Controller

Great Controller opportunity with a growing employee-owned (ESOP) business. The company has been around for 50 years, offering stability and high visibility in this role.

Compensation: 140k - 160k bonus

Key Essential Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the CEO / President on financial strategy, long-range planning, and capital allocation
• Provide financial insights to support pricing, vendor negotiations, branch performance, and growth initiatives
• Translate financial results into actionable insights for operations, sales, and executive leadership
• Support M&A activity, including due diligence, integration planning, and financial modeling (as applicable)

Financial Reporting & Governance

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes with a focus on accuracy, timeliness, and transparency
• Prepare and review GAAP-compliant financial statements and management reporting packages
• Lead the development and refinement of accounting policies and procedures
• Ensure strong internal controls and governance s

Inventory, Margin & Working Capital Management

• Provide leadership over inventory accounting, valuation, and reserves
• Analyze gross margin trends by branch, product line, and vendor
• Partner with operations to improve inventory turns, freight recovery, and working capital efficiency
• Support forecasting and demand planning initiatives

Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management

• Lead the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts in collaboration with department leaders
• Develop KPIs and dashboards to measure financial and operational performance
• Monitor performance against budget and proactively identify risks and opportunities
• Support scenario modeling and sensitivity analyses

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting and finance team
• Build scalable processes and organizational capabilities to support growth
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee ownership

Systems & Process Improvement

• Partner with the CEO / President and IT to optimize ERP and financial systems
• Drive automation, reporting enhancements, and process efficiencies
• Support system upgrades, integrations, and data integrity initiatives

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• 8–12 years of progressive accounting and finance experience
• CPA, CMA, or MBA (preferred)
• Experience with QuickBooks
• Experience in distribution, wholesale, or inventory-intensive businesses
• Multi-location or branch-based operating environment experience (preferred)
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives
• Exposure to banking relationships, credit facilities, and covenant compliance
• Experience supporting strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, expansions, or system implementations

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong command of GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls
• Advanced Excel and ERP system expertise
• Strategic mindset with the ability to remain hands-on
• Strong business acumen and operational curiosity
• Clear communicator with the ability to influence at the executive level
• High integrity and commitment to employee ownership principles
• Proven readiness to grow into broader financial leadership responsibilities