Manufacturing Controller in Chocowinity, North Carolina at Boaters World Manufacturing Group

Boater’s World Manufacturing Group is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Controller to lead the accounting and financial-control functions for our manufacturing operation in Chocowinity, North Carolina.

The Manufacturing Controller will serve as the senior accounting resource for the facility and will be responsible for financial reporting, general ledger accounting, month-end close, standard costing, inventory and WIP accounting, internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, fixed assets, and financial analysis.

This position will work closely with plant leadership, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and corporate Finance to provide accurate financial information, strengthen manufacturing controls, and improve visibility into product costs and operational performance.

The ideal candidate has significant manufacturing accounting experience, a strong understanding of standard costing and inventory, and the ability to operate both strategically and hands-on within a growing manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Lead the facility’s accounting and financial reporting activities
• Manage the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and timely
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual closing activities
• Prepare financial statements, management reports, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules
• Review financial results for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company accounting policies
• Analyze operating results and communicate significant trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership
• Coordinate financial reporting requirements with corporate Finance and Accounting
• Maintain appropriate documentation supporting financial transactions and account balances
• Support annual audits and other financial reviews

Manufacturing Cost Accounting

• Lead and maintain the facility’s standard-costing processes
• Monitor and analyze raw materials, labor, overhead, WIP, and finished-goods costs
• Review bills of material, routings, labor standards, overhead rates, and other cost drivers
• Analyze material, labor, overhead, purchase-price, scrap, rework, and production variances
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to improve product-cost accuracy
• Analyze manufacturing performance and identify opportunities to improve cost control and profitability
• Support product and model-level cost analysis
• Provide financial analysis related to production changes, sourcing decisions, process improvements, and other operational initiatives

Inventory & WIP

• Maintain accurate accounting for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished-goods inventory
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to strengthen inventory controls and reporting
• Support physical inventories and cycle-count processes
• Research and resolve inventory discrepancies
• Review inventory adjustments, reserves, obsolescence, and other inventory-related accounting matters
• Monitor WIP activity and ensure manufacturing costs are properly captured
• Help establish and maintain effective controls over inventory movement and valuation

ERP & Accounting Systems

• Support the development and maintenance of accounting processes within the company’s ERP environment
• Help establish and maintain the chart of accounts, cost centers, reporting structures, and manufacturing accounting controls
• Ensure appropriate integration between manufacturing activity and financial reporting
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Engineering, and other departments to improve system accuracy and reporting
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes through system utilization and automation
• Support ERP implementation, transition, configuration, or optimization activities as needed

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Develop, document, and maintain effective accounting and financial controls
• Establish procedures supporting accurate and consistent financial reporting
• Ensure compliance with company accounting policies and applicable accounting standards
• Review accounting processes and identify control gaps or opportunities for improvement
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and approval controls
• Support internal and external audits and coordinate responses to audit requests
• Assist with tax, regulatory, insurance, and other financial compliance requirements as assigned
• Maintain appropriate accounting records and documentation

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Analysis

• Support annual budgeting and periodic forecasting
• Partner with plant leadership to develop operating and capital budgets
• Monitor actual results against budget and forecast
• Analyze financial and operational variances and provide meaningful explanations
• Develop financial reporting and analysis to support plant decision-making
• Provide insight into labor, material, overhead, production, inventory, and margin trends
• Support business cases and financial analysis for capital expenditures and operational investments
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, and cost management

Fixed Assets & Capital Expenditures

• Maintain accurate fixed-asset records
• Coordinate capitalization, depreciation, transfers, and disposals
• Support capital expenditure tracking and approval processes
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to monitor capital projects
• Ensure capital spending is properly documented and accounted for

Warranty & Operational Accounting

• Support accounting for warranty activity and related reserves
• Partner with Warranty, Customer Service, Operations, and Finance to monitor warranty costs and trends
• Assist with financial review of significant warranty matters as needed
• Support financial analysis related to manufacturing quality, scrap, rework, and other operational costs

Accounting Operations & Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight to facility accounting personnel, including the Manufacturing Cost Accountant and other assigned accounting support positions
• Establish priorities and maintain accountability for accurate and timely accounting work
• Develop accounting processes and procedures that support the manufacturing operation
• Partner closely with plant leadership while maintaining appropriate financial controls
• Provide guidance and support to operational leaders regarding accounting and financial matters
• Help develop the facility’s accounting capabilities as manufacturing operations grow

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum 7 years of progressive accounting experience
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience as a Controller, Plant Controller, Assistant Controller, or similar accounting leadership position
• Significant accounting experience within a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, WIP, COGS, manufacturing variances, and product costing
• Experience leading month-end close and financial reporting
• Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, reconciliations, accruals, and internal controls
• Experience with ERP-based manufacturing and accounting systems
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Ability to analyze complex financial and operational information and communicate findings clearly
• Strong leadership, organization, judgment, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with both financial and operational leadership
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Chocowinity, North Carolina

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA certification
• Experience with Epicor ERP
• Experience supporting an ERP implementation, transition, carve-out, or significant system configuration
• Experience developing or improving standard-costing systems
• Boat, marine, composites, fiberglass, automotive, powersports, or other durable-goods manufacturing experience
• Experience supporting a manufacturing start-up, expansion, acquisition, or significant production ramp-up
• Experience with warranty accounting and reserves
• Experience with fixed assets and capital-project accounting
• Experience managing or developing accounting staff

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Manufacturing accounting
• Standard costing and variance analysis
• Inventory and WIP accounting
• Financial reporting and month-end close
• General ledger accounting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial and operational analysis
• Internal controls and compliance
• ERP systems and financial reporting
• Fixed assets and capital expenditures
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Leadership and staff development
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Problem solving and continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through

Work Environment

• Full-time, on-site position in Chocowinity, North Carolina
• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with regular interaction with the manufacturing operation
• Regular presence on the production floor may be required to understand manufacturing processes, inventory movement, costing, and operational activity
• Must follow all facility safety requirements and wear required PPE when entering designated manufacturing areas
• Additional hours may periodically be required during month-end close, budgeting, audits, physical inventories, system implementations, or other business-critical periods

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Employee discounts
• Professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement

Equal Employment Opportunity

Boater’s World Manufacturing Group is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.