Assistant Controller

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly operational, hands-on Assistant Controller to lead and transform the accounting and financial reporting function for a fast-paced rental and project services division. This role is responsible for stabilizing and upgrading an accounting environment that currently lacks strong financial controls, technical accounting leadership, standardized processes, accurate cutoff procedures, and reporting discipline.

The ideal candidate is a builder and operator who can create structure, improve accountability, accelerate the close process, and deliver accurate financial reporting in a complex operational environment involving equipment rentals, field operations, project-based services, and multi-location activity. This is not a maintenance role. This position requires a leader who can identify problems quickly, implement scalable processes, improve operational visibility, and elevate the overall financial discipline of the business.

Success in this role means:

• Drive the timely and accurate completion of the month-end close process
• Manage revenue and expense cutoff processes to ensure accurate financial reporting
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls across accounting operations
• Oversee project accounting to ensure accurate job costing and profitability reporting
• Drive financial accountability across accounting and operational teams
• Partner with operations leadership to provide financial guidance and support business performance

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Lead all divisional accounting operations and financial reporting activities
• Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close process
• Drive a disciplined and accelerated close timeline with clear accountability
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP
• Review and approve journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules
• Establish proper cutoff procedures for revenue, payroll, AP, expenses, and project activity
• Maintain integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts
• Eliminate reconciliation backlogs and unsupported account balances
• Develop and maintain standardized close checklists and reporting packages
• Deliver financial reporting and operational analysis to executive leadership

Accounting Operations & Financial Control

• Oversee AP, AR, billing, payroll, fixed assets, and cash management processes
• Improve accounting workflows and transaction processing discipline
• Ensure billing accuracy, timely collections, and proper revenue recognition
• Strengthen controls around approvals, coding, reconciliations, and financial review
• Develop and enforce accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Improve compliance with GAAP and company financial policies
• Ensure proper accounting treatment for leases, prepaid expenses, accruals, fixed assets, and intercompany transactions
• Monitor working capital performance and cash flow management
• Support external audits, tax reporting, and compliance requirements
• Partner with leadership to identify and mitigate operational and financial risk

Project Accounting & Operational Finance

• Lead project accounting, job costing, and profitability analysis across operations
• Improve visibility into labor, equipment, subcontractor, fuel, and operational costs
• Ensure accurate project setup, cost tracking, and revenue recognition
• Oversee rental revenue accounting and utilization reporting
• Partner with operations leadership to improve margins, pricing, and operational efficiency
• Analyze project performance, billing trends, utilization, and operational KPIs
• Improve tracking and accounting for rental fleet assets and operational equipment
• Identify operational inefficiencies, margin leakage, and reporting inconsistencies
• Deliver actionable financial insights to operations leadership

Process Improvement & Finance Transformation

• Evaluate and redesign accounting and reporting processes with efficiency in mind
• Build scalable SOPs, workflows, and accountability structures
• Improve ERP utilization, reporting reliability, and financial data integrity
• Reduce manual processes and improve automation where possible
• Standardize processes across locations and business units
• Develop KPIs and dashboards to improve operational decision-making
• Lead cleanup initiatives related to reconciliations, reporting issues, and process gaps
• Establish a culture of urgency, ownership, and accountability within the accounting team
• Mentor, develop, and elevate accounting staff performance

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning

• Support annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes
• Support operational forecasts tied to revenue, utilization, labor, and project activity
• Analyze actual results versus forecast and budget
• Identify financial risks and opportunities proactively
• Support capital planning and operational investment decisions
• Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis to leadership
• Assist executive leadership with strategic financial decision-making

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• 5+ years of progressive accounting and finance leadership experience
• Strong operational accounting and financial reporting experience
• Experience in industrial services, equipment rental, project-based services, field services, or related operational industries
• Strong understanding of GAAP, accrual accounting, and internal controls
• Proven experience improving accounting processes and close timelines
• Experience leading accounting teams in fast-paced operational environments
• Strong ERP systems experience and advanced Excel capabilities

Preferred

• CPA designation preferred but not required
• Experience with project accounting and revenue recognition
• Experience in multi-location operations
• Experience rebuilding or stabilizing underdeveloped accounting environments
• Experience supporting PE-backed or high-growth businesses