Position Summary
The Controller leads Thermochem's accounting and financial-reporting functions and is responsible for the integrity of the general ledger, timely GAAP financial statements, cash management, budgeting, project and cost accounting, and internal controls. This hands-on leadership role oversees accounting operations, works collaboratively with accounting and operational staff, supports the annual financial-statement audit, and leads the finance function's transition from M1 to QuickBooks.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Reporting and General Ledger
- Lead the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, period cutoff, and general-ledger review.
- Prepare timely GAAP financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, departmental reporting, and supporting schedules.
- Maintain the chart of accounts and supporting records for fixed assets, depreciation, prepaid expenses, accruals, and other balance-sheet accounts.
- Investigate unusual or aged balances, resolve accounting issues, and maintain complete documentation and an appropriate audit trail.
- Prepare management explanations of significant budget, forecast, departmental, and period-over-period variances.
Accounting Operations
- Provide oversight and accounting guidance for accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, collections, payroll, and related period-end activity, working collaboratively with accounting staff.
- Review A/R and A/P aging, payroll reports, significant collection or vendor matters, and other operating-account reconciliations; resolve exceptions and report significant matters to management.
- Oversee bank and credit-card transaction processing and reconciliations, including matching downloaded activity to existing transactions, properly coding new items, and preventing duplicate entries.
- Establish effective approval, review, system-access, and segregation-of-duties controls and provide training and support as processes change.
QuickBooks Migration and Financial Systems
- Lead the finance function's transition from M1 to QuickBooks in collaboration with management, accounting staff, purchasing, and implementation resources.
- Oversee system design, data conversion, opening-balance validation, workflow development, testing, reconciliation, documentation, training, and user access.
- Preserve access to required historical M1 records and improve financial-system processes and reporting following implementation.
Audit, Tax, and Compliance
- Serve as the primary company contact for the annual external financial-statement audit and coordinate schedules, support, financial-statement disclosures, and resolution of audit questions.
- Coordinate with outside tax advisors and provide information for federal, state, and local income tax returns and other required filings.
- Coordinate annual tax-residency certifications, treaty documentation, and other international tax-compliance requirements to minimize foreign withholding and protect the company's ability to recover amounts withheld by foreign customers or taxing authorities.
- Ensure timely sales and use tax filings and maintain accounting records in accordance with company policy, contractual requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
Cash Management, Planning, and Analysis
- Manage daily cash activity and prepare short- and medium-term cash-flow forecasts.
- Lead the annual budget and periodic forecast processes and monitor actual results against budget and forecasts.
- Support banking relationships, insurance renewals, and financial information requests from banks, insurers, government agencies, and other authorized parties.
Project, Cost, and Inventory Accounting
- Maintain project and cost-accounting processes, including labor and other costs by project, purchasing activity, inventory, work in process, and project-margin reporting.
- Review project and inventory information for completeness, accuracy, valuation, and appropriate financial reporting.
- Review the financial and accounting terms of customer and vendor contracts, including billing schedules, payment terms, tax treatment, and revenue- and cost-recognition implications; coordinate legal questions with management or outside counsel.
Leadership and Corporate Responsibilities
- Develop, document, implement, and improve accounting policies, procedures, workflows, and internal controls.
- Lead the administrative onboarding of new employees in coordination with the company's external HR consulting firm, including required documentation, payroll and benefits setup, system access, and coordination with appropriate internal personnel.
- Communicate financial results and significant accounting matters clearly to the President, executive team, Board of Directors, external advisors, and Company’s corporate owners in Fukuoka, Japan.
- If appointed Company Treasurer, participate in quarterly Board meetings and perform authorized treasury responsibilities in accordance with corporate resolutions and company policies.
Education and Experience
- Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
- Possession of a bachelor’s degree in Finance or Acccounting firm from an accredited college or university.
- Seven or more years of progressive accounting experience, including financial reporting, general ledger, closing, accounting leadership, and external audit support.
- Experience with manufacturing, engineering, project-based, or similar cost-accounting environments preferred.
- Experience implementing or converting accounting systems strongly preferred; QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Enterprise experience preferred.
- CPA or equivalent advanced accounting qualification preferred but not required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, inventory, project accounting, cost accounting, and internal controls.
- Strong analytical and reconciliation skills, including the ability to resolve incomplete or inconsistent accounting records and explain conclusions clearly.
- Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with accounting and financial-reporting systems.
- Comfort using basic artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, to troubleshoot accounting and system issues, research potential solutions, improve documentation, and increase efficiency while independently validating results and protecting confidential company information.
- Strong problem-solving, documentation, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet reporting and audit deadlines.
- Professional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and the ability to lead and collaborate effectively.
Working and Physical Conditions
The position may be office-based or remote, depending on the location and qualifications of the selected candidate and the needs of the company. The role involves extended periods of sitting and repetitive use of a keyboard and computer. Regular and reliable attendance and availability during agreed working hours are required in accordance with company policy. The employee may be asked to perform other related duties consistent with the role and as directed by the President.
Pay: $105,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Santa Rosa, CA 95403
