What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Controller position at Merit Coffee Co.?
Role Summary
The Assistant Controller is responsible for supporting the overall financial management of Merit Coffee while overseeing accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance activities. This role serves as a senior accounting leader and strategic partner to company leadership, helping ensure financial accuracy, operational efficiency, and sound decision-making across the organization.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with leadership capabilities and the ability to contribute to financial planning, cash flow management, and process improvement initiatives.
Key ResponsibilitiesAccounting Operations & Oversight
The Assistant Controller serves as a key financial leader within Merit Coffee, ensuring accurate reporting, strong controls, and effective financial management while helping position the organization for continued growth and operational excellence.
The Assistant Controller is responsible for supporting the overall financial management of Merit Coffee while overseeing accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance activities. This role serves as a senior accounting leader and strategic partner to company leadership, helping ensure financial accuracy, operational efficiency, and sound decision-making across the organization.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with leadership capabilities and the ability to contribute to financial planning, cash flow management, and process improvement initiatives.
Key ResponsibilitiesAccounting Operations & Oversight
- Oversee daytoday accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and fixed asset tracking.
- Ensure timely and accurate completion of monthend and yearend close activities.
- Maintain and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Provide oversight of procurement controls, spend management, and financial compliance.
- Own the preparation and review of monthly financial statements and management reporting packages.
- Analyze financial performance, trends, and variances and communicate findings to leadership.
- Develop and improve reporting processes that support informed business decisions.
- Ensure financial records are accurate, complete, and auditready.
- Lead cash flow monitoring and forecasting activities.
- Support and coordinate annual budgeting processes.
- Provide variance analysis and forecasting support to leadership.
- Serve as a primary liaison with banking partners regarding routine treasury activities and cash management.
- Serve as the primary contact for external auditors and CPA partners.
- Coordinate annual audits, reviews, and financial documentation requests.
- Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal reporting requirements.
- Support taxrelated processes and external provider relationships.
- Oversee fixed asset accounting and related controls.
- Partner with operations leadership to strengthen inventory management practices and controls.
- Support operational leaders with financial insights and recommendations.
- Lead, mentor, and develop accounting team members.
- Establish departmental goals, priorities, and performance expectations.
- Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
- Accurate and timely monthly financial reporting.
- Effective cash flow monitoring and forecasting.
- Clean audits and strong compliance results.
- Welldocumented accounting processes and controls.
- A highperforming accounting team capable of supporting company growth.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- 6 years of progressive accounting experience, including supervisory responsibility.
- Strong understanding of GAAP and internal control principles.
- Experience preparing financial statements and managing close processes.
- Advanced Excel and financial reporting skills.
- Experience with ERP Implementation
- Experience supporting multilocation retail, hospitality, restaurant, or consumer goods organizations.
- Experience leading audits, budgeting, and cash flow management.
The Assistant Controller serves as a key financial leader within Merit Coffee, ensuring accurate reporting, strong controls, and effective financial management while helping position the organization for continued growth and operational excellence.