What are the responsibilities and job description for the Corporate Controller position at King Ocean?
Position Summary
The Corporate Controller is a key member of King Ocean's leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This role is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of all accounting operations from a U.S. GAAP perspective, guiding the monthly financial close process, and ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all financial reporting.
The Corporate Controller will serve as a trusted partner to the CFO, providing technical accounting guidance, firsthand leadership of the accounting team, and strategic support to the broader organization. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic, international freight and logistics environment.
Position Details
Department: | Accounting & Finance | FLSA Status: | Exempt |
Reports To: | Chief Financial Officer | Direct Reports: | TBD |
Location: | HQ Sweetwater, FL | Travel: | Minimal; occasional regional travel |
Key Responsibilities
Financial Close & Reporting
- Lead and manage the end-to-end monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring deadlines are consistently met.
- Prepare and review financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
- Oversee and review general ledger (GL) account reconciliations, investigate variances, and drive timely resolution of discrepancies.
- Produce accurate and insightful management reporting packages for the CFO and senior leadership.
- Coordinate and support year-end audits and tax preparation activities in partnership with external auditors and advisors.
Accounting Operations & Controls
- Maintain and continuously improve the company’s internal control environment, accounting policies, and standard operating procedures in alignment with GAAP.
- Ensure the accuracy and completeness of the general ledger, including journal entries, accruals, prepayments, and intercompany transactions.
- Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of accounting operations.
- Manage the Chart of Accounts, ensuring proper coding, classification, and consistency across all business units and geographies.
Team Leadership & Development
- Mentor, coach, and develop accounting staff, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous learning.
- Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback to direct reports.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, sales, and logistics teams to ensure financial data accurately reflects business activity.
- Support recruiting, onboarding, and training of accounting team members as needed.
CFO Partnership & Strategic Support
- Function as a strategic sounding board for the CFO on accounting matters, technical issues, and financial risk.
- Assist in the preparation of financial analyses, budget-to-actual variance reporting, and forecasting support.
- Provide technical accounting research and guidance on complex transactions, including international operations, multi-currency considerations, and revenue recognition.
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field required.
- Master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration (MBA), or Finance is a strong plus.
Experience
- A minimum of 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3–5 years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership role.
- Public accounting experience (Big 4 or regional firm) combined with industry experience is strongly preferred.
- Experience in transportation, shipping, logistics, freight forwarding, or maritime industry is a meaningful advantage.
- Demonstrated expertise in U.S. GAAP, financial statement preparation, and the monthly close process.
- Firsthand experience managing and developing accounting teams in a multi-entity or multi-currency environment.
- History of designing and implementing internal controls and process improvements.
- Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or similar); exposure to freight management or TMS platforms is a plus.
Skills & Competencies
Technical Skills
| Leadership & Soft Skills
|