Plant Controller

With over 80 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 8,700 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated $2 billion in revenues in fiscal 2022. Learn more at www.kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Plant Controller

The Plant Finance Business Partner supports the Plant Management team in providing strategic financial leadership and financial stewardship. This role works with all areas of the business and is intended to be a support in the delivery of services to each Business Unit Leader. The Plant Finance Business Partner works closely with the business to timely and accurately report monthly results, budget and forecast financial results, drive data-driven decisions, and work together as partners on proposals and special projects. The Plant Finance Business Partner performs various financial reporting and forecasting analyses in the areas of sales and profitability planning, expenses, inventory costing, inventory management, capital expenditures and other areas. Strong experience in financial accounting, internal controls, and financial analysis, including reviewing financial information, understanding profitability drivers, analyzing trends, and making actionable recommendations is critical to the success of this role.

Key Job Responsibilities

Business Partnering/Leadership Support

• Effectively communicate financial results to non-financial professionals as well as foster collaboration between departments
• Provide meaningful, actionable insights, advice and recommendations on historical projected financial performance to the Business’ leadership
• Facilitator on strategic and tactical initiatives supporting the business in achieving its strategic objectives
• Support and challenge the business in ensuring that the chosen business action is aligned to the strategy and are protecting, growing and optimizing the assets of the company
• Improve operational results and efficiency
• Develop and maintain business partner relationships across functions and regions
• Respond to internal and external customer requests and deliverables in a timely fashion
• Share expertise and experience to support stakeholders on effective financial management processes
• Support the delivery of financial, operational and strategic insights across the organization
• Facilitate an openly communicative environment to promote the generation of creative thinking and commitment to business process improvement
• Seen as a leader within Plant Management

Planning and Forecasting

• Lead the completion of the annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts so that all key inputs are considered based on historical and future operating performance with the support of Plant and Business Unit Leadership
• Provide analysis to support planning and forecasting assumptions for sales, manufacturing activity, and all components of manufacturing performance, including labor and overhead, and cost out / strategic initiatives
• Partner with peers within and across the other business units to share ideas and collaborate on ways to improve finance routines, processes, and overall forecast accuracy
• Conduct other financial analysis and reporting as needed

Performance Management / Variance Reporting Processes

• Drive month end financial close for plant
• Prepare detailed analysis of operational and financial data, trend analysis and monitoring of key financial metrics
• Review monthly financial performance and provides explanations with actionable recommendations
• Support capital expenditure capitalizations, disposals, and fixed asset inventories
• Leads inventory management activities, including analyzing material, labor, and overhead variances and regular updates to standard costs, as necessary; supports all physical inventory activities including cycle counts and / or physical inventories
• Engages leaders and provides guidance in development and ongoing monitoring of remediation and corrective action plans
• Supports analytics for labor and non-employment benchmarking activities
• Supports Business Leadership in cost management initiatives
• Assists Shared Services and Corporate Accounting to estimate appropriate accruals

Compliance, Performance Improvement and Learning

• Guides Business Leaders in adoption and understanding of finance policies, guidelines, requirements and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with corporate finance policies and generally accepted accounting principles
• Ensures compliance with all internal control and SoX activities and coordinates with internal and external audit on planned audits, as necessary
• Provides guidance and participates in performance improvement initiatives that result in improvement in Business Unit operational and financial performance
• Educates other staff inside and outside the department on financial concepts and applications, and contributes to the development of financial management

Education, Work Experience, Skills & Certificates

• Bachelors Degree required - preferably in related field (Finance or Accounting)
• CPA and / or MBA with focus in Finance is preferred
• 5 – 8 years related finance experience including in-depth experience with financial statement analysis and a strong understanding of corporate finance concepts
• Excellent attention to detail, customer service orientation and timely follow through
• Ability to interface with business leaders outside of accounting/finance and comfort presenting to senior leaders of the organization
• Strong analytical skills (ability to recognize and resolve issues)
• Strategic thinking, leadership and influencing abilities
• High energy and self-motivated person
• Ability to proactively cultivate strong business partner relationships and communicate effectively with team members
• Capable of being a self-starter in a fast paced and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Strong computer skills

Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. As such, it is the policy of Kennametal Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, veteran status, or other protected status, group, or characteristic under federal, state, and/or local law or regulation. It is Kennametal Inc.'s policy to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.