Controller

Position Summary

The Controller is a critical leadership role within the Finance organization, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer. The Controller owns the full spectrum of accounting and financial reporting functions, including the general ledger, internal controls, account reconciliations, cost accounting, inventory management, and the day-to-day operation of the organization’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This individual ensures accuracy, compliance, and operational insight across multiple manufacturing facilities and product lines.

Key Responsibilities

1. General Ledger & Financial Close

• Maintain full ownership of the general ledger, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all financial data
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process, including preparation and review of all journal entries
• Reconcile general ledger accounts to subsidiary systems including but not limited to Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Payroll, and Fixed Assets

2. Internal Controls & Compliance

• Design, implement, document, and enforce a comprehensive system of internal controls over financial reporting
• Ensure ongoing compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements for a food manufacturing environment
• Maintain and update accounting policies and procedures; communicate changes to relevant staff and management
• Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors during the annual audit, coordinate preparation of all supporting schedules and documentation
• Monitor compliance with debt covenants and provide required financial reports to lenders and financial institutions

3. Account Reconciliations

• Own and manage the full account reconciliation cycle for all balance sheet accounts monthly
• Establish and maintain reconciliation standards and checklists to ensure consistency and thoroughness
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items in a timely manner, escalating unusual items to the CFO as appropriate
• Oversee the reconciliation of intercompany accounts and elimination of intercompany transactions

4. Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Maintain and manage the lot cost system, labor rate development, and overhead absorption methodology
• Analyze manufacturing variances including material usage, purchase price, labor efficiency, and overhead spending variances
• Partner with operations and supply chain leadership to understand and explain cost drivers across production facilities
• Oversee inventory accounting, including physical inventory counts, cycle count reconciliation, and reserve analysis
• Develop and maintain key operating metrics and cost-per-unit analyses to support operational decision-making

5. ERP System Ownership & Optimization

• Develop and maintain ERP-based financial reports, dashboards, and queries to support management reporting needs
• Train and support finance staff and cross-functional users on ERP system usage and best practices
• Identify and implement ERP-based process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce manual work

6. Financial Operations

• Oversee accounts receivable and the order-to-collection cycle, including customer credit, invoicing, collections, and deduction management
• Oversee accounts payable and the procure-to-pay cycle, including vendor setup, invoice processing, and payment terms.
• Manage treasury, cash position reporting, daily cash reconciliation, and bank statement reconciliation.
• Oversee fixed asset tracking, including capitalization policies, depreciation schedules, and periodic physical inventory of assets
• Support payroll processing review and reconciliation to the general ledger

7. Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Assist the CFO in the development and coordination of the annual operating budget and multi-year financial plan
• Support capital expenditure planning including ROI analysis, project tracking, and post-implementation review

8. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Supervise, develop, and mentor a small team of accounting staff, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and Human Resources to provide timely financial information and support business decisions
• Communicate financial results, trends, and risks clearly and concisely to non-financial audiences
• Participate in strategic planning initiatives and special projects as directed by the CFO

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required. CPA, CMA or equivalent credential also valued.

Experience

Minimum 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 2 years in a Controller capacity. Prior experience in a manufacturing environment is required; food ingredient, food & beverage, or specialty chemical manufacturing strongly preferred. Demonstrated hands-on experience with complex ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Sage, NetSuite, Epicor, or equivalent); proficiency in system administration and financial module management is expected. Proven experience owning the full financial close cycle, account reconciliation process, and internal control framework in a multi-location or multi-entity environment. Experience with cost accounting, standard costing, and manufacturing variance analysis required.

Technical Skills

• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Experience with business intelligence or reporting tools a plus (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or ERP-native analytics)
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP; familiarity with SEC reporting or IFRS a plus

Competencies & Attributes

• Uncompromising integrity and commitment to accuracy and ethical financial reporting
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
• Effective communicator—written and verbal—with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Self-directed and proactive; able to operate with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, operationally complex environment
• Collaborative leadership style with proven ability to develop direct reports and work cross-functionally

Working Conditions

This position operates primarily in an office environment. Periodic visits to manufacturing facilities are required and may involve exposure to noise levels above 85 dBA, temperature variations, and the presence of food ingredients and processing equipment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided for plant visits. This is a full-time, on-site position. Occasional extended hours may be required during financial close periods, audit, and budget cycles.

Accountability

• Reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer
• Supervises a small team of accounting staff (typically 1–5 direct reports)
• Supports and coordinates with Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and Human Resources leadership
• Interfaces with external auditors, tax advisors, banking partners, and lenders as required

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and key responsibilities of the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as business needs require.