A PE-backed specialty manufacturer entering its next chapter of growth. They need a Controller who isn't just closing books. They need someone to build the financial infrastructure that this company will scale on.
This role reports directly to the CEO. You'll have full ownership of the financial function on a 2-person team, working alongside a remote bookkeeper. Ownership is everything. If you want a seat at the table, where your analysis actually moves decisions, this is it. Management must be able to rely fully on the accuracy of the numbers. That starts and ends with you.
This is a fully remote role. Travel to the company site will be covered for initial onboarding and discrete project needs.
What You'll Own
Financial Reporting & Strategic Insight
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual financials - GAAP-compliant, accurate, on time
- Variance analysis (Subledger vs. GL) with sharp, narrative-driven commentary for the CEO. You flag anomalies before anyone has to ask
- Automate and streamline monthly financial reporting - review P&L and balance sheet trends month-over-month, identify what doesn't look right, and own the root cause
- Maintain a 13-week cash flow forecast to keep working capital ahead of operational needs
- Proactively identify trends, flag risks, and bring data-backed recommendations to leadership - this is not a passive reporting role
Cost Accounting & Inventory
- Own and continuously improve the standard costing system - materials, labor, overhead
- Update standard costs and review manufacturing variances on a regular cadence
- Lead physical inventory counts and maintain tight GL reconciliation
- Drive product margin analysis to support pricing strategy and cost reduction initiatives
Operations & Controls
- Own AP, AR, and Payroll - keeping daily operations clean and well-controlled
- Build and enforce internal controls that protect company assets and support PE reporting requirements
- Primary liaison for external auditors and tax advisors
- Own line of credit and senior term loan reporting, including covenant reports to the bank
Budgeting & Cash Management
- Lead the annual budget cycle and rolling forecasts across all departments
- Monitor and forecast cash flow to keep working capital ahead of operational needs
Infrastructure & Team Building
- Manage one direct report - your job is to develop them, not just delegate to them
- Build the financial systems and processes this company will scale on as it grows
- Champion smart adoption of AI tools and analytics to make the finance function faster and more insightful
What We're Looking For
The Non-Negotiables
- 8+ years of accounting experience, including at least 2-3 years in a manufacturing environment
- Sage 100 experience required - hands-on, day-to-day system ownership, not peripheral exposure.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
- Excel fluency is a hard requirement: Advanced Excel - we mean it. Pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, SUMIF/SUMIFS, complex nested formulas
- Financial modeling, variance reporting, and multi-sheet workbook management
- Ability to build reporting tools and templates from scratch without relying on canned reports
- Someone who brings insights to the table, not just reports - the CEO wants a thought partner
- CPA License required
Strong Pluses
- PE-backed company experience - you understand the reporting cadence and what that environment demands
- Experience building or formalizing financial infrastructure from the ground up
- Comfort with and curiosity about AI tools and how they can be applied to finance and operations
- Proven ability to lead and develop a small team
Why This Role
A PE-backed specialty manufacturer entering its next chapter of growth - with a veteran-founded PE firm actively investing, a leadership team that knows where it's going, and a fiercely loyal customer base built over decades. The person who takes this role will have real influence, real visibility, and the opportunity to build something that lasts.