Assistant Controller

ROLE DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Assistant Controller is responsible for supporting the Controller in the leadership and oversight of the company accounting operations, with direct responsibility for the General Ledger function, financial close, account reconciliations, technical accounting, internal controls, and financial reporting support. The Accounting Manager and General Ledger team report to this position.

This role is intended to strengthen accounting leadership, improve close and reconciliation accountability, provide timely review and resolution of accounting issues, and allow the Controller to focus on higher-level financial reporting, compliance, strategic initiatives, and executive support. The Assistant Controller serves as the primary point of escalation for General Ledger matters and provides leadership across accounting functions when issues require cross-functional coordination.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

General Ledger, Close, and Financial Reporting Oversight

• Lead and coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including close calendars, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and required supporting schedules.

• Review journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations for accuracy, completeness, proper support, and timely resolution of reconciling items.

• Oversee recurring and nonrecurring General Ledger activity, including cash and cash clearing, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, leases, payroll-related entries, commissions, accruals, and other assigned accounts.

• Support the preparation and review of financial statements, management reporting, account analysis, and variance explanations.

• Ensure accounting activity is recorded in the appropriate period and in accordance with established accounting policies and generally accepted accounting principles.

• Serve as the first point of escalation for close delays, reconciliation issues, unusual transactions, and General Ledger questions before escalation to the Controller.

Accounting Operations Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight to the Accounting Manager, who is responsible for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable operations.

• Partner with the Accounting Manager to monitor key A/P and A/R matters that affect cash, accruals, customer deposits, invoicing, collections, revenue recognition, and month-end close.

• Review significant or unresolved accounting issues across A/P and A/R and ensure items are properly documented, assigned, and escalated.

• Coordinate accounting priorities and dependencies across the General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable teams to support accurate and timely reporting.

• Provide backup leadership for accounting operations and assist the Controller with department-wide priorities as needed.

Technical Accounting and Compliance

• Research and document the accounting treatment for complex, unusual, or material transactions and present conclusions to the Controller.

• Support accounting for leases, customer deposits, rebates, credits, contract-related items, and other technical or judgmental areas.

• Ensure accounting policies and procedures remain aligned with generally accepted accounting principles and company requirements.

• Coordinate audit support, schedules, documentation, and responses for assigned areas.

• Support tax, compliance, and regulatory requirements by ensuring requested accounting records and supporting documentation are complete and accurate.

Internal Controls and Process Improvement

• Reinforce established accounting policies, internal controls, approval requirements, and documentation standards.

• Ensure General Ledger, close, reconciliation, A/P, and A/R processes are performed consistently and in alignment with company controls.

• Identify recurring issues, control gaps, process breakdowns, and training needs, and lead corrective action with the appropriate team members.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, close checklists, reconciliation standards, review documentation, and backup coverage plans.

• Promote appropriate segregation of duties, clear ownership, timely review, and documented approval throughout accounting processes.

• Lead process improvement initiatives that increase accuracy, accountability, efficiency, and visibility into accounting risks.

Team Leadership and Workflow Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, coaching, and workload prioritization to the Accounting Manager and General Ledger team.

• Establish clear expectations, deadlines, review standards, and accountability for assigned work.

• Monitor team capacity and reallocate work as needed during close, audit, and other peak accounting cycles.

• Conduct regular reviews of open items, aging reconciling items, close status, and unresolved accounting issues.

• Cross-train staff to reduce dependency risk, improve department continuity, and provide appropriate backup coverage.

• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and development of accounting personnel.

• Partner with the Controller on department priorities, staffing, system improvements, and special projects.

What Success in This Role Looks Like:

Success in this role is demonstrated by accurate and timely month-end close execution, strong financial statement integrity, improved internal controls, and effective development of the accounting team. The Assistant Controller strengthens reporting rigor, audit readiness, and process scalability while serving as a reliable leadership extension of the Controller.

KEY SELECTION & SUCCESS FACTORS

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including strong General Ledger, close, reconciliation, and financial reporting experience.

• Prior accounting leadership, supervisory, or management experience required.

• Strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, internal controls, account reconciliations, accrual accounting, and financial statement preparation.

• Strong Excel skills and the ability to review financial reports, account details, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and lead teams in a fast-paced accounting environment.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to work across departments professionally and factually.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

WORK ENVIRONMENT: (overtime, travel, physical demands, conditions) 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.