Manufacturing Controller

Job Success Profile

Manufacturing Controller

Buckman is a privately held, global specialty chemical company with headquarters in Memphis, TN, USA, committed to safeguarding the environment, maintaining safety in the workplace, and promoting sustainable development. Buckman works proactively and collaboratively with its worldwide customers in pulp and paper, leather, and water treatment to deliver exceptional service and innovative specialty chemical solutions to help boost productivity, reduce risk, improve product quality, and provide a measurable return on investment.  Buckman is in the middle of a digital transformation of its businesses and focused on building the capabilities and tools in support of this.

Location

• Memphis, TN, USA 

Language

• English

Travel

• Less than 20%

Objective of the Position

The accounting and analytical support role for Buckman North American operations is a vital position focused on overseeing inventory valuation, cost accounting, and financial analysis. The individual will provide support to the production facilities in Memphis, TN and Cadet, MO, and will collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams. A key aspect of this role includes monthly and quarterly evaluations of costs, as well as the tracking of transformation initiatives aimed at profit improvement. This position is crucial to the financial health of the company, ensuring accurate reporting and operational efficiency as the company faces upcoming transitions in staff expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform comprehensive accounting and analytical support for Buckman’s North American operations, including facilities in Memphis and Cadet, MO.
• Oversee the valuation of Buckman’s inventory across North America, with a focus on monthly revaluations of variable costs and quarterly assessments of fixed cost allocations.
• Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams to analyze financial data and provide insights on procurement costs and efficiency improvements.
• Support the tracking and evaluation of key transformation initiatives to drive further profitability and operational enhancements.
• Manage and analyze product costing and manufacturing cost accounting to ensure accuracy in financial reporting.
• Assist in implementing strategic initiatives to streamline financial operations across departments.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (advanced degrees or certifications such as CPA or CSCP are a plus).
• 3-5 years of experience in manufacturing cost accounting and product costing, preferably within a similar industry.
• Strong proficiency with ERP systems, financial software, and supply chain analytics tools (e.g., SAP, Qlik, SAP BPC).
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong organizational abilities with meticulous attention to detail and a focus on accuracy.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and strategic mindset to contribute effectively to decision-making processes.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Additional Information:

• This role is critical for the North American finance team, particularly as operational knowledge is at risk with the potential retirement of the current accountant.
• The position addresses an urgent need, as the company lacks in-house expertise in product costing since a contractor with key knowledge retired two years ago.
• This role will help fill a knowledge gap and mitigate the risk posed by the potential retirement of the current accountant.

#LI-JT1