Operations Controller

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.

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About the Role

As Operations Controller, you will be the end-to-end finance owner for the manufacturing and supply chain operations of one of Applied Materials' business units, whose operations are based mainly in Taiwan.

This is a high-visibility role. You will own the full operations P&L picture, from period results, variances, and inventory through burden, manufacturing cost of sales (MCOS), and gross margin. You will be a trusted advisor to the business unit's operations and supply chain leadership. Your work goes beyond explaining the numbers: you will shape decisions on capacity, make vs. buy, cost reduction, and inventory strategy, and you will turn financial insight into business action.

You will be based in Singapore as part of a large, established WWO Finance team doing similar work, which gives you strong peer support and room to grow. You will partner day to day with leaders and teams in Taiwan, much of it in Mandarin.

What You'll Do

Period Performance & Manufacturing Health

• Own period results for the business unit's operations and explain manufacturing health, productivity, cycle-time, and Cost Per Tool performance to leadership.

• Lead analysis of demand planning, capacity, plan of record (POR), and make vs. buy, and build the financial case behind operational decisions.

• Drive direct labor modeling and efficiency, the indirect headcount model, spend management, and over/under absorption analysis.

• Oversee module and taxonomy reporting, time studies, labor variance analysis, and manufacturing lead-time (GMLT) metrics.

Variance & Standard Overhead

• Own the explanation of all operational variances, including vendor premiums, DMR, rework, cycle counts, supplier liabilities, crating and outbound, and floorstock.

• Manage standard overhead and over/under absorption, and turn variance drivers into corrective actions with operations owners.

Inventory Health

• Own inventory health and reserves: E&O, ECO, aged raw material and WIP, excess and zero-demand, and strategic inventory.

• Lead the standard cost roll and inventory entitlement, and support material availability and IF/OF (inflow/outflow) analysis.

• Partner with supply chain to reduce inventory exposure and improve working capital.

Burden

• Own the business unit's effective burden rate, and monitor burden spend and receipts against plan.

• Identify rate drivers and recommend actions to keep product cost competitive.

Manufacturing Cost of Sales (MCOS)

• Drive the MCOS savings agenda, including PPV, vendor business reviews (VBRs), and configuration cost.

• Quantify and track cost-reduction initiatives with procurement and operations through to realized savings.

Gross Margin

• Own the business unit's operations gross margin, including the S1 view, gross-to-net bridge, CPT, revenue, and MCOS.

• Deliver clear margin bridges and forward-looking insight for monthly, quarterly, and annual planning cycles.

Business Partnership & Leadership Influence

• Act as the primary finance partner to the business unit's operations and supply chain leaders, building trust with senior stakeholders in Mandarin and English.

• Challenge assumptions, frame trade-offs, and recommend courses of action on operations and supply chain decisions.

• Lead AOP, forecasting, and capex/ROI reviews for operations.

• Coordinate the work of partner finance teams (business management, variance, inventory, burden, MCOS, and costing) to deliver one integrated operations finance view. This is an individual contributor role.

• Maintain strong controls and SOX compliance, support audits, and drive process improvement and automation.

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.

• 5 -12+ years, experience in manufacturing, operations, cost, or plant finance.

• Knowledge of standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting and reserves, absorption, and gross margin drivers.

• A track record of influencing operations and supply chain leaders on business decisions, not just reporting results.

• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English, written and spoken, with the ability to present to and challenge senior leaders in both.

• Willingness to travel regularly to Taiwan.

Preferred

• Experience in semiconductor, semiconductor equipment, or high-tech capital equipment manufacturing.

• Experience supporting a business across countries or sites, ideally in Taiwan and Singapore..

• Experience owning a full operations finance portfolio and advising senior business leadership on their decisions.

What Success Looks Like

• Operations leaders bring you into decisions early because your analysis changes outcomes.

• Period results, variances, and inventory positions are explained clearly with no surprises.

• Measurable gains in MCOS savings, inventory health, burden rate, and gross margin.

• One integrated operations finance view across all partner finance teams.

Key Competencies

• Finance + business acumen: Combines technical depth in cost and inventory accounting with sound commercial judgment.

• Influence and executive presence: Builds credibility with senior leaders and raises tough issues constructively.

• Ownership: Owns outcomes end to end and drives actions to closure.

• Analytical rigor: Moves easily between details and the big picture.

• Cross-cultural collaboration: Works well across Singapore, Taiwan, and global teams, cultures, and time zones.

• Continuous improvement: Simplifies, automates, and improves how operations finance works.

Additional Information

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Relocation Eligible:

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.