Plant Financial Controller

Company: Hood Container Corporation
Location: Chicago
Posted on: January 14, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Are you ready to be a key strategic player in a fast-paced manufacturing environment? We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Plant Controller to drive financial excellence and provide critical expertise to our plant leadership team. This is a salaried, on-site leadership position overseeing our two Chicago locations including one manufacturing and one fulfillment operations within a 5-minute drive of each location. You will be the financial backbone of a $100M revenue facility, reporting directly to a remote Area Controller. Key Responsibilities Strategic Financial Partnership & Analysis Proactive Business Partner: Collaborate with the General Manager and Plant Leaders to interpret financial results, develop complex analyses, identify operational inefficiencies, and drive critical business decisions. Performance Insight: Analyze key variances and communicate clear explanations with recommended action plans to management. Consultation & Education: Provide proactive, unsolicited interpretation and education on complex financial and operational matters to drive informed decisions across departments. Accounting, Reporting, and Control Ownership of Core Accounting: Manage all accounting operations, including General Ledger (G/L), Inventory, and Cost Accounting . Month-End & Reporting: Own the month-end closing process and prepare timely, accurate monthly financial statements and operational reports. Planning & Forecasting: Coordinate the plant’s budget and business planning activities, and prepare regular forecasts for the income statement, balance sheet, and statistics. Internal Controls & GAAP: Monitor and implement robust internal controls to safeguard company assets. Ensure all accounting adheres strictly to U.S. GAAP and local statutory requirements. Leadership & Team Development Team Leader: Lead the continued professional development of the existing on-site accounting team, providing clear expectations and conducting periodic performance reviews. Cross-Functional Impact: Work effectively across all organizational boundaries and levels to achieve both plant and corporate objectives. Process Improvement: Share best practices across the finance team, focusing on process improvements, financial modeling, and procedure updates. What We're Looking For Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business, including coursework in Intermediate and Cost Accounting. Experience: 10 years of progressive experience in a similar finance/controller role. Experience in Packaging or Corrugated industry preferred. Expertise: Strong manufacturing and Cost Accounting experience. Technical Skills: Expert proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, data manipulation). Knowledge: Solid understanding of basic ERP and production systems operations (Amtech preferred) and expert knowledge of US GAAP . Skills & Attributes Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey complex financial data simply. Mindset: Highly motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, and focused on accuracy. Drive for Change: Proven initiative and willingness to drive process improvement and innovation . Collaboration: Strong customer focus with a proactive willingness to engage and partner across the organization. Here's why you'll love working at Hood Container: Competitive pay & benefits : We offer a base salary starting at $150,000, an annual bonus program, and a comprehensive benefits package to keep you healthy and happy. Continuous learning : We invest in paid training and development to help you grow your skills and advance your career. Caring & Empowering Company Culture : Supportive & collaborative team dedicated to seeing you unbox your potential to help make a difference & make customers happy. Growing Company in a Sustainable Industry : Consider a Future in Corrugated Packaging Our goal is to have a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens and customers we serve. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Hood Container Corporation is a family-owned, Mill to Market company, specializing in containerboard and kraft paper, corrugated boxes, high graphic displays, and contract packaging. Our commitment to customer happiness, employee well-being, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence drive our business. Over the last decade, Hood Container Corporation has grown to become one of the top ten Paper and Packaging Companies in the United States. To learn more about Hood Container Corporation visit www.hoodcontainer.com or check us out on social media!

Keywords: Hood Container Corporation, Waukegan , Plant Financial Controller, Accounting, Auditing , Chicago, Illinois