Controller

Who We Are: Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc. manufactures and distributes top-quality equipment that you can trust and count on at an exceptional value. We provide quality products and trusted brands to the hardware, lawn & garden, rental, agriculture and power equipment industries. We continue to strategically partner ourselves with quality products, and incorporate smart business solutions that we can utilize across our business to provide our customers exceptional value. Since we started in 1983, our goal has always been to understand our customer's business and develop a complete product and support solution that delivers exactly what you need.

Why Choose GNE?

We provide an industry leading benefits package to cover healthcare, retirement, and wellness programs to help you be your best self financially and physically. On top of that, we have:

• Competitive Pay: $120,000 - 140,000, with your exact compensation personalized based on your skills, experience, and location. We believe in rewarding top talent with pay that reflects your value.
• Paid time off
• Holiday pay
• Referral bonus
• Employee Discounts & other perks
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401K with employer match
• Excellent work/life balance
• Opportunity for internal growth and employee advancement

Basic Function: The Controller is responsible for leading the organization’s financial operations, including reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and compliance. This position develops meaningful financial insights for leadership, ensures strong internal controls, and supports strategic decision-making across the business. The role oversees key accounting functions, manages audits, performs detailed financial and variance analyses, and maintains the company’s short and long term financial health. In addition, this position provides leadership to staff, collaborates with cross-functional teams, and supports companywide initiatives while keeping management informed of critical developments and operational needs.

Essential Functions:

• Participates with supervisor and corresponding business leaders, as appropriate, in establishing meaningful goals and policy guidelines concerning business operations.
• Leads monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, reconciles accounts payable and receivable, monitors financial controls, and provides ad hoc financial analysis.
• Prepares balance sheet, income statement, and other reports to summarize and interpret current and projected company financial position for leadership.
• Facilitates the annual budgeting process and in conjunction with other managers, reviews, compiles and submits the budget for approval. Maintains rolling 12 month forecast. Performs ad-hoc forecast as needed.
• Leads monthly and quarterly progress, tracking financial performance against budget and/or forecast.
• Ensures compliance with financial regulations and maintains readiness audits. Coordinates with outside auditors, including government and banking, and manages the coordination of the workflow and documentation requirements.
• Manages the Company’s cash flow, including monitoring daily cash position, preparing periodic cash reports and line-of-credit status, coordinating disbursement timing with Accounts Payable to optimize cash usage and discounts, and partnering with Accounts Receivable to ensure timely collections and minimize bad debt.
• Advises on reserves, capital, and expenditures to support sound decision-making and compliance with accounting standards.
• Performs statistical and variance analyses on business results, prepares written narratives, and explains daily, monthly, and quarterly trends.
• Oversees financial systems and reporting tools, ensuring appropriate controls, documentation, data integrity, and process efficiency. Partners with Information Technology (IT) and business stakeholders to identify requirements, prioritize enhancements and support system implementations.

• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Keeps supervisor informed of important developments, potential problems and related information necessary for effective management. 

• Performs related work as apparent or assigned.
• Attends training as directed by GNE.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting or Finance.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in financial management, some of which must be in private sector, covering a broad range of related activities.
• 3 years of management/supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with budgeting and forecasting.
• Knowledge of and experience in the costing of inventories.
• Knowledge of and experience with data processing. 
• Strong cash management / banking skills.
• Must exhibit strong leadership and sound decision-making qualities.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide variety of Company personnel and others.
• Intermediate knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office products-Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

• MBA, CPA, or CMA strongly preferred.
• Experience with employee training and development.
• Experience with Avalara sales tax software.