Job Title: Controller
Job Type: 1099 Contract-to-Hire
Initial Engagement: Approximately 2–3 months contract to Hire
Potential Conversion: Full-time W-2 Controller after the initial consulting period, subject to performance, mutual agreement, business needs, and completion of standard employment requirements
Location: [Northbrook, IL]
Duration: 2–3 months initially, with potential W-2 conversion
Position Summary
The Controller will be responsible for leading the client's day-to-day accounting operations and strengthening financial systems, controls, reporting, and processes to support continued business growth.
This is a hands-on leadership position working closely with the CFO and other cross-functional leaders. The selected candidate will oversee the monthly close, financial reporting, cost and inventory accounting, compliance, internal controls, and accounting team development.
The ideal candidate should have strong U.S. GAAP, manufacturing accounting, cost accounting, inventory accounting, financial reporting, and accounting leadership experience.
Key Responsibilities
Accounting Operations & Financial Close
- Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
- Manage journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, consolidations, and variance analysis.
- Maintain accurate books and records in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
- Establish and maintain an efficient close calendar.
- Oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, cash management, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and General Ledger activities.
Financial Reporting & Planning
- Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reports.
- Prepare cash-flow forecasts and operating analyses.
- Partner with the CFO on annual budgeting and periodic forecasting.
- Support working-capital planning and financial performance analysis.
- Translate financial results into meaningful business insights and recommendations.
Manufacturing, Cost & Inventory Accounting
- Manage product costing and standard costing.
- Analyze purchase-price and manufacturing variances.
- Manage overhead allocations and gross-margin analysis.
- Partner with Operations and Production teams on inventory controls.
- Oversee cycle counts, physical inventory procedures, inventory reserves, and reconciliations.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings and margin improvement.
Internal Controls, Compliance & Audit
- Design, document, and maintain effective internal controls.
- Establish accounting policies and approval workflows.
- Maintain appropriate segregation of duties.
- Work closely with external accounting firms and auditors.
- Coordinate annual financial statement audits and prepare supporting schedules/documentation.
- Coordinate tax filings, insurance reviews, banking requirements, and external advisors.
- Ensure compliance with accounting, tax, payroll, and regulatory requirements.
Systems, Process Improvement & Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop a small accounting/finance team.
- Improve accounting workflows, reporting processes, and data integrity.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes through technology and automation.
- Support ERP/MRP implementation, migration, optimization, or integration initiatives.
- Serve as the finance/accounting owner for system controls and reporting.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive accounting or financial management experience.
- Strong experience managing financial close and financial reporting.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP.
- Experience with financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and account reconciliations.
- Experience in manufacturing, medical products, consumer products, or another inventory-intensive environment.
- Strong experience with cost accounting and inventory accounting.
- Experience with product costing, standard costs, manufacturing variances, and gross-margin analysis is highly preferred.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing accounting/finance professionals.
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience working with external auditors, tax professionals, banks, and business consultants.
- Experience overseeing or supporting payroll processes.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA or CMA certification is preferred.
- Hands-on experience with NetSuite or a comparable ERP system.
- Experience with ERP/MRP implementation, migration, or optimization.
- Experience with EDI integrations.
- Retail accounting experience, including deductions, reconciliations, adjustments, and chargebacks.
Ideal Candidate Background
The ideal candidate would typically have experience as a:
- Controller
- Financial Controller
- Corporate Controller
- Manufacturing Controller
- Plant Controller
- Assistant Controller
- Accounting Manager
- Senior Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Director of Finance & Accounting
- Cost Accounting Manager
Candidates with strong manufacturing + cost accounting + inventory accounting + Controller-level experience will be given strong consideration.
Contract-to-Hire Structure
The selected candidate will initially join as an independent 1099 consultant for approximately 2–3 months. Following the consulting period, the client anticipates transitioning the individual to a full-time W-2 Controller position, subject to satisfactory performance, mutual agreement, business needs, and completion of the company's standard employment requirements.
Please note that the anticipated W-2 conversion is not a guarantee of employment.
Next Steps
If you are interested in this opportunity, please send me your updated resume along with the following information:
- Current Location:
- Total Years of Experience:
- Manufacturing Experience:
- Controller/Accounting Leadership Experience:
- Cost & Inventory Accounting Experience:
- ERP/NetSuite Experience:
- CPA/CMA:
- Current/Expected Rate:
- Work Authorization:
- Availability to Start:
- Best Phone Number:
- Best Time to Reach You:
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding the position.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Sameer Kumar
[email protected]
Pay: $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
