Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Operational Controller for a direct hire opportunity in Downey, CA, supporting a fast-paced aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. This highly visible finance leadership role serves as a key business partner to plant leadership and executive management, combining hands-on accounting, operational finance, cost analysis, forecasting, and strategic decision support.

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys working close to operations, influencing business performance, and helping leadership make data-driven decisions. The role offers strong visibility, meaningful cross-functional partnership, and the chance to help shape financial processes, reporting, profitability analysis, and operational strategy within a dynamic manufacturing setting.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, collaborative, and comfortable moving between month-end close responsibilities, cost accounting, KPI reporting, business planning, and executive-level financial analysis.

Key Responsibilities

- Serve as the primary finance leader for the facility, partnering with operations, plant leadership, and executive management to drive performance.
- Lead forecasting, demand planning, integrated business planning, budgeting, and long-range financial planning activities.
- Oversee cost accounting, inventory accounting, labor, material, overhead analysis, and operational performance reporting.
- Manage month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including reconciliations, general ledger accuracy, and financial reporting.
- Analyze financial results, P&L performance, variances, risks, opportunities, profitability, cash flow, and working capital trends.
- Support internal and external audits, internal controls, U.S. GAAP compliance, process improvements, and strategic finance initiatives.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $150,000 to $190,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Lead facility finance operations, including close activities, financial reporting, and operational analysis.
- Manage cost accounting, inventory accounting, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
- Partner with leadership on KPI reporting, business planning, profitability analysis, and process improvement initiatives.

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
Must meet ITAR compliance
- 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
- Strong experience in manufacturing, industrial, distribution, or operational finance environments.
- Hands-on experience with cost accounting, inventory accounting, month-end close, account reconciliations, and P&L analysis.
- Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, internal controls, balance sheet reconciliations, and general ledger accuracy.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modeling and data analysis.
- Experience with BI and reporting tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Collaborative leadership style with strong business acumen and a continuous improvement mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

- CPA, CMA, MBA, or other advanced finance or accounting credentials.
- Experience leading integrated business planning, sales and operations planning, S&OP, or demand planning processes.
- Background supporting private equity-backed, high-growth, or multi-site organizations.
- Exposure to Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence initiatives.
- Aerospace and defense industry experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf

The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.