Controller

Job Summary

The Controller will lead the accounting, financial reporting, and internal control functions for a privately held asset recovery business. This role requires a hands-on finance leader with prior Controller experience who can operate effectively in a transaction-intensive environment while strengthening systems, controls, and financial discipline. This is a senior, on-site leadership role reporting directly to the President, with a dotted-line relationship to the fractional CFO. The Controller’s primary focus will be on the core operating business, with responsibility for supporting accounting and reporting across affiliated operating entities and a holding company, as appropriate. This role is expected to assume broader CFO-level responsibilities within 6–12 months, including ownership of financial strategy, lender relationships, executive-level reporting, and strategic financial planning, as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial statements
• Prepare and review income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and supported
• Manage accruals, reserves, revenue recognition, and period-end estimates
• Maintain consistent accounting treatment across operating units and entities

Revenue Recognition & Job Costing

• Oversee revenue recognition policies and billing practices
• Ensure proper tracking and allocation of customer billings, fees, and third-party costs
• Partner with operations to improve job-level profitability visibility
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and internal accounting policies

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Design, implement, and maintain internal controls appropriate for a growing business
• Identify and remediate control gaps, inefficiencies, or manual workarounds
• Improve documentation of accounting policies and procedures
• Drive process improvements and system optimization

Cash Management & Treasury

• Oversee cash management, liquidity, and working capital
• Monitor daily cash activity and bank balances
• Coordinate ACH, wire, and payment processes with appropriate segregation of duties
• Support lender reporting and covenant compliance

Budgeting, Forecasting & Management Reporting

• Support leadership with annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting
• Prepare cash flow projections and management reporting packages
• Provide variance analysis and insights on margins, costs, and operating performance

Tax, Audit & Compliance

• Coordinate with external advisors on federal, state, and local tax filings
• Oversee payroll tax and sales/use tax compliance
• Manage audits, reviews, and information requests
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Improve accountability, accuracy, and timeliness across the department

Systems & Data

• Act as finance lead for accounting system optimization and integrations
• Ensure data integrity and consistency across systems
• Evaluate and recommend system improvements

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Prior experience as a Controller
• 5–10 years of progressive accounting experience
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP
• Experience in services-based or transaction-intensive businesses
• Proven ability to manage close, controls, and audits

Preferred:

• CPA or MBA
• Experience in privately held or growing companies
• Exposure to multi-entity accounting environments

Key Competencies

• Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly accountable
• Strong judgment, integrity, and ownership mindset
• Clear communicator with executives and non-financial leaders
• Process-driven and solutions-oriented

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

• Clean, predictable monthly close with clear ownership and timelines
• Improved visibility into job-level profitability and cash flow
• Strengthened internal controls, reconciliations, and accounting documentation
• Established credibility as a trusted partner to the President, CFO, and leadership team
• An accounting function that is stable, scalable, and prepared to support continued growth