Assistant Plant Controller

The Overview

We are excited to be partnering with SHIELD, a premier operating unit of TransDigm Group, on a new Assistant Controller role based in Elkhart, IN. Shield is a global leader in specialty safety systems, manufacturing seat belts and restraint systems for car seats, UTVs, and other specialty vehicles. This position oversees the financial operations for a business unit with approximately $112 million in annual revenue across four global locations: Elkhart, China, the UK, and Sri Lanka. While you will be based at the Elkhart headquarters, you will provide financial oversight and analysis for the entire global footprint.

The Role

The Assistant Controller is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing the daily accounting operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, general ledger management, and financial reporting. You will support the monthly close process and ensure the preparation of accurate, timely financial statements. Beyond the standard accounting cycle, this role serves as the company's ITC (International Trade Compliance) Lead, ensuring all import/export regulations are strictly followed. Additionally, you will manage consolidated fixed asset tracking, record payroll entries, and function as the primary backup for financial leadership responsibilities.

You won't just be a scorekeeper — you will be analyzing global site performance, ensuring policy compliance across international units, and preparing for a rapid ascent into executive leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, support, and develop the A/P and A/R teams in the Elkhart office.
• Oversee the month-end close process and ensure timely, accurate financial results.
• Perform and review monthly account reconciliations.
• Manage consolidated fixed asset tracking and reporting.
• Record payroll entries and serve as a backup to the HR Manager for payroll processing.
• Review and approve customer credits, purchase requisitions, and other financial transactions.
• Maintain and improve the standard costing system.
• Prepare, analyze, and distribute financial reports for management and stakeholders.
• Partner with internal and external auditors by providing required documentation, explanations of unusual transactions, and clarity on key accounting processes.
• Research and apply GAAP, SOX requirements, and other relevant accounting standards to ensure full compliance.
• Assist in the development and execution of the annual budget.
• Serve as the company's ITC Lead, ensuring compliance with all import/export laws, regulations, and internal trade policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, and internal controls across accounting and related business cycles.
• Act as backup to the Vice President of Finance and participate in leadership succession planning.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives assigned by management.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (required).
• CPA or CMA designation, or active candidate, preferred.
• 3–5+ years of general ledger accounting experience.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Manufacturing industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with integrated ERP systems (Infor Syteline is a plus).
• Multi-currency accounting experience preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of internal controls and experience implementing or maintaining them.
• Demonstrated leadership potential with interest in career advancement.
• Willingness to relocate within 2–3 years to another TransDigm operating unit for the Vice President of Finance role.

The Hiring Manager

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Finance, who has been with Shield for eight years and has worked her way through every role in the department. She is looking for more than just a manager; she is looking for someone who can grow into a VP-level position. She is a direct leader who values a 'go-getter' attitude and someone who is willing to take ownership of the work. Her ideal candidate is sharp, junior enough to be mentored, but ambitious enough to want her job in a few years.

The Culture

The culture at Shield is entrepreneurial, performance-focused, and highly disciplined. It offers the best of both worlds: the resources and backing of a major global corporation, but the tight-knit feel of a smaller, dedicated local office. Shield operates under the TransDigm model, which emphasizes lean teams, high margins, and extreme accountability. It is an environment where results are rewarded and there is a clear focus on value creation, but they also know how to cut loose and have a good time.

Systems & ERP

Shield is upgrading from QAD to Infor Syteline as their integrated ERP system.

Travel & Remote

The role is based on-site in Elkhart, IN. A unique and essential requirement of this position is the willingness to relocate within 2–3 years to another TransDigm operating unit to step into a Vice President of Finance role.

The Location

Elkhart, Indiana, is much more than a manufacturing hub; it is a community that offers an exceptional quality of life with a small-town feel and big-city access. Known as the 'RV Capital of the World,' Elkhart's unique identity is rooted in its industrial strength, but the area offers a surprising depth of culture and recreation, starting with the scenic convergence of the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers and the beautifully developed Elkhart Riverwalk. Residents enjoy the 36-acre Wellfield Botanic Gardens, the historic Lerner Theatre for Broadway-style performances, and unique attractions like the RV/MH Hall of Fame and the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum. One of the most significant advantages of the region is the low cost of living, with housing costs often sitting 15% to 20% below the national average, allowing for a high standard of living near the University of Notre Dame. Strategically located, Elkhart offers the 'best of both worlds' — you are just 20 minutes from the excitement of South Bend, 45 minutes from the stunning freshwater beaches of Lake Michigan, and a mere 2 hours from the world-class amenities of Chicago.