Plant Controller

In January 2024, Livent merged with Allkem Limited to create Arcadium Lithium plc. While we work to integrate our technology systems, including our recruitment platforms, Arcadium Lithium plc will use Livent’s ADP system to capture all candidate information.

About Livent: Livent powers the things that power our lives. From the revolution in electric vehicle batteries and mobile devices to the strong, lightweight alloys and advanced polymers that take innovation further, we harness lithium technology to help the world move forward—cleaner, healthier and more sustainably.

For nearly eight decades, we’ve been harnessing lithium’s potential to change the energy landscape. We are a pioneer in the lithium industry and have a rich history of breakthrough innovations and industry achievements, including partnering with Sony Corporation to develop the first ever Lithium-ion battery for commercial use.

Today, Livent builds on our heritage and is a global leader in the lithium industry with a differentiated product offering, proven track record and sustainability profile. Our customer portfolio includes some of the most dynamic companies in the world, including Tesla, and BMW Group.

Our customers look to us to meet the most demanding technical requirements, drawing upon our strengths in R&D with our advanced engineering capabilities, industry-leading materials science expertise, fully integrated global supply chain, and passion for continuous improvement and excellence.

Together, we work to safely and sustainably convert lithium’s potential into commercial progress, driving not only incremental improvements and also next generation, transformative opportunities.

For customers at the forefront of the once in a generation shift in how the world powers itself – and the fight against climate change – Livent is the lithium technology partner that’s leading the way.

Position Summary: Responsible for leading financial planning and accounting at Livent's Bessemer City site, which includes both the Manufacturing and Research & Development functions. The Plant Controller has two full-time direct reports, in turn reports to the Manufacturing Finance Manager located at Livent's Philadelphia headquarters and a key dotted line relationship with the Bessemer City Plant Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead plant budget, monthly/quarterly forecast and close processes and deliverables. Including reports, presentations, internal communication, and calendar.

• Works with site management to improve the plant’s economics, manufacturing and management objectives, and policies. Providing analysis of operations, inventory and assets and recommends strategies for processes and profit improvement.

• Analyzes and communicates financial performance of the manufacturing plant through various reporting mechanisms to the Plant Leadership Team, Corporate Leadership and operations staff. Leveraging weekly reporting (Yield Tracking, Efficiency, Production, etc.) & monthly reviews (financial, cycle counts, headcount, OT) to share financial ownership/responsibilities with Plant Leadership Team.

• Collaborates with Plant Leadership team to develop manufacturing variance forecasts. Performs analysis and interprets variances from budgets and standards.

• Leads plant product cost analysis and standard cost set up.

• Manages & monitors working capital at a site level.

• Site leader for ensuring compliance with Livent financial standards and Sarbanes-Oxley.

• Assists with site fixed asset portfolio from a financial perspective. Approved capital request per DOA, ensuring proper accounting for site capital projects, recording of costs, depreciation, project execution according to Livent project management policy, identification and accounting for retired or idled assets.

• Monitors process effectiveness and efficiency against goals and objectives, taking corrective action as necessary; identifies, implements, and supports complex process improvements.

• Leads site inventory management for finance. Analyzes slow-moving inventory on an as needed basis to identify products that are eligible for reserve. Provides direction during routine inventory cycle counts and annual physical inventory.

• Safety is a core value at Livent and the Plant Controller promotes Livent's position that all jobs can be performed safely and that no job is worth doing that would risk the health, safety, or welfare of the plant employees or community.

• Supports Responsible Care initiatives & fulfills SBO and accident reporting obligations to the plant.

• Develops and manages the finance staff, providing mentorship and performance evaluations.

Travel: 0-15%

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance
• MBA/CPA/CMA desirable
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in process manufacturing industry
• Cost Accounting and financial analysis experience

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• SAP working knowledge
• Strong leadership skills
• Executive presence to interact with Senior Management in both Finance and Manufacturing.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated success working in a deadline driven, multi-task environment.
• Ability to embrace change and be comfortable working in a fast-paced, matrix environment.
• Must be able to lead and meet deadlines for multiple priorities and projects and be able to create effective presentations to communicate conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to establish strong relationships within Finance and with Global Supply Chain/Manufacturing organization to deliver analytical and actionable results using financial and operating metrics.

Safety Requirements: All employees are expected to carry out their work functions in a healthy and safe manner, to encourage and support safe work practices at all times, and to report and/or rectify any unsafe conditions that may come to their attention immediately.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Personal Protective Equipment: Must wear PPE as required based on job duties or when traveling to locations where PPE is essential.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LIVENT employs people across a broad range of occupations in locations across the world. We are looking for people to join us in creating, developing, and improving our products, our processes, and our markets. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, a menu of work/life benefits and opportunities to continue developing their skills and building their career.

LIVENT is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MFDV and supports a drug free workplace.