Controller

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Company Overview

ATX Specialty Foods is a fast-growing, premier producer of high-quality dips, sauces, and condiments. We serve a diversified portfolio of retail branded, foodservice, and private label offerings. Our team partners with exceptional food companies to deliver full-service operational solutions. We believe great food stems from passion, premium ingredients, and great people.

Reports to: CFO (currently the CEO, serving as acting CFO)

Position Summary

ATX Specialty Foods is in the final phase of implementing Aptean Food & Beverage ERP, built on Microsoft Dynamics, with a go-live date of January 1, 2027. We are seeking a hands-on, systems-minded Controller to own the financial data within the new ERP and to build the disciplined, scalable accounting processes that will support our next phase of growth.

The core design and configuration work is largely complete. The Controller will play a key role in the final implementation and setup — validating the financial configuration, reconciling migrated data, and executing cutover and go-live — and will then become the long-term owner of financial data integrity in the system. From there, the role owns day-to-day accounting operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, cost and inventory accounting, the period-end close, and core financial reporting.

This is a hands-on, individual-contributor role. You will work largely independently, so you must be a self-starter who takes ownership, sets your own priorities, and knows when to escalate. You will work closely with our Business Systems Manager, who leads ERP administration, and with our Operations team on purchasing, inventory, production, and costing. The role functionally reports to the CFO, a function currently held by our CEO.

Core Responsibilities

ERP Financial Data Ownership & Implementation

This is the most critical part of the role.

• Serve as the finance owner of the ERP: accountable for the accuracy and integrity of all financial data, financial setup, and financial reporting in the system.
• Validate and finalize the financial configuration in partnership with the Business Systems Manager and implementation partner, including chart of accounts, dimensions, posting groups, fiscal calendar (13 four-week periods on a 52/53-week year), and bank and payment setup.
• Participate in user acceptance testing for all finance-related processes, including procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, inventory, production, and costing transactions.
• Own the financial data migration and cutover: reconcile opening balances, open AR and AP, inventory quantities and valuation, and fixed assets to the legacy system, and sign off on financial readiness for go-live.
• Lead finance through post-go-live stabilization: identify and resolve posting errors, integration issues, and data defects quickly.
• Establish and maintain master data standards for customers, vendors, items, and cost data, with clear ownership and approval controls.
• Design and maintain financial controls within the system, including approval workflows, user permissions and segregation of duties, and period locking.
• Build financial reports and dashboards within the ERP and related reporting tools to replace spreadsheet-based reporting.
• Develop SOPs and documentation for all ERP-related financial processes, and train users whose work affects financial results.
• Serve as the ongoing finance subject matter expert for the ERP and drive continuous improvement, reducing manual workarounds and spreadsheet reliance through automation.

Cost Accounting & Inventory

• Maintain accurate item costing for ingredients, packaging, labor, and overhead; partner with Operations to ensure formulas, bills of material, and routings reflect true cost.
• Reconcile inventory to the general ledger; support cycle counts and physical inventories; maintain reserves for slow-moving, expired, or obsolete inventory.
• Analyze and report production variances (yield, material usage, labor, and purchase price), and explain the drivers to leadership.
• Account for customer-owned ingredients and packaging separately from company-owned inventory.
• Provide accurate cost data and margin analysis by customer and SKU to support pricing and quoting decisions.

Accounting Operations & Financial Oversight

Accounts Payable

• Process vendor invoices accurately and timely.
• Perform 3-way match (PO, receipt, invoice).
• Manage vendor records and resolve discrepancies.
• Execute scheduled payment runs (ACH, wire, check).
• Reconcile AP subledger to the general ledger and maintain 1099 reporting.

Accounts Receivable

• Generate and distribute accurate customer invoices.
• Apply cash receipts and reconcile customer accounts.
• Monitor aging reports and proactively follow up on past-due balances.
• Research and resolve billing discrepancies, customer deductions, and short pays promptly.
• Maintain accurate AR reporting and documentation.

General Accounting & Financial Management

• Prepare and post journal entries and accruals.
• Record biweekly payroll entries and reconcile payroll liabilities.
• Perform account reconciliations and variance analysis each period.
• Manage fixed assets, depreciation, and specialized accounting entries.
• Maintain daily cash visibility and support the rolling cash forecast.
• Support budgeting and forecasting with accurate, timely actuals.
• Support compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Partner with our outsourced accounting firm and external tax advisors.
• Prepare financial covenant compliance certificates and lender reporting.

Period-End & Year-End Close

• Own and manage a structured close process for each of our 13 four-week periods, as well as quarter-end and year-end.
• Ensure all transactions are recorded accurately and completely within each reporting period.
• Prepare and review reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts.
• Review revenue recognition, accruals, prepaid expenses, inventory adjustments, and fixed asset activity.
• Deliver accurate and timely financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow).
• Identify and resolve discrepancies prior to reporting.
• Continuously improve close timelines, targeting a 5-business-day close.
• Ensure strong internal controls and documentation supporting all period-end entries.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Opening balances (GL, AR, AP, inventory, and fixed assets) reconciled to the legacy system with no unexplained variances at go-live.
• First period close in the new ERP completed within 10 business days; close cycle at or below 5 business days by the end of fiscal 2027.
• No open critical finance-related system issues 90 days after go-live.
• Financial statements issued accurately and on schedule each period, with no material post-close adjustments.
• Inventory book-to-physical variance within agreed tolerance at each count.
• Invoice processing accuracy rate of 98% or higher.
• Vendor payment accuracy of 99% or higher.
• 90%+ of receivables collected within agreed payment terms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting role.
• Hands-on experience working in Microsoft Dynamics (Dynamics 365 Business Central, NAV, GP, or Finance & Operations).
• Direct ERP implementation experience — data migration, testing, and go-live — strongly preferred.
• Manufacturing accounting experience, including inventory, cost accounting, and COGS.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and AP, AR, and general ledger processes.
• Demonstrated experience owning the period-end close and preparing financial statements.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong comfort with ERP reporting tools.
• Proven self-starter who works independently with minimal oversight and takes full ownership of outcomes.
• Strong communicator who works effectively with non-finance partners in operations and systems.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or CMA.
• Experience with Aptean Food & Beverage ERP.
• Food and beverage, CPG, or contract manufacturing experience.
• Experience with lot-tracked inventory and recipe/formula-based costing.
• Experience preparing lender covenant reporting.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Based on-site at our manufacturing facility in Kyle, Texas.
• Primarily office-based, with regular time on the production floor and in warehouse areas for inventory counts and work with Operations.
• Must follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements when in production areas.
• Production areas may involve noise, cold storage temperatures, and exposure to common food allergens.
• Extended periods of computer work; occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• Additional hours expected around go-live, period-end, and year-end close.