The posting
We are seeking a Controller (REMOTE) for one of our amazing Private Equity partners. You will work remotely but will be required to travel to meet with clients at times. Must live in the Eastern or Central time zone with ready access to commercial air travel. This role is remote, but you MUST be living in the United States and be a US Citizen or Green Card Holder. This role does NOT offer sponsorship, it's NOT a consulting role, and we do NOT work with 3rd parties!
Overview:
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Controller to work for a middle-market private equity firm that specializes in investing in founder-led and family-owned businesses across a range of stages, including control (majority ownership) and non-control investments in businesses. You will work with their portfolio companies that typically have a $5-$40 million target revenue and $1-$4 million target EBITDA. These portfolio companies span across sectors such as business services, consumer products, healthcare, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution.
You will step into newly acquired businesses and help quickly build, stabilize, and improve their accounting functions. This is not a traditional Controller role. You will work across multiple businesses and industries, typically joining a company around the time of an acquisition and serving as the interim Controller for approximately 90 days. Your focus will be to create a reliable accounting foundation, improve processes and systems, address technical accounting issues, and successfully transition the function to a permanent Controller.
This role provides the opportunity to work across a variety of businesses and industries rather than remaining in one company long term. You will have the chance to make an immediate impact, solve meaningful problems, build stronger accounting foundations, and move on to new challenges. It can also provide significant exposure to operating leadership and potential opportunities for continued growth into broader finance and operational roles. This is a highly hands-on role where you should be willing to roll up your sleeves. You will be creating structure and process in ambiguous or fast-changing environments. You should be comfortable walking into unfamiliar situations and quickly determining what needs to be done. If you enjoy variety, thrive in fast-paced environments, and like solving problems, building structure, and making an immediate impact, this could be a great opportunity.
Responsibilities:
- You will take a hands-on approach to stabilizing and managing the accounting function during a critical period of transition.
- Step into an interim Controller role before or immediately following an acquisition.
- Assess the current accounting environment, systems, processes, controls, and team capabilities.
- Take ownership of the general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and supporting schedules.
- Identify and resolve historical accounting, reporting, and classification issues.
- Convert cash-basis accounting environments to accrual or GAAP accounting when needed.
- Establish reliable accounting processes, close procedures, controls, and reporting routines.
- Evaluate and improve charts of accounts, entity structures, and management reporting.
- Lead or support accounting system and ERP cleanup, implementation, migration, and integration projects.
- Partner with external auditors, advisors, and other key stakeholders.
- Assess accounting personnel and identify hiring, training, or development needs.
- Support the search and evaluation process for a permanent Controller.
- Onboard, train, and transition responsibilities to the permanent Controller.
- Complete the assignment once the accounting function is stable and the new Controller is fully prepared to take ownership.
- After a successful transition, you will move on to support the next business or acquisition.
Requirements:
- 7–10 years of progressive accounting and controllership experience.
- Strong hands-on experience with general ledger management, month-end close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and internal controls.
- Experience stabilizing or improving accounting functions in growing, changing, or underdeveloped environments.
- Experience converting businesses from cash-basis accounting to accrual or GAAP accounting.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge and sound judgment.
- Experience with ERP or accounting system implementations, migrations, cleanup, or integrations.
- Experience with platforms such as Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar cloud-based systems.
- Strong understanding of accounting policies, revenue recognition, AP/AR, treasury, balance sheet reconciliations, and audit support.
- Experience evaluating accounting teams, improving processes, and training employees.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Experience working with private equity-backed, founder-led, or lower middle-market businesses is a plus.
- CPA or Master's degree in Accounting is preferred but not required.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
