Financial Controller

PARTOW is seeking an experienced Fractional Controller based in NYC to own accounting from start to finish, including financial reporting, inventory accounting, cash flow, payroll, tax coordination, and monthly close, alongside HR administration.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can both set the standard for technical accounting and do the work themselves when needed. The Fractional Controller must be comfortable wearing multiple hats and personally handling day-to-day responsibilities while providing senior financial guidance.

Working directly with the founder and coordinating with external accounting and payroll providers, this person will maintain accurate financial records, strengthen processes, and provide clear information to support business decisions. The ideal candidate brings fashion industry experience, sound judgment, discretion, and the initiative to identify issues and follow them through to resolution.

With a strong commitment to ethical standards and confidentiality, you will handle multiple responsibilities, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Your ability to collaborate across departments and provide actionable financial insights will be essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Own the general ledger and record transactions accurately in QuickBooks Online, with appropriate classifications and supporting documentation.
• Maintain GAAP-compliant accounting and coordinate applicable financial reporting and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a 7–10 day monthly close cycle and reconcile all balance sheet accounts.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting.
• Explain significant variances and report on performance across wholesale, retail, and e-commerce, including entity-level and consolidated reporting where applicable.
• Maintain accurate revenue recognition, accruals, prepaid expenses, returns reserves, and cost of goods sold.
• Coordinate external audits and reviews, preparing supporting schedules and resolving questions through completion.

Accounts Payable, Receivable, and Sales Channels

• Personally manage A/P and A/R, maintaining detailed transaction histories by account and classification.
• Prepare vendor payments for the 1st and 15th of each month, including ACH and wires, according to approved payment priorities.
• Process credit card invoices, non-check payments, and bank statement items.
• Prepare weekly A/R and A/P reports for management.
• Follow up on outstanding receivables and resolve wholesale deductions, chargebacks, credits, disputed invoices, and payment discrepancies.
• Track deposits, vendor advances, and outstanding balances, ensuring payments are correctly applied.
• Manage e-commerce account administration and support customer service for e-commerce and wholesale clients, including billing, payments, refunds, and account issues.
• Reconcile Shopify and other sales-channel activity, including payouts, processing fees, refunds, gift cards, and store credits.
• Respond to vendors, customers, and business partners promptly and professionally.

Tax and Filing Coordination

• Maintain vendor W-9 records and prepare year-end 1099s.
• Prepare and submit sales tax reporting and payments according to applicable filing schedules.
• Coordinate sales tax registrations and multistate obligations with external tax advisors and providers.
• Serve as the primary contact for outside CPAs on business tax returns, extensions, and estimated payments.
• Prepare supporting records and maintain a calendar of tax filing and payment deadlines.

Inventory and Systems

• Reconcile ERP, warehouse, and Shopify inventory monthly, including raw materials, work in progress, and finished goods, to general ledger balances.
• Maintain accurate accounting, costing, invoicing, and billing within the ERP system.
• Prepare monthly inventory reporting for management.
• Maintain accurate inventory valuation and landed costs, including applicable freight and duties.
• Work closely with production and logistics to reconcile physical counts, returns, transfers, and inventory discrepancies.
• Review inventory aging
• Analyze gross margins by season, sales channel, and product category.
• Improve accounting workflows and system integrations to reduce manual work and increase accuracy.

Banking and Cash Flow

• Reconcile bank accounts and credit cards weekly.
• Maintain perpetual bank balance for reporting to management
• Maintain a dynamic cash flow forecast, updating it weekly with actual results and revised expectations.
• Incorporate seasonal production commitments, deposits, collections, payroll, taxes, and operating expenses into cash planning.
• Manage banking relationships and support credit facilities, lender reporting, and financing requests as applicable.

Payroll and HR Administration

• Process semi-monthly payroll through a third-party payroll provider.
• Verify timesheets, approved compensation changes, reimbursements, and deductions before processing.
• Review payroll tax filings and related requirements completed by the payroll provider.
• Reconcile payroll, taxes, and benefit deductions to the general ledger and resolve discrepancies.
• Manage HR records and administration, including onboarding, offboarding, payroll setup, employee documentation, and status changes.
• Maintain PTO and sick leave records.
• Coordinate benefits enrollment, termination, and renewals with providers and brokers.
• Track employment-related administrative deadlines, required notices, and insurance renewals with external providers and advisors.
• Maintain confidentiality and bring policy, employee relations, or legal questions to management and employment counsel as appropriate.

Management and Team Support

• Partner with the founder on budgets, forecasts, expense management, vendor negotiations, and financial analysis of business opportunities.
• Communicate financial information clearly and provide practical recommendations.
• Identify and monitor financial and operational risks.
• Collaborate across departments, particularly production and logistics.
• Take ownership of routine accounting and related administrative tasks alongside higher-level financial responsibilities.
• Communicate issues promptly, recommend solutions, and follow open items through to resolution.

Experience and Qualifications

• At least 7 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including Controller or equivalent senior accounting responsibility.
• Direct fashion or apparel experience, with an understanding of wholesale, retail, e-commerce, inventory costing, and seasonal production cycles.
• Demonstrated ability to personally manage monthly close, financial reporting, cash forecasting, and daily accounting work.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, sales tax, payroll administration, and tax coordination with external CPAs.
• Practical experience with HR administration, employee records, onboarding, and benefits coordination.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks and experience with ERP systems.
• Strong Excel, PowerPoint, and Word skills; experience with Shopify, payroll platforms, and warehouse integrations preferred.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organization, project management, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Clear verbal, written, and presentation skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
• Sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and ownership of work through completion.
• College degree or equivalent professional experience required; CPA preferred.
• Based in NYC, with availability for an agreed fractional schedule and appropriate coverage around payroll, monthly close, filing deadlines, and time-sensitive business needs.