Assistant Controller

Assistant Controller – Multi-Entity Retail

Location: Washington DC metro region

Schedule: Hybrid

Compensation: $120,000-$140,000

Our client, a growing multi-location retail chain with locations across the Mid-Atlantic, is seeking an Assistant Controller to lead general ledger accounting and the monthly close across its operating entities. Reporting to the Controller, this leader will own the close calendar for each entity and deliver accurate, timely consolidated financials to the corporate finance team and ownership group. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in a high-volume, multi-site environment and wants to build scalable processes as the business grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close for each legal entity, managing the close calendar and checklist to meet reporting deadlines.
• Oversee the general ledger, including journal entries, accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, and depreciation.
• Review and approve balance sheet account reconciliations across all entities, including cash, inventory, and deposits-in-transit.
• Reconcile daily POS sales, tenders, and credit card settlements to bank deposits and the GL across store locations.
• Prepare the consolidated financial statements for the corporate ownership group, including intercompany eliminations and entity roll-ups.
• Manage intercompany transactions, allocations, and management fees across entities.
• Deliver store-level and entity-level P&Ls, along with variance analysis against budget and prior year.
• Support the Controller and CFO with board, lender, and ownership reporting packages.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls over cash handling, inventory, and financial reporting across multiple sites.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual audit or review, preparing schedules and coordinating with external auditors.
• Support sales and use tax, property tax, and other compliance filings across Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions.
• Partner with tax advisors on entity-level and consolidated tax provisions and filings.
• Supervise, train, and develop staff accountants and AP/AR personnel.
• Standardize the chart of accounts and accounting policies across entities.
• Drive automation and system improvements to shorten the close and improve data accuracy.
• Support integration of new openings, acquisitions, or new entities into the accounting structure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or senior role.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-site and/or multi-entity accounting, including consolidations and intercompany eliminations.
• Industry background in retail, food service/restaurants, or franchised operations.
• Familiarity with franchise accounting, such as royalty and marketing fund reporting, franchisee receivables, and franchise fee revenue recognition.
• Experience with store-level inventory accounting, cost of goods sold, and shrink analysis.
• Exposure to private equity or family-owned ownership structures and their reporting needs.
• Experience supporting growth through new locations or acquisitions.
• Proven ownership of a full month-end close and GL in a fast-paced, high-transaction-volume environment.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, large data sets).
• Track record of building or improving internal controls and close processes.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present results to senior leadership and ownership.
• Hands-on experience with commonly used mid-market platforms such as Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, or QuickBooks Enterprise; multi-entity consolidation functionality a plus.
• Experience integrating POS data with the GL from retail and restaurant systems such as Square, Toast, Clover, Lightspeed, NCR, or Oracle MICROS/Simphony.