Plant Controller

Role Overview

This position sits at the financial nerve centre of the plant, translating production activity into numbers that leadership can act on. Reporting to the Business Controller and working shoulder to shoulder with the Plant Manager, the role owns budgeting, product costing, inventory integrity and internal controls for the site — and is measured by how much waste, variance and margin leakage it removes. It matters because plant profitability rarely hinges on one big decision; it is built from hundreds of small, well-governed cost and stock choices made correctly every month.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the plant budgeting cycle end to end — gather inputs from operational teams, pressure-test assumptions, consolidate the numbers, and deliver a budget that aligns with plant objectives and supports management decision making.
• Analyse cost drivers across the operation, pinpoint savings and efficiency opportunities, drive their execution with the relevant functions, and track the margin impact of each initiative.
• Partner with the Plant Manager on product cost competitiveness, maintaining accurate costing in SAP through regular updates of activity type rates and overhead absorption rates.
• Work with the Business Controller to shape pricing strategies for the product range so that margins are protected and maximised.
• Keep internal controls effective across plant revenue, expenditure and inventory cycles so that company assets are safeguarded and losses prevented.
• Set and maintain optimum stockholding levels and a sound inventory control system, including monthly stock takes and reconciliations for all sites and depots.
• Investigate inventory variances to root cause, secure approval, and post adjustments promptly — covering imported materials and external stores as well as on-site stock.
• Issue timely, accurate plant reports that flag variances clearly enough for management to act, while supporting payables and receivables with the documentation flow needed for supplier payments through the CSO.
• Build team capability through induction, training, weekly and monthly performance management and succession planning, while upholding the company's code of business conduct and compliance with HR programmes, continual improvement, safety and GMP requirements.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A university degree in a business-related discipline.
• A recognised professional accounting qualification — CPA(K), ACCA or equivalent.
• At least five years' experience in a manufacturing environment, with a demonstrable record of achievement in inventory management and production processes.
• Hands-on working knowledge of SAP, specifically the CO, MM and PP modules, plus strong spreadsheet and general MS Office skills.
• Commercial acumen and the confidence to challenge the status quo rather than accept existing cost structures.
• The ability to align day-to-day work with strategic vision and to communicate that strategy to operational colleagues.
• A bias for execution — moving initiatives forward at pace and influencing stakeholders who do not report to you.
• Commitment to developing both yourself and your team, collaborating across functions, and operating with trust and integrity at all times.