Controller

The Company

Our client is a fully contingent, nationwide commercial asset recovery and collections firm based in Upstate, NY.  They are focused exclusively on commercial collateral such as construction equipment, trucks, trailers, and business assets, enabling them to provide specialized, master-level service across the industry.

Their mission is simple: They "want to find all of our clients’ assets and return them as quickly as possible." They aim to be your ideal partner for collateral recovery by leveraging our extensive expertise, experience, and unwavering commitment to delivering the highest level of assistance.

With a nationwide network of fully vetted field agents, a centralized compliance system, and advanced workflow tools, they ensure efficient, secure, and accurate recovery of your assets no matter where they are.

Position Summary

The Controller will lead the accounting, financial reporting, and internal control functions for a privately held asset recovery business. This role requires a hands-on finance leader with prior Controller experience who can operate effectively in a transaction-intensive environment while strengthening systems, controls, and financial discipline.

This is a senior, on-site leadership role reporting directly to the President, with a dotted-line relationship to the fractional CFO. The Controller’s primary focus will be on the core operating business, with responsibility for supporting accounting and reporting across affiliated operating entities and a holding company, as appropriate.

This role will oversee a team of six (6) and has growth to more CFO-level responsibilities within twelve (12) months, including ownership of financial strategy, lender relationships, executive-level reporting, and strategic financial planning, as the business continues to grow.

Position Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial statements
• Prepare and review income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and supported
• Manage accruals, reserves, revenue recognition, and period-end estimates
• Maintain consistent accounting treatment across operating units and entities

Revenue Recognition & Job Costing

• Oversee revenue recognition policies and billing practices
• Ensure proper tracking and allocation of customer billings, fees, and third-party costs
• Partner with operations to improve job-level profitability visibility
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and internal accounting policies

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Design, implement, and maintain internal controls appropriate for a growing business
• Identify and remediate control gaps, inefficiencies, or manual workarounds
• Improve documentation of accounting policies and procedures
• Drive process improvements and system optimization

Cash Management & Treasury

• Oversee cash management, liquidity, and working capital
• Monitor daily cash activity and bank balances
• Coordinate ACH, wire, and payment processes with appropriate segregation of duties
• Support lender reporting and covenant compliance

Budgeting, Forecasting & Management Reporting

• Support leadership with annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting
• Prepare cash flow projections and management reporting packages
• Provide variance analysis and insights on margins, costs, and operating performance

Tax, Audit & Compliance

• Coordinate with external advisors on federal, state, and local tax filings
• Oversee payroll tax and sales/use tax compliance
• Manage audits, reviews, and information requests
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team (currently six)
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Improve accountability, accuracy, and timeliness across the department

Systems & Data

• Act as finance lead for accounting system optimization and integrations
• Ensure data integrity and consistency across systems
• Evaluate and recommend system improvements as needed

Position Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Prior experience as a Controller
• 7 years of progressive accounting experience
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP
• Experience in services-based or transaction-intensive businesses
• Proven ability to manage close, controls, and audits

Preferred:

• CPA or MBA
• Experience in privately held or growing companies
• Exposure to multi-entity accounting environments

Key Competencies

• Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly accountable
• Strong judgment, integrity, and ownership mindset
• Clear communicator with executives and non-financial leaders
• Process-driven and solutions-oriented