Controller

Description We are looking for a Controller to lead the accounting and financial oversight of our manufacturing operation in Escondido, California. This position will guide core financial reporting, cost accounting, inventory control, and planning activities while partnering closely with plant leadership and corporate finance. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical judgment, hands-on accounting expertise, and the ability to improve financial visibility and operational performance in a production environment.

Responsibilities:

• Direct daily accounting operations for the plant, ensuring transactions are recorded accurately and financial records remain complete and reliable.

• Lead the monthly close cycle by preparing and reviewing journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, cost adjustments, and supporting analyses for timely reporting.

• Produce monthly financial statements and management reports, delivering clear insights to plant leadership and corporate finance teams.

• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting by evaluating material, labor, overhead, and production variances to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

• Partner with operations leaders to assess scrap, yield, usage, labor efficiency, and volume performance in support of cost control and stronger plant performance.

• Maintain effective controls over raw materials, work-in-process, packaging, and finished goods inventory, including physical counts, reconciliations, and discrepancy resolution.

• Support budgeting and forecasting activities by preparing expense and capital plans, comparing results to expectations, and explaining key performance gaps.

• Administer plant accounting processes within QuickBooks Enterprise, generate required financial reports, and help document and reconcile data for corporate reporting and system-related needs.

• Strengthen accounting procedures, documentation standards, and internal controls to ensure compliance with company policies and dependable audit support. Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience in plant accounting, manufacturing finance, or cost accounting within a production environment.

• Strong knowledge of monthly close procedures, financial statement preparation, account reconciliations, and general ledger management.

• Experience analyzing inventory, standard costs, variances, and operating performance metrics.

• Proficiency with QuickBooks Enterprise and strong comfort working with accounting systems and financial data.

• Ability to develop budgets, forecasts, and variance analyses that support business decision-making.

• Strong documentation, record-control, and organizational skills with close attention to accuracy and detail.

• Effective communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with operations, purchasing, plant leadership, and corporate finance.

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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