CONTROLLER

We are a well-established, privately held retail organization seeking a hands-on Controller who combines strong technical accounting expertise with solid business acumen and operation judgement.  This is a 32 hour a week position - 4 days in the office. 

This is a high-impact role in a lean organization where the right candidate can grow into a future CFO position. You will work directly with ownership and play a meaningful role in financial strategy, operation performance, and long-term planning.

If you are seeking a narrowly defined corporate accounting role with layers of hierarchy, this is NOT that opportunity. If you want visibility, accountability, and the ability to influence real business decisions, we would like you to apply.

Why this opportunity?

This is a high-visibility leadership position with direct access to ownership. The Controller will influence profitability, vendor strategy, inventory performance, capital decision, and long-term planning.

For the right individual, this role offers meaningful responsibility today and a clear path toward broader executive financial leadership.  If you are an operator at heart and enjoy being deeply involved in the financial engine of a business, we encourage you to apply.

The role:

The Controller serves as the senior financial leader of the organization and a strategic partner to ownership, influencing financial strategy.  This position requires both hands-on execution and the ability to think beyond the numbers.

You will:

• Direct and oversee all accounting operations including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and inventory accounting
• Work as a member of the corporate management team providing financial and accounting support for analysis and plannng of corporate activities
• Personally ensure the accuracy and timeliness of monthly financial statements
• Manage processes for financial forecasting, budgets, and reporting to the company
• Lead full-cycle accounting operations (GL, AP, AR, payroll, inventory accounting)
• Maintain strong internal controls and GAAP compliance
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts
• Actively manage cash flow and working capital
• Provide detailed gross margin analysis by department/category
• Maintain in-depth oversight of inventory management, including both physical inventory control processes and general ledger financial accuracy
• Partner with operations to improve inventory accuracy, reduce shrink, and optimize inventory turns
• Ensure alignment between physical inventory counts, cycle counts, POS systems, and financial reporting
• Provide actionable financial insight to improve profitability
• Negotiate and evaluate key vendor agreements, including employee insurance and benefit contracts
• Work directly with outside counsel in lease negotiations and contract review
• Support financing discussions and capital investment decision
• Coordinate year-end review and tax filings with external CPA
• Lead and develop a small accounting team

This role requires someone who understand how inventory drives working capital, margin performance, and overall retail profitability – both operationally and on the balance sheet.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field
• 7-10+ years of progressive accounting experience with leadership responsibility
• Controller experience required
• Retail or multi-location operation experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of inventory management, including physical inventory controls and financial inventory accounting
• Experience in privately held or owner-led businesses preferred
• CPA preferred
• Strong GAAP and internal control knowledge
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Demonstrated business acumen and commercial awareness

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who:

• Thinks like a business partner, not just an accountant
• Understanding inventory as both an operational asset and a financial driver
• Is comfortable engaging in vendor negotiations and contractual discussions
• Is hands-on and detail-oriented
• Takes ownership and follows through
• Has the maturity and ambition to grow into a CFO role