Controller

Experienced Controller

Specialty Industrial Manufacturing

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Salt Creek Capital is acquiring a specialty industrial manufacturing business (the “Company”) headquartered in the Douglasville, Georgia area, an Atlanta suburb, with closing expected in June 2026. The Company holds the dominant position in its niche with no comparable domestic competition in its core market segment. It has a long operating history, generates strong free cash flow with low capital intensity, and serves a diversified base of more than 100 active customer accounts across North America.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Controller will own the full finance and accounting function of a lean, high-performing manufacturing operation, including the general ledger, AR/AP, month-end close, financial reporting, tax, insurance, banking relationships, annual audit, and internal controls. This is a hands-on operating role, not a reporting role. The team is small, and the Controller will be expected to be in the details while serving as a key strategic partner to the CEO and PE ownership group.

The right candidate will be comfortable translating operational performance into financial insight, with a goal of supporting the team to drive EBITDA growth (including managing the Company’s established value-based pricing methodologies and developing new value-based pricing initiatives). Experience with working capital-intensive, U.S.-based manufacturing businesses is essential.

The Controller reports directly to the CEO, with a dotted line to the PE ownership group, and will serve as a core member of the leadership team alongside the VP Sales, VP Operations, and Plant Manager. This is a rare opportunity to join a profitable, growing niche manufacturer at an inflection point and drive direct impact on financial and operating outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Leadership, Management & Value-Based Pricing

• Serve as a core member of the senior leadership team, participating in decisions on strategy, operations, and value creation execution alongside the CEO, VP Sales, VP Operations, and Plant Manager
• Own all finance and accounting activities, including financial reporting, forecasting, strategic planning, investor relations, banking relationships, tax, HR, insurance, and regulatory compliance
• Deliver timely, accurate analysis of financial performance, variance to plan, and business trends to the CEO and PE ownership group
• Represent the Company to financial partners, including lenders, ownership, external accountants, tax professionals, and insurance providers
• Directly supervise the Controller and accounting staff; oversee all external finance, tax, and audit relationships
• Oversee the Company’s long-established value-based pricing methodologies; work with the CEO, board, and management team to create and implement new value-enhancing programs

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Own the annual budgeting process and monthly/quarterly forecasting cycle; develop and maintain the management reporting package used by the CEO and board
• Prepare and present board meeting financial materials; lead all investor and lender financial reviews
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis supporting capital investment decisions, pricing analysis, commodity exposure, and contract negotiations
• Track and report core operating KPIs, including EBITDA per pound, fabrication margin, working capital turns, and volume by customer segment

Working Capital & Treasury

• Manage day-to-day working capital and cash flow in a commodity-intensive business where input costs are priced daily and inventory timing creates meaningful P&L volatility
• Oversee AR, AP, bank reconciliations, and revolver utilization; actively manage vendor payment timing against customer collections cadence
• Monitor and maintain compliance with all debt covenants; serve as the primary contact for capital providers; prioritize prudent debt repayment to strengthen the balance sheet

Controls & Compliance

• Develop, implement, and enforce accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls appropriate for a PE-backed manufacturing business
• Ensure GAAP compliance and timely filing of all federal, state, local, and sales tax returns; coordinate with external reviewers and tax preparers
• Evaluate and lead the upgrade of the current GL system (Sage 50) as a near-term priority post-close

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; CPA strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with meaningful time in working capital-intensive, U.S.-based manufacturing or industrial businesses
• Prior experience in a PE-backed company strongly preferred; demonstrated comfort with lender reporting, covenant compliance, and board-level financial communication

Skills & Competencies

• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills; experience with Sage 50 or comparable SMB accounting platforms a plus
• Proven ability to manage a commodity-driven P&L and translate operational performance into financial insight
• High integrity and strong work ethic; comfortable in a lean team where the Controller is expected to be in the details and on-site daily
• Clear, direct communicator, equally effective with plant floor personnel and the PE ownership group
• Sound judgment under uncertainty; able to make and defend decisions based on incomplete information in a fast-moving environment
• Discretion in managing confidential information, particularly in connection with lender and investor interactions