Factory Controller

About Foundational Industries

Foundational is pioneering a network of AI-driven autonomous factories aimed at modernizing contract manufacturing and reshoring vital supply chains. Their goal is to enable companies to produce superior products domestically with speed and cost-effectiveness. Leveraging advances in robotics and AI, they are scaling operational autonomous manufacturing during a critical era for US industrial leadership.

Who Thrives Here

• Individuals who take initiative proactively to address gaps without direction.
• Those who exercise sound judgment in fast-paced environments beyond relying on established procedures.
• Professionals who communicate with clarity, brevity, and directness, especially in high-stakes situations.
• People who hold themselves and their colleagues to high standards of excellence.
• Those genuinely motivated and energized by tackling difficult, real-world physical challenges.
• Adaptable candidates comfortable working amid ambiguity, frequent changes, and pressure.

This role suits those who aspire to create unprecedented systems and leave a significant impact.

Mission

The Plant Controller is the senior financial executive at Foundational's manufacturing facility, integral to the plant leadership team. This position owns comprehensive financial oversight including cost accounting, forecasting, regulatory compliance, and internal controls, translating operational metrics into decision-making that enhances profit margins. Successful plant operations depend on this role.

Key Outcomes in 6–12 Months

• Fully manage the standard cost system covering labor, materials, overhead, price variance, variance analysis, and inventory valuation, ensuring accuracy trusted by General Manager and operations leaders (within 6 months).
• Complete monthly financial closes punctually, delivering clean variance analyses including price, volume, mix, labor, and overhead, with clear product and customer margin insights (within 6 months).
• Develop a KPI dashboard providing leadership with real-time data on scrap, yield, labor efficiency, throughput, and overhead utilization (within 6 months).
• Lead the annual operating plan and own rolling forecasts, acting as the financial strategist for the plant rather than just a support function (within 12 months).
• Collaborate with operations to identify and implement at least two significant cost reduction or margin improvement projects (within 12 months).
• Establish and cultivate an accounting team that achieves rigorous standards including clean audits and robust controls without surprises (within 12 months).

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience building or revamping standard cost systems in manufacturing settings, not merely maintaining existing frameworks.
• In-depth understanding of labor, material, and overhead cost standards.
• Capability to model price variance, manufacturing variances, absorption analysis, and inventory reserves independently.
• Hands-on experience managing full plant-level financial close processes, including GAAP-compliant financial statements, P&L, and working capital trends, and reporting to leadership.
• 8 to 10 years of accounting or finance experience with 3 to 5 years directly responsible for plant-level financial management in manufacturing.
• Operational knowledge of SOX compliance, including designing and testing internal controls.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, able to build financial models independently without IT dependency.
• Preferred qualifications include CPA or MBA certification, and experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or JDE in manufacturing environments.
• Previous exposure to public company reporting environments is advantageous.

Core Competencies

• Accountability: Takes full responsibility for results and proactively corrects issues.
• Bias for Action: Delivers outcomes swiftly, iterates, and takes on challenging tasks.
• Communication Clarity: Provides clear, concise communication particularly in critical situations.
• Learning Agility: Rapidly becomes proficient in unfamiliar domains.
• Resilience: Maintains focus and composure under stress and changing conditions.
• High Standards: Consistently elevates quality expectations starting with self.
• Builder Mentality: Thrives as a self-starter who builds systems from the ground up without immediate assistance.

Why Join Foundational

This opportunity is designed for individuals aligned with the mission of revitalizing American manufacturing. The work is challenging and impactful, with compensation that includes base salary, performance bonus, and equity participation rewarding significant contributions and results. Employees help shape a major industrial transformation for the coming decade.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Foundational Industries is committed to an inclusive workplace and provides equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other legally protected attributes. All candidates are evaluated solely on merit and qualifications in compliance with all applicable law.