Controller

We're looking for a hands-on Controller to own the accounting backbone of our client, a rapidly growing, vertically integrated apparel business. This is not a typical retail Controller role. Our client owns and operates a manufacturing facility in South America, sells across three distinct channels, and is actively transitioning day-to-day financial operations from an outsourced accounting services firm into an in-house function. You'll report to the President, partner closely with their Finance Committee, manage the outsourced components of finance, and be a fully dedicated in-house finance leader building institutional knowledge that currently lives outside the company.

This role requires genuine apparel and manufacturing accounting experience and preferably fluent Spanish — their South American facility team communicates primarily in Spanish, and this role will work directly with them on a regular, ongoing basis.

Key Responsibilities Financial Close, Reporting, Budgeting & Cash Flow

• Own the monthly close process — journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis — and deliver accurate financial statements on a consistent timeline.
• Work with the outsourced accounting services firm to understand the data download from the current ERP system used to prepare the monthly excel based financial reporting package, and evaluate alternatives
• Lead the annual budget and monthly forecast processes, consolidating projections across wholesale, e-commerce, and private label, and communicating results to the Fractional CFO, President, and Finance Committee.
• Prepare detailed cash flow forecasting to fund a business with seasonal inventory buys and sales and an owned manufacturing facility.

Manufacturing, Inventory & South American Operations

• Responsible for cost accounting and inventory valuation for a company that manufactures its own product — standard costing, landed cost, duty/import classification, and COGS by channel.
• Serve as the financial point of contact for the South American operations team, consolidating their entity financials into the client's US reporting.
• Partner directly — in Spanish — with the South American team on production planning, budgeting and expense tracking, cash flow requirements, and impact of foreign currency fluctuations on operations
• Bring rigor to import/export compliance, duty codes, and customs-related cost accounting across the US–South American supply chain.

Financial Systems & Process

• Evaluate the client's legacy financial systems, currently split across multiple platforms with manual handoffs, and determine best next steps in evolution
• Partner with FP&A on commission calculations across wholesale, e-commerce, and private label commission structures.
• Evaluate accounting functions performed by outsourced resources and determine what functions if any should be moved in-house (A/P cash disbursement, payroll and commission calculations, general ledger, accounts receivable collections) to enable the most cost efficient structure
• Build the financial controls, policies, and documentation the client needs as it transitions from outsourced to in-house financial management.

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Provide Controller-level oversight to the client's AP/AR, payroll and general ledger functions.
• Manage the transition from a fully outsourced accounting function to an in-house or hybrid model — working alongside the outsourced team to build a cost efficient structure, with full in-house ownership.
• Be a trusted advisor to the Fractional CFO, President, and Finance Committee on financial risk, opportunity, and strategic decision-making.

Qualifications Required

• Fluent Spanish — this role works directly and regularly with the South American-based manufacturing and operations team.
• 6+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including direct experience in apparel, fashion, or consumer products manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with cost accounting and inventory valuation for production operations — not just vendor-sourced inventory.
• Experience with multi-entity or international financial consolidation.
• Strong GAAP, financial reporting, and Excel/financial modeling skills.
• Proven experience independently owning a monthly close process, start to finish.
• Comfortable in a lean, fast-paced, early-stage environment — this is a hands-on, “roll up your sleeves” role, not one with a large existing team to delegate to.

Strongly Preferred

• CPA or equivalent certification.
• Experience with wholesale, e-commerce/DTC, and private label revenue channels simultaneously.
• Experience transitioning a company from outsourced to in-house financial operations or evaluating resource requirements needed to efficiently run the finance function.
• Familiarity with apparel-specific ERP/PLM or wholesale order management systems (e.g., JOOR, NuOrder, or similar).
• Experience managing a change in ERP system
• Prior experience managing or mentoring a small accounting team.

Compensation & Location

• Target annual compensation: $150,000 - $180,000 depending on experience.
• Location: San Diego, CA preferred; open to remote candidates with the right experience.
• Reports to: President