Controller

Reports To: CEO
Location: Lincoln Ne, or Nebraska City Ne

Position Overview

The Controller is responsible for leading all accounting and financial operations for a growing retail organization of approximately 100 to 110 employees. This role ensures accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, effective cash management, and operational financial support. The Controller partners closely with the CEO to provide financial insight that drives profitability, inventory optimization, and strategic growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both tactical execution and strategic oversight.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close Process

• Oversee full-cycle accounting operations (AR, AP, Payroll, Fixed Assets)

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes

• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements

• Deliver monthly financial reporting package to CEO

• Provide variance analysis (budget vs. actual, store performance, margin analysis)

• Ensure GAAP compliance

Retail & Operational Finance

• Monitor gross margins, shrink, and inventory turnover

• Oversee inventory accounting and reconciliation

• Partner with operations on store-level performance analysis

• Analyze sales trends, promotions, and seasonal impacts

• Support pricing and margin strategy

Cash Flow & Working Capital

• Manage daily/weekly cash flow forecasting

• Oversee banking relationships

• Optimize working capital and inventory investment

• Monitor debt covenants (if applicable)

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead annual budget process

• Develop rolling forecasts

• Provide financial modeling for expansion or capital investments

• Support growth planning and site expansion analysis

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Establish and maintain strong internal control environment

• Ensure proper segregation of duties

• Oversee sales tax compliance (multi-location if applicable)

• Coordinate annual audit or review

• Ensure payroll tax and regulatory compliance

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise and develop accounting staff

• Improve accounting processes and automation

• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, HR, and leadership

• Build scalable systems for growth

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

• 7 years progressive accounting experience

• 3 years in a leadership role

• Experience in retail, multi-location, or consumer-facing business

• Strong understanding of inventory accounting

• Experience managing full month-end close

• Advanced Excel skills

• Experience with accounting/ERP systems and POS integrations

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation

• Experience building accounting processes from scratch or improving weak controls

• Experience supporting growth or multi-location expansion

Key Traits for Success

• Hands-on leader (not afraid to get into details)

• Operationally minded, not just accounting-focused

• Strong business partner to CEO

• High integrity and accountability

• Process-driven and improvement-oriented

• Comfortable in a fast-paced retail environment

Important for Retail 

• Inventory shrink analysis

• POS reconciliation oversight

• Store-level profitability reporting

• Promotional margin analysis

• Vendor rebate tracking (if applicable)

• Sales tax oversight