Controller

Controller

EOE Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Description: Location Atkins, Arkansas (on-site) Reports to Chief Financial Officer Department Accounting & Finance Direct reports Accounting staff (AP, AR, payroll, cost/inventory) Employment Full-time, exempt

The Company: Cowell Steel Structures is a pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) manufacturer and custom steel fabricator based in Atkins, Arkansas. From two dedicated production facilities - a fabrication shop producing built-up structural (red iron) steel and a trim shop producing roll-formed panels, purlins, girts, and trim - the company engineers, manufactures, and ships complete building packages, moving roughly 14 million pounds of steel per year.

This is a hands-on manufacturing environment where accurate job costing, disciplined inventory control, and timely reporting directly drive the bottom line. We are seeking a Controller to own the accounting function, strengthen our financial and cost controls, and serve as a trusted right hand to the CFO and ownership.

Position Summary

The Controller is responsible for the day-to-day accounting operations of the business and for the integrity of the company's financial records. Reporting to the CFO, this role leads the accounting team, owns the monthly close, and produces reliable, on-time financial statements and management reporting. Beyond the numbers, the Controller partners with operations to sharpen job costing, standard costs, and inventory accuracy across the fabrication and trim shops, and helps translate financial data into decisions that improve margin and cash flow.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial close & reporting - Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close; deliver accurate, timely financial statements and management reporting to the CFO and ownership.
• Job & project costing - Maintain and improve job-cost accounting across PEMB projects and fabrication work orders - tracking materials, labor, burden, and outside processing against estimates, and analyzing variances by job and shop.
• Inventory & cost control - Oversee perpetual inventory and standard costing for raw steel, coil, WIP, and finished goods; drive cycle counts, reconcile inventory to the GL, and investigate shrinkage and cost variances.
• Team leadership - Supervise and develop the accounting staff covering accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, payroll, and general ledger; set priorities, review work, and build bench strength.
• Cash & working capital - Manage cash, billing and collections, and vendor payment timing; support borrowing-base and lender reporting and help forecast working-capital needs.
• Controls & compliance - Establish, document, and enforce internal controls and accounting policies; safeguard company assets and ensure GAAP-consistent treatment across the ledger.
• Tax & external accountants - Coordinate sales-and-use tax, property tax, 1099s, and related filings; serve as the primary contact for external CPAs on the year-end review/compilation and tax preparation.
• Budgeting & analysis - Lead annual budgeting and periodic forecasts; build and maintain the reporting and KPI package the leadership team uses to run the business (margin by job, throughput, cost per pound, overhead absorption).
• Systems & process - Administer and improve the ERP/accounting system and its integration with production and estimating; champion better data, cleaner processes, and useful dashboards.
• Business partnering - Support the CFO on financing, capital-expenditure analysis, and special projects, and provide the analysis behind pricing, make-vs-buy, and investment decisions.

Position Requirements - Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance. 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including time as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior cost/plant accountant in a manufacturing environment. Strong command of manufacturing and cost accounting — job costing, standard costing, WIP, overhead absorption, and inventory control. Proven ownership of a full monthly close and preparation of GAAP financial statements. Experience supervising and developing an accounting team. Advanced Excel skills and hands-on experience with an integrated ERP/accounting system. Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to explain financial results to non-financial operators on the shop floor.

Preferred CPA or CMA. Experience in steel fabrication, PEMB / metal building manufacturing, or a comparable make-to-order / project-based industry. Familiarity with percentage-of-completion or project revenue recognition. Exposure to lender / borrowing-base reporting and closely-held or multi-entity ownership structures. Experience implementing or upgrading an ERP system.

What We Offer: A senior seat with real ownership of the accounting function and direct exposure to the CFO and owners of a growing, hands-on manufacturer. Competitive compensation commensurate with experience, a full benefits package, and the chance to modernize the financial backbone of an established Arkansas business.

Full-Time/Part-Time - Full-Time Shift - -not applicable- Position - Controller Location - Pottsville This position is currently accepting applications.