Controller at Vibrant Ingredients – Indianapolis, Indiana

Founded in 1954, Vibrant Ingredients is a leading provider of natural, clean label ingredients and systems that power extraordinary food and beverage experiences. The company’s broad portfolio including natural flavors, botanical extracts, functional nutrition, cold brew coffee, tea essences, and food protection solutions enhances taste, texture, color, shelf life, and performance across a wide range of applications. Vibrant operates four state-of-the-art facilities across the United States and works with leading brands, manufacturers, and foodservice operators. With vertically integrated capabilities and a proven track record of innovation and execution, Vibrant helps customers accelerate to market without compromise.

About the role:

We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions.

As the Plant Controller, you will act as the financial backbone of plant operations—bridging finance and manufacturing to deliver insights that drive performance, accountability, and continuous improvement across both sites.

How will you contribute:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Essential job functions and duties include, but are not limited to:

Financial Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as the site CFO-equivalent for both Indianapolis and Vista, managing all aspects of plant-level financials, reporting, and strategic partnership
• Act as the primary finance liaison between site operations and Corporate FP&A / Centers of Excellence, ensuring transparency, alignment, and accountability
• Partner closely with Plant Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Corporate Finance to align execution with financial objectives

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring compliance with US GAAP and internal control policies
• Lead deep-dive cost and margin analysis, including BOM variances, yield analysis, absorption, labor efficiency, and overhead allocation
• Develop and maintain robust KPIs, dashboards, and variance analysis with clear storytelling for senior leadership

Planning, Forecasting & Strategy

• Lead the annual plant budgeting and forecasting processes using driver-based modeling and scenario planning
• Provide forward-looking insights to support decision-making, capital investments, and operational trade-offs
• Support strategic initiatives including ERP costing enhancements, audits, capital projects, and integration activities

Continuous Improvement & Governance

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives tied to financial rigor, lean operations, and working capital optimization
• Establish and lead a cross-site financial governance cadence, including weekly financial huddles and monthly KPI reviews
• Mentor and coach cross-functional non-finance leaders to strengthen financial acumen across the shop floor

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and mentor one Accounting Lead supporting both sites
• Drive clarity of priorities, accountability, professional development, and high-quality outcomes

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field (MBA or CPA strongly preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, ideally within manufacturing, cost accounting, or CPG environments
• Strong experience in manufacturing finance management within complex operational settings
• Hands-on ERP experience (Microsoft Business Central or Great Plains preferred)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to lead in fast-paced, high-mix / high-volume manufacturing environments
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complexity into actionable insights
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence at all levels
• Demonstrated experience partnering with operations to drive performance and results
• Private equity, M&A, or post-integration experience strongly preferred
• Prior experience in food & beverage or clean label / natural ingredient manufacturing
• Track record of implementing lean finance practices or financial digital transformation initiatives
• Passion for plant-floor partnership, coaching, and cultural transformation

Work Environment:

• May involve exposure to allergens such as Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Milk, Egg, Tree Nuts and Sesame.

What Vibrant Ingredients can offer you:

• Generous time off for vacations
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Health & Wellness programs

More about us:

Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients—helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.

"Improving the food and beverages consumed by providing real ingredients from nature that work."

This position is currently classified as on-site.

Employees are eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k), Holidays, Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement Program.

The final salary offered for this position may take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, skills, education, and experience.

The Company reserves the right to modify, update, change and/or make corrections to this job description, at the sole discretion of senior management, at any time during the employee’s employment term, at the sole discretion of management.

EEO Statement

Vibrant Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce and providing accommodations for people with disabilities in all parts of the hiring process as required under its Employment Accommodation Policy. Vibrant Ingredients will work with applicants to meet accommodation needs that are made known to Vibrant Ingredients in advance.

**Please no external recruiters**