Aris Amplify is hiring: Controller (Cost Accounting) in Schaumburg

Job Overview

Aris Amplify has partnered with a fast-growing industrial organization seeking a Controller/Cost Accounting Manager to elevate financial visibility, strengthen operational decision-making and drive cost performance across its production network. This role plays a pivotal part in connecting finance with manufacturing, supply chain and sales to ensure accurate product costing, meaningful analysis and continuous improvement in a dynamic, hands-on environment.

Key Responsibilities

What You Will Lead:

• Establish reliable, accurate costing across the product portfolio and ensure COGS and standard cost data are consistently maintained.

• Provide analysis on cost drivers, including PPV, material usage, labor and production variances, to help leaders understand trends and root causes.

• Deliver clear margin and profitability reporting that translates results into actionable insights for cross-functional partners.

• Oversee scrap reporting and work with Operations teams on cost-reduction and efficiency initiatives.

• Manage inventory analytics, including excess and obsolete assessments, reserve calculations and disposition recommendations.

• Ensure BOMs, routings and work center data reflect true operational activity and accurately allocate labor and overhead.

• Conduct ongoing reviews of product cost structures to maintain the integrity of standard costs and manufacturing assumptions.

• Build and maintain labor efficiency metrics and productivity KPIs with plant and manufacturing leaders.

• Identify operational improvement opportunities and support Plant Managers in driving cost-focused process enhancements.

• Lead the annual cost roll-up process and contribute to budgeting and forecasting models.

• Serve as the point person for cost-related ERP updates, reporting needs and enhancements.

• Guide the physical inventory process and oversee the cycle-counting framework to maintain strong inventory controls.

• Provide leadership with recommendations that influence pricing, margin optimization, operational investment and long-term strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field

• Four or more years of progressive cost accounting experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting

• Professional certification such as CPA or CMA strongly preferred

• Strong ERP expertise, including experience with SAP, Oracle, NetSuite or similar platforms

• Advanced Excel skills; experience with BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau is highly desirable

• Strong understanding of GAAP and core cost accounting disciplines, including inventory valuation, standard costing and overhead allocation

• A mix of analytical depth and operational curiosity with the ability to influence, partner and lead in a fast-moving environment

If you are energized by data-driven decision support, process optimization and owning meaningful financial outcomes in a production environment, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact.

About Aris Amplify

This search is being conducted by Aris Amplify, a Charles Aris Inc. company. We connect top-tier talent with growth-oriented companies nationwide in Accounting & Finance, Engineering & Operations, Sales & Marketing and HR & Executive Support on a contingent basis.

We are committed to creating meaningful connections between exceptional talent and dynamic organizations through a focused, efficient and personalized recruiting process.

Learn more about our approach at charlesaris.com/aris-amplify-recruiting-services.