Assistant Plant Controller

The Overview

We're thrilled to be running a private search for a newly created Assistant Controller opening based in Elkhart, IN, with a leading operating unit of a large global manufacturing group. This business is a worldwide leader in specialty safety systems, producing seat belts and restraint solutions for car seats, UTVs, and other niche vehicles. The role has financial ownership of a unit generating roughly $100 million in yearly revenue spread across four sites worldwide — the Elkhart location plus operations in China, the UK, and Sri Lanka. Your home base will be the Elkhart headquarters, but your financial oversight and analysis will reach across that entire global footprint.

The Role

Serving as a key leadership position, the Assistant Controller owns day-to-day accounting operations — spanning Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, general ledger stewardship, and financial reporting. You'll drive the monthly close and guarantee that financial statements land accurately and on schedule. On top of the core accounting cycle, you'll take on the role of International Trade Compliance (ITC) Lead, making certain every import/export rule is followed to the letter. You'll also own consolidated fixed asset tracking, book payroll entries, and act as the go-to backup for finance leadership duties.

This is no scorekeeping job — you'll be dissecting performance across global sites, enforcing policy consistency across international units, and positioning yourself for a fast climb into the executive ranks.

Core responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and grow the A/P and A/R staff at the Elkhart site.
• Own the month-end close and deliver accurate results on time.
• Prepare and review monthly account reconciliations.
• Handle consolidated fixed asset tracking and reporting.
• Book payroll entries and back up the HR Manager on payroll runs.
• Review and sign off on customer credits, purchase requisitions, and related transactions.
• Sustain and enhance the standard costing framework.
• Build, analyze, and circulate financial reporting for leadership and stakeholders.
• Work alongside internal and external auditors, supplying documentation, explaining atypical items, and clarifying key processes.
• Interpret and apply GAAP, SOX, and other applicable standards to keep the business fully compliant.
• Contribute to building and delivering the yearly budget.
• Function as the organization's ITC Lead, keeping all trade laws, regulations, and internal policies in check.
• Spot ways to sharpen processes, boost efficiency, and strengthen controls across accounting and adjacent cycles.
• Back up the Vice President of Finance and take part in leadership succession planning.
• Take on special projects and strategic work as directed by management.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (required).
• CPA or CMA — earned or in progress — preferred.
• 3–5+ years of general ledger accounting experience.
• Supervisory background preferred.
• Manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with integrated ERP platforms (Infor Syteline a plus).
• Multi-currency accounting exposure preferred.
• Strong command of Microsoft Office.
• Sharp analytical, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Solid grounding in internal controls, with hands-on experience building or maintaining them.
• Clear leadership potential and appetite for advancement.
• Openness to relocating within 2–3 years to a sister operating unit for the Vice President of Finance role.

The Hiring Manager

You'll report straight to the Vice President of Finance, a leader who has spent the better part of a decade with the business and has held virtually every seat in the department on the way up. She isn't after just another manager — she wants someone with the horsepower to grow into a VP role. Direct in style, she prizes a self-starter mentality and someone eager to take true ownership. Her ideal hire is sharp, early enough in their career to be developed, yet driven enough to be gunning for her seat in a few years.

The Culture

Expect a culture that's entrepreneurial, results-driven, and tightly disciplined. You get the best of both worlds — the muscle and stability of a major global corporation paired with the close-knit vibe of a smaller local office. The business runs on a lean-and-accountable operating philosophy that prizes efficiency, strong margins, and real ownership. Performance gets rewarded and value creation is the north star, but the team still knows how to unwind and enjoy themselves.

Systems & ERP

The business is in the middle of migrating from QAD to Infor Syteline as its integrated ERP platform.

Travel & Remote

This is an on-site role in Elkhart, IN. The one distinctive, non-negotiable element: a willingness to relocate within 2–3 years to a sister operating unit to step into a Vice President of Finance role.

The Location

Elkhart, Indiana, is far more than a manufacturing town — it's a community that delivers a genuinely high quality of life, blending small-town warmth with easy big-city reach. Widely dubbed the 'RV Capital of the World,' Elkhart's identity is anchored in its industrial backbone, yet the area serves up a surprising amount of culture and recreation, beginning with the scenic meeting of the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers and the beautifully built Elkhart Riverwalk. Locals enjoy a sprawling botanic garden, a restored historic theater hosting Broadway-caliber shows, and one-of-a-kind attractions including an RV heritage hall and a superhero museum. A standout advantage is affordability — housing frequently runs 15% to 20% under the national average, stretching your dollar while you live near a nationally known university. Positioned strategically, Elkhart truly offers the 'best of both worlds': roughly 20 minutes from nearby South Bend, about 45 minutes from Lake Michigan's freshwater beaches, and just 2 hours from everything Chicago has to offer.