Assistant Controller

Employment Type Full-Time; Hybrid (3 Days/Week In-Office-Northbrook, IL) POSITION SUMMARY The Assistant Controller is a hands on operational leader responsible for overseeing the day-to-day accounting functions and ensuring the integrity of the company’s financial records. This role reports directly to the Director of Finance, there is no Controller layer making it a high-visibility position with meaningful ownership and a clear pathway to grow into the Controller role over time. For the right candidate, this is an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate leadership, build toward Controller-level responsibilities, and be developed with that trajectory in mind. This person is the owner of the monthly close process, financial reporting, and accounting compliance, including full ownership of inventory and cost accounting. The Assistant Controller partners closely with the Director of Finance on budgeting, audits, and process improvement, and serves as a key operational leader ensuring continuity and accuracy across all accounting activities. This is a hybrid role, working 3 days per week in our Northbrook, IL office. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Accounting Operations & Close Responsible for the full month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close process to ensure completeness and accuracy Own all Cost Accounting and inventory accounting for the company, including maintenance and update of Bills of Materials (BOMs) in the accounting system; serve as the primary accounting owner for all inventory-related activity across the business Own the full inventory accounting cycle, including monthly, quarterly, and year-end inventory reconciliations; interface directly with the Operations team on receiving, three-way match, purchase price variances, and inventory accuracy; investigate and resolve discrepancies between copacker files and internal system records in a timely manner Ensure all journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules are prepared and completed on timely basis Ensure all financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and are ready for Director of Finance review Own the balance sheet reconciliation process covering prepaids, fixed assets, accruals etc. Reporting & Analysis Review monthly Revenue, COGS, and Gross Margin reporting packages prior to management presentation Prepare various schedules and analysis to support P&L variances Provide customer-level profitability analysis and reporting to support the Sales team Assist the Director of Finance in budget preparation and forecasting activities Audit & Compliance Serve as the primary internal owner for the annual audit process, including coordination with external auditors, preparation of audit schedules and supporting documentation, and management of all audit requests and deliverables Maintain strong internal controls across accounting operations and proactively identify gaps or risks ahead of audit cycles Ensure all financial records and supporting schedules are audit-ready throughout the year, not just at year-end, and act as the point of contact for any regulatory or compliance-related inquiries QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance. CPA preferred. 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or lead role Strong knowledge of GAAP and experience managing month-end close processes Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems such as Quick Books and advanced Microsoft Excel skills Experience with AP, AR, payroll, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to meet strict deadlines Preferred Experience in CPG, food & beverage, manufacturing, or a product-based company Familiarity with trade promotion accounting, broker commissions, and deduction management Experience owning audit preparation, coordinating with external auditors, and managing audit deliverables end-to-end CORE COMPETENCIES Operational leader who can manage up and down with confidence and clarity Detail-oriented reviewer who holds the team to a high standard of accuracy Strong communicator who can translate accounting issues into clear action items Proactive problem-solver who surfaces issues before they elevate Collaborative team player who supports cross-functional goals and business needs Commitment to continuous improvement and building scalable accounting processes EMPLOYMENT OVERVIEW Competitive salary $110k-$130k Health, Dental, Vision, and phone allowance 401k plan with company match Competitive PTO policy + holidays Hybrid — 3 days/week in-office; office located in Northbrook, IL #J-18808-Ljbffr