Divisional Controller

Our client is an organization in the Waukesha area looking for a Controller. Our client is looking for a highly experienced finance and accounting leader who can take ownership of the financial performance of the business while serving as a trusted partner to executive and operational leadership. This is a broad leadership position with responsibility beyond traditional accounting, requiring someone who understands the full P&L, can connect financial results to business performance, and can build strong relationships throughout a manufacturing organization.

The salary range for this position is $175k–225k.

The Controller will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall leadership for the accounting and finance function and take ownership of the organization’s financial performance.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the P&L and the operational and commercial drivers impacting business results.
• Partner with executive and operational leadership to provide financial insight and support strategic decision-making.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis across the organization.
• Analyze revenue, margins, costs, expenses, and other key business drivers to identify risks and opportunities.
• Translate financial results into actionable recommendations that support profitability and long-term business objectives.
• Oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, and month-end and year-end close activities.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting while maintaining strong accounting policies, controls, and processes.
• Provide financial leadership around manufacturing operations, including inventory, costing, margins, and operational performance.
• Partner with business leaders to evaluate investments, resource allocation, operational initiatives, and other strategic priorities.
• Establish meaningful financial and operational metrics and provide leadership with visibility into business performance.
• Lead and develop accounting and finance professionals while establishing clear expectations and accountability.
• Oversee multiple areas within the finance organization and ensure teams are effectively aligned with broader business priorities.
• Build strong relationships across functions and serve as a credible financial resource to both finance and non-finance leaders.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial processes, reporting, systems, and organizational capabilities.
• Support significant business initiatives and provide financial leadership as the organization continues to evolve.

The Controller will possess the following:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; advanced degree or CPA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience required.
• Significant experience in a senior-level Controller, Finance Director, or comparable finance leadership position.
• Demonstrated experience with full P&L ownership and broad financial leadership, rather than responsibility limited to a plant, cost center, or individual accounting function.
• Manufacturing experience required, including a strong understanding of manufacturing accounting and the financial drivers of plant operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading people and overseeing accounting and/or finance functions.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, analysis, and business partnering experience.
• Proven ability to connect financial results with operational performance and provide meaningful recommendations to leadership.
• Demonstrated success building relationships and influencing decisions across multiple functions and levels of an organization.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to develop teams, establish priorities, and hold others accountable.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to executive and operational audiences.
• Strategic and commercially minded while remaining comfortable engaging in the details when necessary.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and ability to operate effectively within a complex and fast-moving business environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The compensation philosophy reflects the Company’s reasonable expectation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, experience level, and overall qualifications. This role may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive program and company-sponsored benefits, subject to the rules governing those programs.