What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Controller position at BERNARDS BROS INC?
Title: | Assistant Controller |
Department: | Accounting |
Classification: | Exempt |
Reports to: | Controller |
Job Summary |
Responsible for managing day-to-day accounting operations of the company as directed by the Controller including maintaining & reviewing accounting records, coordinating efforts between accounting & other departments’ personnel, integrating accounting functions overseen by others into the accounting records and maintaining controls designed to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the company's reported financial results and ensure that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles.
Duties and Responsibilities |
- Maintain professional knowledge and expertise by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
- Proactively stay up-to-date on all Accounting Pronouncements, Federal, State, and Local regulations, rules, and limits affecting employment issues (minimum wage requirements, overtime requirements, tax rates and limits, etc.), business taxation, industry issues, and such other factors as needed to oversee accounting and finance operations.
- Maintain a full understanding of how the company’s ERP functions including maintenance of and data transfer between Human Resources (HR), Payroll (PR), Accounts Payable (AP), Subcontract Ledger (SL), Job Billing (JB), Job Cost (JC), General Ledger (GL), Accounts Receivable (AR) and Cash Management (CM); ERP usage by department or Operations group; ERP security settings; ERP reporting (on-screen, reports, notifications, etc.) and off-system functions (including Keystyle Gateway, Textura & FAS) which integrate with or into the ERP system.
- Maintain a working knowledge of the operations of Bernards and the various small companies, the parties involved, and how transactions for each company occur. The working knowledge must include by company: how duties throughout the company are performed, how transactions originate by area, who approves transactions for each company, and the general flow of information both into and out of each company’s books.
- Understand, process and discuss the financial aspects of Bernards’ Operations, including the forms of contracts, cost components, and Project Financial Report (PFR). Utilize such Operational information after testing & review in financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
- Maintain day-to-day accounting operations of the company as directed by the Controller, including maintaining & reviewing accounting records and integrating accounting functions overseen by others into the accounting records.
- Maintain primary responsibility for the timely monthly closing of the books, including that all material transactions have been properly posted and accounts reconciled.
- Primary support during the annual year-end audit as well as lead on contract, insurance, labor compliance, and other audits or reviews. Provide financial statement support through analysis performed in maintaining each company as part of such audits or reviews.
- Assist the Controller and CFO in the design, implementation, and revision of schedules, processes, internal controls and other departmental changes.
- Coordinate efforts between accounting & other departments’ personnel.
- Oversee, mentor, train and assist accounting staff and incoming supervisors in their performance of day-to-day accounting functions.
- Manage and comply with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements, tax filings and other reporting, as assigned.
- Foresee issues associated with the timing or performance of accounting functions, proactively take needed actions to alleviate such issues and bring, where necessary, such issues to the attention of the Controller and CFO.
- Ability to research, resolve, communicate and implement technical accounting, finance and compliance issues.
- Create, update and maintain policies and procedures.
- Be an authoritative resource for executives and operational personnel on obtaining, disseminating and explaining financial information on a consistent basis with that provided by the Controller and CFO.
- Prepare and perform presentations on subjects requested or associated with the accounting and finance team at company meetings, training sessions or other gatherings using a high level of presentation skill and resources.
- Work with the Controller on and/or directly provide various Controller functions, as assigned or needed in Controller’s absence.
- All other job duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities |
- Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to analyze complex transactions and communicate results in plain, understandable terms catered to the specific recipient(s) of the communication.
- Detail-oriented, self-starter with a collaborative, collegial operating style who is able to motivate others in a team-based work culture.
- Must be a quick learner with a positive, growth mindset.
- Computer literate – Able to use the Microsoft Office Suite and Bernards other internal systems and technology.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Able to effectively manage a workload which varies over a course of the month
- Takes initiative, continuously seeks more effective, efficient solutions.
- Ability to maintain personal credibility.
- Trustworthy & discreet.
- Inquiring of management and others to gain an understanding of the organization itself, its operations, financial reporting, and known fraud or error.
- Fosters team work, able to build collaborative relationships.
- Knowledge over overall economy and construction industry
- Understand basic report writing (SQL, Crystal Reporting)
- Ability to meet multiple deadlines and projects
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability in basic public speaking
Preferred Education and Experience |
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting or Bachelor of Science in Economics with an emphasis in Accounting
- 8-10 years of experience gained in corporate accounting, or gained through a combination of public accounting and industry experience
- CPA certification is preferred, but candidates with a strong understanding of corporate accounting and GAAP knowledge will also be considered