Controller/Finance Manager
Industry: Finance & Accounting
Job Number: 7535
Job Description
Senior Controller / Finance Director
A growing company in our client network
Greater New Haven, Connecticut (on-site). Candidates within approximately one hour's commute, including the Stamford area, will also be considered.
Full-time, on-site (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM)
Reports to: CEO
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Italian heritage specialty cheese manufacturer based in Connecticut, belonging to an international Group, producing fresh milk mozzarella, burrata, and ricotta for retail and foodservice customers across the United States. The company generates approximately $35 million in annual revenue and continues to grow quickly as part of a global ownership group with operations spanning multiple countries.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The company is seeking a hands-on Senior Controller / Finance Director to lead day to day financial operations for a growing dairy manufacturing business, partnering directly with ownership on cost accounting, cash management, and financial reporting, warehouse management and monthly closing. This role combines a true controller's rigor with the strategic view of a finance leader and requires regular presence on the plant floor rather than a desk only approach.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own product and raw milk costing, including allocation of milk categories and cost tracking across multiple cheese product lines (mozzarella, burrata, ricotta).
- Calculate fully landed product cost, incorporating raw material sourcing, logistics, and duties.
- Review work orders daily, investigate significant manufacturing variances, and close completed work orders in the ERP system.
- Knowledge about Dynamics Nav / Business Central knowledge.
- Prepare and review a daily P&L to track performance against budget and verify accurate expense classification.
- Variance analysis vs Budget and vs previous year.
- Lead the month end close process, including preparation of internal management reporting packages.
- Conduct regular plant floor walkthroughs with operations leadership to understand production, quality, and costing issues firsthand.
- Review labor, material, manufacturing overhead, distribution cost, and inventory levels; compare budget to actual and recommend corrective action.
- Support the annual operating budget process and maintain rolling monthly and quarterly forecasts.
- Manage full cycle accounting, including journal entries, reconciliations, and preparation of internal P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.
- Own cash flow management, net financial position, and banking relationships, including vendor and supplier payments.
- Serve as an authorized signer and act as a company officer on financial and banking matters.
- Partner with the company's external auditor and outside tax advisors on annual financial statements and tax filings.
- Act as a true business partner to ownership, proactively flagging financial and compliance risk while staying pragmatic and solutions oriented.
- Support the business through future growth initiatives, including potential acquisitions, as the finance function scales.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Active U.S. CPA license strongly preferred; this role will serve as a company officer and authorized signer on financial and banking matters.
- Prior experience as a Controller, Finance Director, or senior finance/accounting leader within a manufacturing environment; food and beverage, dairy, or CPG experience strongly preferred.
- Public accounting background (Big Four or national firm) is a strong plus, ideally including audit experience with manufacturing or industrial clients.
- Hands on, detail-oriented approach, comfortable working at the transaction level and spending time on the plant floor rather than solely reviewing reports from a desk.
- Strong foundation in cost accounting, standard costing, bill of materials, and margin analysis within a multi-SKU manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of US GAAP; familiarity with IFRS is a plus given the company's international ownership.
- Proven experience managing cash flow, banking relationships, and net financial position.
- Strong business partner orientation: direct and proactive in raising issues, while remaining pragmatic and focused on business continuity.
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills; Italian language ability not required but a plus given the ownership structure.
- Available to work on site five days a week in the Greater New Haven, Connecticut area.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable mid market ERP system.
- Experience supporting a business through periods of rapid growth, integration, or M&A activity.
- Exposure to warehouse management system (WMS) implementations.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Base salary of $170,000 per year (fixed; no bonus currently structured for this role)
- Company Car
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