Controller
Animix, LLC, Madison, WI, United States
Founded in 1994 and located in Juneau, WI, Animix LLC ("Animix" or the "Company") is a leading B2B ingredients company serving the animal feed industry. Selling primarily to the calf milk replacer market, the Company manufactures custom-formulated, water-dispersible vitamin and mineral premixes and supplements, distributes related ingredients, and provides excellent technical support. Milk replacer is analogous to baby formula and is an alternative to unsaleable whole milk, or "waste milk". Calves are fed milk replacer to receive vital nutrients during development. In addition to a broad product suite, Animix provides technical support and formulation expertise.
In September 2022, the Company was recapitalized by Benford Capital Partners ("Benford Capital" or "BCP"), in partnership with Ronelle Blome, the current President.
Founded in 2004, BCP is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on building niche market-leading companies in partnership with founders and management. In connection with BCP’s investment in Animix, BCP and management are seeking an operations-focused, experienced Controller to work with Tim Fenner (CFO) to lead the finance organization. This role will partner with Tim and BCP in executing the Company’s value creation plan – which includes improving sales and marketing execution to increase wallet share with existing customers and win new customers, expanding the product portfolio, maintaining and improving operational capabilities, and executing add-on acquisitions.
The ideal candidate will have prior private equity backed finance experience, an operations orientation, and will lead in an entrepreneurial, resourceful manner, consistently delivering targeted results with an eye towards creating long-term equity value for the business.
Position Summary
Reporting to the CFO, with significant interaction at the Board of Directors ("Board") level, the Controller will be responsible for leading the execution aspects of accounting and finance. The Controller will bring insightful analysis, process, reporting, metrics, and disciplined control to support continuous EBITDA growth and ROI based capital allocation decisions to drive operational enhancement. This role will provide key operational financial functions including all corporate accounting, financial and operational control; business integrations; process automation; capital allocation; planning, forecasting, and analysis; cash flow; treasury; audit; taxes; and information systems.
Job Description
Manage and oversee the month‑end and year‑end close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial results.
Support management of the P&L, balance sheet and company cash flow statement; maintain the integrity of the financial statements.
Maintain oversight of the general ledger and cost accounting functions, ensuring alignment with manufacturing operations and compliance with GAAP standards.
Own compliance and governance related to financial controls, audit readiness, tax compliance, and regulatory filings, maintaining strong relationships with auditors, banks, and financial partners.
Manage balance sheet integrity, working capital optimization, and alignment of financial practices with company growth objectives.
Maintain responsibility for ERP and financial reporting systems and lead finance‑related system improvements and automation initiatives.
Lead manufacturing cost accounting including standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis across materials, labor, and overhead to support operational decision making.
Partner with operations leadership to analyze production costs, inventory levels, and margin improvement opportunities.
Monitor and forecast key cost drivers across the business to support proactive decision‑making, mitigate financial risk, and enhance operational flexibility.
Evaluate and improve financial and operational processes by leading initiatives that optimize costs, enhance revenues, and reduce risks through robust modeling and analysis.
Assist in the development of monthly and quarterly financial and Board meeting reporting packages (will be used for management, Board and lender reporting), including financial reporting against budget and prior year results.
Plan, lead, coordinate, and manage the budgeting and forecasting activities for the organization, including the annual budget, monthly and quarterly forecast.
Manage and mentor current accounting staff.
Candidate Background
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 7 years of relevant financial experience. This individual will demonstrate strong leadership skills and the proven ability to work effectively in a team environment. Additionally, they will have significant exposure to operations, cost accounting, financial forecasting, and capital investment decision making in an industrial environment. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a strong background in financial management, private‑equity exposure, and a deep understanding of the industrial manufacturing landscape.
7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience within industrial manufacturing
Proficient in ERP systems such as NetSuite, with a track record of driving system optimization, process automation, and financial reporting enhancements.
Strong analytical skills to gather data from multiple sources and report findings
Strong communication skills both written and verbal requiring tact and discretion
Drive and sense of urgency: must have reputation for getting things done efficiently and going above and beyond when necessary
Creativity in problem‑solving and ability to multi‑task effectively, along with strong time management skills
Hybrid role (minimum 3 days per week onsite on average)
Education
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related business discipline.
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In September 2022, the Company was recapitalized by Benford Capital Partners ("Benford Capital" or "BCP"), in partnership with Ronelle Blome, the current President.
Founded in 2004, BCP is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on building niche market-leading companies in partnership with founders and management. In connection with BCP’s investment in Animix, BCP and management are seeking an operations-focused, experienced Controller to work with Tim Fenner (CFO) to lead the finance organization. This role will partner with Tim and BCP in executing the Company’s value creation plan – which includes improving sales and marketing execution to increase wallet share with existing customers and win new customers, expanding the product portfolio, maintaining and improving operational capabilities, and executing add-on acquisitions.
The ideal candidate will have prior private equity backed finance experience, an operations orientation, and will lead in an entrepreneurial, resourceful manner, consistently delivering targeted results with an eye towards creating long-term equity value for the business.
Position Summary
Reporting to the CFO, with significant interaction at the Board of Directors ("Board") level, the Controller will be responsible for leading the execution aspects of accounting and finance. The Controller will bring insightful analysis, process, reporting, metrics, and disciplined control to support continuous EBITDA growth and ROI based capital allocation decisions to drive operational enhancement. This role will provide key operational financial functions including all corporate accounting, financial and operational control; business integrations; process automation; capital allocation; planning, forecasting, and analysis; cash flow; treasury; audit; taxes; and information systems.
Job Description
Manage and oversee the month‑end and year‑end close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial results.
Support management of the P&L, balance sheet and company cash flow statement; maintain the integrity of the financial statements.
Maintain oversight of the general ledger and cost accounting functions, ensuring alignment with manufacturing operations and compliance with GAAP standards.
Own compliance and governance related to financial controls, audit readiness, tax compliance, and regulatory filings, maintaining strong relationships with auditors, banks, and financial partners.
Manage balance sheet integrity, working capital optimization, and alignment of financial practices with company growth objectives.
Maintain responsibility for ERP and financial reporting systems and lead finance‑related system improvements and automation initiatives.
Lead manufacturing cost accounting including standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis across materials, labor, and overhead to support operational decision making.
Partner with operations leadership to analyze production costs, inventory levels, and margin improvement opportunities.
Monitor and forecast key cost drivers across the business to support proactive decision‑making, mitigate financial risk, and enhance operational flexibility.
Evaluate and improve financial and operational processes by leading initiatives that optimize costs, enhance revenues, and reduce risks through robust modeling and analysis.
Assist in the development of monthly and quarterly financial and Board meeting reporting packages (will be used for management, Board and lender reporting), including financial reporting against budget and prior year results.
Plan, lead, coordinate, and manage the budgeting and forecasting activities for the organization, including the annual budget, monthly and quarterly forecast.
Manage and mentor current accounting staff.
Candidate Background
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 7 years of relevant financial experience. This individual will demonstrate strong leadership skills and the proven ability to work effectively in a team environment. Additionally, they will have significant exposure to operations, cost accounting, financial forecasting, and capital investment decision making in an industrial environment. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a strong background in financial management, private‑equity exposure, and a deep understanding of the industrial manufacturing landscape.
7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience within industrial manufacturing
Proficient in ERP systems such as NetSuite, with a track record of driving system optimization, process automation, and financial reporting enhancements.
Strong analytical skills to gather data from multiple sources and report findings
Strong communication skills both written and verbal requiring tact and discretion
Drive and sense of urgency: must have reputation for getting things done efficiently and going above and beyond when necessary
Creativity in problem‑solving and ability to multi‑task effectively, along with strong time management skills
Hybrid role (minimum 3 days per week onsite on average)
Education
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related business discipline.
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