Assistant controller Jobs in Elgin, IL

Junior Industrial Controller

We're looking for a highly analytical and proactive Junior Industrial Controller to support financial operations across our manufacturing plants. This role partners closely with the Financial Controller and plant leadership to ensure accurate financial reporting, cost control, and operational insights that drive performance.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Close & Reporting

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including reconciliations and variance analysis
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of plant financial results
• Provide commentary on key drivers and unusual trends

Cost Accounting & Analysis

• Analyze production variances (material usage, scrap, waste, labor efficiency)
• Monitor and report on direct labor costs, line performance, and operational KPIs
• Support development and maintenance of standard costs

Inventory & Controls

• Partner with operations to monitor inventory accuracy and valuation
• Support cycle counts, physical inventory processes, and reconciliation of discrepancies
• Maintain strong internal controls over inventory and production processes

ERP & Data Integrity

• Support ERP system accuracy, including BOMs, labor routings, and cost structures
• Assist with master data validation to ensure accurate product costing

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Contribute to annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes
• Track performance against budget and highlight risks/opportunities

Continuous Improvement & Business Partnering

• Help define and track manufacturing KPIs to improve cost efficiency
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Operations, Supply Chain, R&D) to support decision-making
• Assist with financial analysis for new product launches and innovation projects

Fixed Assets

• Support tracking and reconciliation of fixed assets and capital expenditures
• Assist in monitoring startup costs for new production lines
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 2-5 years of experience in finance or accounting (manufacturing experience strongly preferred)
• Candidates without food industry experience are welcome; broader manufacturing experience is acceptable
• Experience supporting month-end close and financial reporting
• Exposure to cost accounting or operations finance is a plus
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred)
• Advanced Excel skills (financial modeling, data analysis)

Compensation: Starting at $80,000 Annually

About Us: Rana is an international Company present in over 60 countries, with a turnover close to $1.5 billion. Founded by Giovanni Rana in 1962, the Company has been led for over 35 years by Gian Luca Rana, CEO and pioneer of the internationalization project that has led the Group to become a leader worldwide in the production and marketing of fresh food products (filled and unfilled pasta, gnocchi, sauces and ready meals). Rana focuses its investments in the following areas: the creation of jobs (our workforce doubled in the last five years), the research and development, with the aim of offering Consumers delicious products made of the highest quality ingredients. The Rana Group has always made innovation its strength, both in the technological field (with the registration of dozens of product and process patents) and in communication.

As a family-owned Company, we are united by strong Values and the aspiration of building a better future for the next generations. Ethics and sustainability are the cornerstones of our sixty-two years of history, which have made our business healthy and constantly growing. Today, Rana has 8 factories (6 in Europe and 2 in the US) and is a large family of 3,500 People. The engines of our continued success will keep being innovation, internationalization, passion and constant search for excellence in everything we do.

Rana is committed to providing a workplace of diversity and inclusion. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Decisions related to hiring, compensation, training, evaluating performance, or termination are made fairly. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates and selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.

NOTICE TO STAFFING FIRMS, AGENCIES AND EMPLOYMENT VENDORS:

Rana Meal Solutions and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters without a signed Fee Agreement in place AND before the resume is inputted into our applicant tracking system. Vendor solicitation should be directed to the Human Resource Department directly; as such, firms that circumvent the required compliant process will be barred from submitting candidates. In the absence of a signed fee agreement AND proper resume submission, RMS does not recognize any claim on a candidate by a third party, will consider unsolicited resumes the property of the company and reserves the right to engage and hire those candidates without any financial responsibility to the third-party vendor.