Controller

Description

Position Summary:

The Finance Department oversees financial planning and management activities, including receivables and payables management, reporting and compliance, and creation of value. The Controller establishes and maintains the organization's overall accounting systems, procedures, and policies and protects assets by monitoring and enforcing internal controls. The Controller monitors and confirms the financial condition of the organization by conducting audits and providing information to external auditors and the Director of Finance.  The Controller leads and directs the organization's accounting functions by following GAAP principles and directs reporting of financial information including management reporting and other required filings and reports. The Controller is responsible for coordinating, planning, and reporting on the financial activities of the organization and presenting findings and recommendations to management.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Safeguards assets and assures accurate and timely recording of all transactions by implementing disciplines of internal audits, controls, and checks across all departments.
• Manages the accuracy and productivity of day-to-day activities of accounts payable, cash disbursements, invoicing/billing, customer credits and collections, payroll, perpetual inventory integrity, fixed asset records, general and entity accounting, cost accounting, and operations.
• Develops, improves and issues timely monthly financial records for Director of Finance and Shareholders.
• Ensures financial plans are consistent with organizational goals.
• Provides financial analysis tools to evaluate company ventures or special projects, programs, capital expenditures, products costing, when necessary.
• Ensures that assets are not awkwardly encumbered with personal guarantees or unrealistic commitments.
• Collaborates with the other department managers to support achievement of overall company goals and objectives.
• Interfaces with outside audit firms(s), banks and lessors, casualty/liability insurance agent(s), credit card companies, and collection agencies.
• Assists in the development and implementation of new procedures and features to enhance the workflow of the department.
• Maintains strong relationships and communicates frequently regarding business related needs with other organizational leaders.
• Leads, motivates, provides performance feedback, and manages work teams to support departmental and organizational objectives and goals. Monitors and analyzes department work to develop more efficient procedures and use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Advises staff regarding the handling of non-routine reporting transactions.
• Understands the importance of aligning organizational structure and strategy.  Review the organizational structure, systems, and processes to ensure they support change initiatives.

Non-Essential Responsibilities:

• Completes special projects per request of senior management or Director of Finance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:

Limited Direction: Works from overall policies, goals, and budgetary limits. Virtually self-supervising with direct accountability for final results.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Basic supervision: Determines work assignments, priorities, and procedures for team members. Responsible for assigning, scheduling, and ensuring the quality and quantity of work. May or may not approve time off and schedule adjustments. Provides training and coaching.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business-related discipline. 
• Six (6) to eight (8) years of experience in accounting.
• One (1) to two (2) years of experience in Controller role. 
• Proven ability in motivating and leading others to ensure performance in accordance with clear expectations and goals.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel.
• Thorough knowledge of general accounting including application of general accounting theory.
• Ability to fit into a changing work environment by staying open-minded and adapts own behavior to support organizational change acting as a role model for others.  Clearly communicates the rationale for and benefits of proposed changes and assists in defining clear targets and milestones for the team. Ensures that the necessary resources are available in the function or work unit to implement change; revises plan if needed to reflect available resources.
• Ability to establish constructive and cooperative interpersonal business relationships with individuals working at varying levels within the organization.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities with ability to recognize courses of action which can be taken to handle problems or potential problems and applying contingency plans to solve those problems.
• Ability to use relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Ability to develop and train work force, build relationships, utilize skills of workforce most appropriately.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Leadership skills to motivate, coach, delegate, and guide team to achieve performance goals.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in a clear, concise, understandable, and professional manner.
• Ability to multi-task and lead multiple projects and manage project deadlines while working independently or with others.

Core Competencies:

1. Accuracy: Achievement of correct and precise work.
2. Analytical: Ability to gather raw data and process that data into meaningful form using a more scientific approach.
3. Problem Solving: Ability to recognize courses of action which can be taken to handle problems or potential problems, and applying contingency plans to solve those problems.
4. Project Management: Ability to demonstrate an understanding of planning, organizing, delegation, staffing, directing and controlling work tasks.
5. Working Under Pressure: Ability to maintain composure when exposed to stress.