Manufacturing Controller Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Our client is a PE-backed precision manufacturer based in Ohio, operating within the aerospace and industrial supply chain is seeking a Controller to own the full accounting and financial reporting function of the enterprise.

This is a working Controller role built for a strong, hands-on accountant who thrives in a lean manufacturing environment. The team is small by design, and the right candidate will be equally comfortable setting strategy and executing it themselves. We are looking for a technically grounded accounting professional with deep manufacturing experience, someone who takes full ownership of the close process, maintains rigorous standards across the accounting function, and drives accuracy and efficiency without the support of a large team. If you are the kind of Controller who leads from the front, lives in the detail, and takes genuine pride in a clean, fast close, this role was built for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process end-to-end, including journal entries, account reconciliations, intercompany eliminations, and preparation of accurate financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement)
• Drive a fast, accurate close cycle; continuously identify and eliminate bottlenecks to tighten the close timeline
• Manage and maintain the job costing system; track costs by job, work order, and production run to ensure accurate cost-of-goods-sold and gross margin reporting at the product and customer level
• Oversee all transactional accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash disbursements, invoicing and billing, customer credits and collections, and payroll
• Calculate and record accruals, asset depreciation and amortization, interest expense, prepaid amortization, and other period-end entries with precision and on schedule
• Maintain and reconcile the fixed asset subledger, including tracking capital expenditures, disposals, and depreciation schedules across all manufacturing assets
• Manage inventory accounting, including physical count coordination, variance analysis, WIP valuation, and standard cost reviews in a manufacturing environment
• Prepare and distribute timely management reporting packages to the CFO and executive leadership, including budget-versus-actual analysis, variance explanations, and key operational metrics
• Support the CFO with cash flow forecasting, working capital management, and board and lender reporting
• Monitor debt covenant compliance and prepare required lender compliance certificates and supporting schedules
• Lead the annual audit process, serving as the primary day-to-day contact for external auditors; prepare all audit schedules and support packages
• Coordinate with external tax preparers and ensure all tax workpapers, schedules, and filings are accurate and delivered on time
• Design, implement, and maintain strong internal controls across all accounting processes; identify gaps and drive continuous improvement in procedures and documentation
• Drive continuous improvement of the ERP/finance system; take ownership of system accuracy, chart of accounts integrity, and the automation of manual accounting processes
• Manage and develop a small accounting team; set clear expectations, provide hands-on coaching, and hold the team accountable to deadlines and accuracy standards
• Partner with operations and management to understand production costs, labor efficiency, material usage variances, and overhead absorption; translate shop floor activity into accurate financial results

Requirements

• US Citizenship required
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; Accounting preferred
• Minimum 7 to 10 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 5 years in a Controller or Assistant Controller role
• Solid manufacturing accounting background is required; must understand the flow of costs through a production environment, including raw materials, WIP, finished goods, labor, and overhead
• Demonstrated ownership of the full monthly close cycle: journal entries, account reconciliations, intercompany eliminations, financial statement preparation, and variance analysis
• Strong job costing experience; ability to set up, maintain, and analyze job cost structures in an ERP environment
• Hands-on experience with inventory accounting, physical counts, WIP valuation, and cost variance analysis
• Experience with fixed asset accounting, capital expenditure tracking, and depreciation schedule management
• Percentage-of-completion accounting experience is a strong plus
• Experience in multi-entity manufacturing environments and financial statement consolidation
• Proven ERP experience; hands-on system user with the ability to drive accuracy and process improvement within the ERP environment
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and internal controls; ability to implement and maintain a sound control environment in a lean team setting
• Demonstrated ability to manage a small accounting team while remaining fully hands-on with the work
• A hard worker who takes pride in accuracy, owns their deadlines, and holds themselves and their team to a high standard; this is a high-output, get-it-done environment

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation
• Experience working within a private equity-backed portfolio company, with familiarity with equity-based management incentive plans and liquidity events
• Percentage-of-completion accounting experience is a strong plus

Benefits

• Base Salary: ~$180 000 - $210 000
• Bonus: Performance-based bonus
• Equity: Equity participation through the Management Incentive Plan (MIP)
• Vacation: 3 weeks
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and ancillary coverage
• Retirement: 401(k)

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Headhunters Ohio: Keller Executive Search and Recruiters Ohio

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