Position Summary
The Corporate Controller owns the integrity of 1915 South's financial records across all legal entities. The role runs the accounting operation end to end: general ledger, month-end and year-end close, all reconciliations, technical accounting, internal controls, and AP/AR process.
This is a build role as much as a stewardship role. 1915 South has recently migrated its general ledger, restructured its class and cost-center reporting, and is integrating an acquisition. The Controller is expected to establish the control environment, documentation, and close discipline a company of this size and complexity requires. The Controller partners closely with FP&A and reports directly to the Chief Finance & Strategy Officer.
Key Responsibilities
Close and General Ledger
- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close calendar; drive close to deadline across all legal entities.
- Own multi-entity consolidation and the class and cost-center structure; maintain the chart of accounts and enforce consistent coding.
- Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, prepaids, and depreciation with support that will stand up to audit.
Reconciliations and Internal Controls
- Own the balance-sheet review process: every material account reconciled and tied out monthly, general ledger to subledger, bank, and third-party source.
- Establish and operate a documented bank reconciliation control covering all accounts.
- Own the monthly reconciliation of the customer deposit subledger to the general ledger.
- Establish and maintain internal controls over cash, inventory, and the procure-to-pay and order-to-cash cycles, including a documented delegation of authority.
Technical Accounting
- Own lease accounting under ASC 842, including the schedule and the related-party lease population.
- Own the fixed-asset register and depreciation, maintained in the ledger rather than reconstructed at audit.
- Own recurring estimates and reserves: inventory reserve, allowance for credit losses, self-insurance IBNR, and goodwill triggering-event assessment. Document the methodology for each.
- Own related-party and intercompany account maintenance and the supporting disclosure detail.
Financial Reporting
- Produce monthly financial statements with variance analysis for leadership review.
- Supply tied-out inputs for lender compliance reporting and covenant certificates; label every figure by reporting basis and never blend bases without disclosure.
- Serve as the primary liaison to the external audit and tax firms and own the audit request process.
Team and Systems
- Lead, train, and develop the accounting team including the offshore desk; set priorities, review work, and own the first-level review that establishes segregation of duties.
- Serve as the accounting owner for STORIS (retail ERP) and QuickBooks Enterprise; own the integrity of the STORIS-to-ledger flow and partner with the AI and Enterprise Systems team on automation.
- Write and maintain documented procedures for every accounting cycle, and build cross-coverage so no critical recurring task depends on one person.
Performance Measures
1. Days to close: monthly close complete and reviewed within the published close calendar; reviewed monthly.
2. Balance-sheet integrity: material accounts reconciled and cleared within the close window, with no aged unexplained items; reviewed monthly.
3. Audit remediation: findings closed against plan; reviewed quarterly with the CFSO and the Board.
4. Audit outcome: no material audit adjustments proposed by the external firm; reviewed annually.
5. Function capability: a documented procedure in place for every cycle and cross-coverage for every critical recurring task; reviewed quarterly.
Required Qualifications
Education
Required: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and an active CPA license. Preferred: Master's in Accounting or MBA.
Experience
Required: 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting audit experience and multi-entity month-end close and consolidation. Required: prior experience leading and developing an accounting team.
Preferred: retail, distribution, or multi-location operating experience; experience standing up or remediating an internal control environment; a mid-market retail ERP and QuickBooks Enterprise; lender covenant reporting; and directing offshore or outsourced accounting resources.
Key Competencies
- Ownership and follow-through; closes the loop without being chased.
- Sound judgment on technical accounting matters, with documentation that supports the position taken.
- Builds repeatable, written process; leaves the function stronger than found.
- Clear communication with non-accountants, lenders, auditors, and the Board.
- Comfort operating in a company that is actively building; improves the system while running it.
- Discretion with confidential financial and compensation information.
Physical and Work Environment Requirements
Standard office environment. Full-time, on-site at the Support Office. Extended hours as required around close, audit, and lender reporting deadlines. Occasional travel to store, distribution, and corporate locations.
