Senior Plant Controller in Birmingham

Senior Plant Controller in Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 80000 - 115000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Cascades

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial reporting and budgeting for our Birmingham Plant while driving continuous improvement.
  • Company: Join Cascades, a Quebec-based multinational with strong environmental values.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, profit sharing, group insurance, and flexible benefits.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team of 10,000 talents committed to innovation and sustainability.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a sustainable company while developing your financial expertise.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting with 5+ years in manufacturing required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 115000 £ per year.

At Cascades, Sustainable Development means Respecting the True Nature of our 10,000 talents. We put you first:

  • Group insurance & 401(k)/retirement plan with company contributions
  • Profit sharing plan (not once, but twice a year!)
  • Employee assistance program
  • Extraflex benefits program (health & lifestyle reimbursement program)

Contribution to the success of a Quebec-based multinational company with strong environmental values. Salary Range for Senior Plant Controller ranges from $80 - 115k yearly plus profit sharing.

At our Birmingham Plant you can develop your full potential, sustainably, by applying your expertise within our Cascades Sonoco division of our team:

  • Lead the month‑end close process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement of financial reporting cycles.
  • Lead and support Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) projects, from initiative identification through execution and follow-up.
  • Supervise and mentor the Senior Financial Analyst, ensuring accuracy, development, and timely financial reporting.
  • Maintain the integrity of the general ledger by managing journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and resolving discrepancies.
  • Oversee standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold (COGS), including monitoring excess, obsolete, and slow‑moving inventory.
  • Lead plant‑level budgeting and forecasting processes, providing financial modeling and insights to support operational and strategic decision‑making.
  • Ensure compliance with internal controls and SOX requirements, and support internal and external audit activities.
  • Oversee financial performance and reporting for two manufacturing plants: TAC and BHAM.
  • Act as a strategic business partner to the General Manager (GM) and Plant Manager (PM), providing financial insights to support operational and strategic decision-making.

You too will put forward your strengths:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience; minimum of 5+ years in a manufacturing environment.
  • Strong expertise in cost accounting, inventory management, manufacturing processes, and month‑end close and financial reporting.
  • Proven experience with SOX compliance, internal controls, and supporting internal and external audits.
  • ERP system experience required, with SAP strongly preferred; experience with other ERP systems considered.
  • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, slicers, and data analysis) and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint).
  • Experience with financial and reporting tools such as Power BI (preferred), Longview, BOBJ (Business Objects), Serrala; familiarity with SuccessFactors is a plus.
  • Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, influence cross‑functional teams, and escalate issues appropriately.

Cascades believes in the success of an inclusive organization that values diversity within its team. All qualified candidates will be considered for this position in a fair manner.

About Cascades: To be part of Cascades is to reveal the full potential of materials, people, and ideas. We have been a source of possibilities since 1964. Cascades has been providing sustainable, innovative, and value-creating solutions in packaging, hygiene, and recovery. Join 10,000 talents working in a network in almost 80 operating units located in North America.

Your challenge! Reporting to the Administration Director, the Plant Controller’s mission is to contribute to his or her unit’s business development and ensure its coordination in accordance with the strategic plan. You use your financial expertise to support your unit's management in the business processes’ application and improvement and ensure the implementation of best financial management practices. You analyze operational cost performance indicators and ensure the completeness and reliability of the information produced and communicated. As a result, you contribute to strategic decision-making in your plant and maintain an effective control structure to minimize the risk of errors, irregularities and fraud related to processes.

Individual responsibilities:

  • Accountable: Ensure that accounting for inventory quantities, capital assets and operating costs is reliable, complete and accurate; rigorously analyze operating cost performance indicators; disseminate appropriate information; identify opportunities for improvement; contribute to your plant’s decision-making process; support your sector’s management in improving business processes; maintain an effective control structure to minimize the business risks inherent in operations and fraud.

Responsible: Apply the best administrative and accounting, financial management and sales practices in accordance with your plant's needs.

Experiences and strengths:

  • Rigour and agility to handle projects based on their scope, budget and timelines.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to set priorities.
  • Constant desire to improve the efficiency and quality of services.
  • Strong sense of responsibility.
  • Leadership and expertise in promoting buy-in to proposed solutions.
  • Strong integrity and sound judgment for making the right decisions.
  • Proficiency in French and basic English.
  • Proficiency in Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
  • Knowledge of SAP software or other ERP (an asset).

Core competencies defined for this job: Accountability Mindset, Cascades Values, Change Agility, Digital & Data Fluency, Results-Driven.

Senior Plant Controller in Birmingham employer: Cascades

Cascades is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a comprehensive benefits package including group insurance, a robust retirement plan with company contributions, and a profit-sharing scheme. At our Birmingham Plant, you will thrive in a collaborative work culture that values sustainability and innovation, while also having access to numerous growth opportunities within a Quebec-based multinational committed to environmental stewardship.

Cascades

Contact Details:

Cascades Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Plant Controller in Birmingham

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Senior Plant Controller role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Cascades and its values. Understand their commitment to sustainability and how your experience aligns with their mission. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.

Tip Number 3

Practice your financial insights! Be ready to discuss your expertise in cost accounting and financial reporting during interviews. Use real examples from your past roles to demonstrate how you’ve contributed to operational and strategic decision-making.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Cascades team and contributing to their success.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Plant Controller in Birmingham

Cost Accounting
Inventory Management
Financial Reporting
Month-End Close Process
SOX Compliance
Internal Controls
ERP System Experience

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Plant Controller role. Highlight your expertise in cost accounting, inventory management, and financial reporting to grab our attention!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for Cascades. Share specific examples of how you've led financial processes or improved operational efficiencies in previous roles.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your experience with ERP systems like SAP and your advanced Excel skills. We love seeing candidates who can hit the ground running with the tools we use!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Cascades!

How to prepare for a job interview at Cascades

Know Your Numbers

As a Senior Plant Controller, you'll be expected to have a strong grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators related to cost accounting and inventory management. Be ready to discuss how you've improved financial reporting cycles in your previous roles.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

You'll be supervising a Senior Financial Analyst, so it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've mentored team members or led projects in the past. Highlight your experience in fostering collaboration and driving continuous improvement.

Familiarise Yourself with ERP Systems

Cascades prefers candidates with SAP experience, but any ERP knowledge is valuable. Make sure you can discuss your familiarity with these systems and how you've used them to enhance financial processes. If you've worked with Power BI or other reporting tools, bring that up too!

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle multiple priorities. Think of specific scenarios where you've had to analyse operational costs or ensure compliance with internal controls. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.