growth potential and is a medical device manufacturer. They are seeking an Operations Controller to join its leadership team in Gurnee, Illinois. The company designs and manufactures highly engineered healthcare products that are sold globally and operates within a regulated manufacturing environment with a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and operational excellence. This is a highly visible role that focuses heavily on operations finance, cost accounting, analytics, and business partnership rather than traditional month-end close responsibilities. The successful candidate will serve as the right hand to the Finance Director, partnering closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to drive profitability, improve plant performance, and support strategic decision-making. The organization offers a unique blend of stability and growth. While part of a larger publicly traded organization, the business maintains an entrepreneurial culture that provides employees with visibility, influence, and opportunities for advancement across multiple operating companies and business units.
What You'll Be Doing:
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys using financial data to influence business decisions and improve operational performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary finance partner for manufacturing and operations leadership
- Act as a trusted advisor to the Finance Director and business leadership team
- Lead inventory and cost accounting activities for the business
- Develop and maintain costing methodologies, burden rates, overhead allocations, and annual cost rolls
- Analyze labor absorption, manufacturing efficiencies, overhead utilization, and plant productivity metrics
- Evaluate labor allocation strategies, headcount planning, and operational performance against revenue and production goals
- Perform detailed variance analysis on labor, materials, inventory, and manufacturing costs
- Partner with operations leaders to identify cost savings and productivity improvement opportunities
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning initiatives
- Monitor inventory levels and develop strategies to reduce excess and obsolete inventory
- Create meaningful dashboards, reports, and analyses that support business decisions
- Evaluate capital investment projects and prepare financial justification models
- Improve financial reporting processes, controls, and operational metrics
- Ensure inventory accounting complies with GAAP and SOX requirements
- Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives across the organization
- Why This Role Stands OutFocus on driving business performance rather than primarily managing the close process
- Opportunity to directly influence plant profitability and operational results
- High visibility with senior leadership
- Significant growth potential within a multi-company organization
- Exposure to strategic initiatives, operational leadership, and long-term business planning
- Opportunity to expand into broader leadership and potentially global finance responsibilities over time
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required 7+ years of accounting, finance, manufacturing finance, or cost accounting experience 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred
Strong manufacturing industry experience required
Significant cost accounting expertise, including:
- Labor absorption analysis
- Standard costing
- Burden rates and overhead allocation
- Inventory accounting
- Variance analysis
- Product costing
- Strong understanding of GAAP and SOX compliance
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to aggregate and analyze large data sets
- Experience working with ERP systems; Epicor experience is a plusCPA, CMA, or MBA strongly preferred
- Proven ability to translate financial information into actionable business recommendations
- Strong communication, leadership, and business partnering skills
Preferred Background:
The ideal candidate comes from a manufacturing environment where they were deeply involved in cost accounting and operational finance. Candidates who have worked within private equity-backed or mid-sized manufacturing organizations and have experience partnering directly with plant leadership will be particularly attractive. A blend of accounting and finance experience is welcomed, provided the candidate possesses strong manufacturing cost accounting expertise.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Generous paid time off
- Paid company holidays
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Health Savings Account (HSA) options
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
- Tuition assistance and continuing education support, where applicable
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Access to a global organization with multiple career advancement paths
This is an exceptional opportunity for a manufacturing finance professional who wants to become a strategic business partner, helping drive operational performance, improve profitability, and influence key decisions across a growing manufacturing organization.