Controller / Finance Manager

Controller/Finance Manager

Location: Northwest Houston, TX

Schedule: On-site, 5 days per week

About the Opportunity

Steven Douglas is partnering with a global leader in the Distribution/Industrial industry that is looking s to hire a Controller/Finance Manager for its North American business. Reporting to the North America Finance Director, you will serve as the region's accounting and financial control leader, managing a team of three and delivering the validated accounting foundation that FP&A uses for consolidated reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. This is a hands-on role for a controller who enjoys working in the details, strengthening controls, and developing people.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of three accounting and AP/AR professionals by setting priorities, defining ownership, and ensuring proper coverage and segregation of duties.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close calendar, reviewing journal entries, accruals, reclasses, and supporting schedules to keep the close timely and accurate.
• Safeguard balance sheet integrity by reviewing reconciliations, aged items, reserves, and accruals across bank, AR, AP, payroll, intercompany, inventory, and fixed asset accounts.
• Provide FP&A with accurate financial statements and schedules, explain ledger activity, and confirm management reporting ties to the general ledger.
• Build, monitor, and enhance the accounting control framework, including documented reviews, approval evidence, and adherence to company policy and accounting standards.
• Oversee AP and AR operations, including collections, cash application, master data, and subledger reconciliations, and evaluate credit exposure to recommend limits and exceptions.
• Direct inventory and fixed asset accounting, including reserve support, capitalization decisions, and depreciation, and review significant or unusual activity.
• Review bank reconciliations and cash controls, coordinate routine payments within approved authority, and raise material issues to the Finance Director.
• Act as the point person for tax, statutory, and internal and external audit requests, preparing supporting schedules and keeping the business audit-ready.
• Research technical accounting matters, draft position papers, and bring significant judgment areas to the Finance Director for approval.
• Maintain ERP and accounting master data integrity while driving process documentation, standardization, and automation, including readiness for a potential shared services model.
• Partner with FP&A, Commercial, Operations, HR, Global Finance, and shared services teams to resolve accounting and transactional issues while keeping responsibilities clearly defined.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience with meaningful ownership of close, reporting, balance sheet, controls, and financial operations.
• 3+ years of experience leading and developing accounting or finance staff.

Preferred

• CPA or CMA.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, industrial, or similar operational environments.
• Public accounting or prior controller experience.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Cognos, and Power BI.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You take ownership of accounting quality and are comfortable reviewing work at a detailed level.
• You develop people through clear expectations, coaching, feedback, and follow-through.
• You are organized and proactive, managing recurring deadlines and competing priorities with ease.
• You constructively challenge incomplete support, weak controls, and unresolved balances.
• You build credibility with business partners, auditors, and global teams through sound judgment, integrity, and discretion.