Assistant Controller - McDonald Automotive

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are:

As a family owned and operated company for over 65 years, McDonald Automotive is proud to serve Colorado with a legacy built on respect, integrity, growth, hard work, and trust. With three generations actively involved in the day-to-day operations, we prioritize relationships over transactions—with our customers, our community, and our employees.

Our motto, Doing Right Comes Naturally, reflects our commitment to doing business the right way. This holds true with how we treat our customers, our partners, and our employees. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than required, and that commitment has earned recognition from our manufacturer partners, including the Volvo Excellence Award from Volvo Cars, the Magna Society Elite Award from Audi of America, and the President’s Club Award from Mazda North American Operations. We aim to deliver the best car buying, servicing, and ownership experience in the industry.

At McDonald Automotive, we believe exceptional experiences start with exceptional people. Many of our team members have spent decades with us, growing their careers and eventually retiring as part of the McDonald legacy. We’re proud to attract driven, motivated individuals who are passionate about their work and dedicated to building lasting relationships.

About the Role:

With 9 automotive brands across 13 rooftops, our centralized accounting team operates from our Volkswagen store on Broadway Avenue in Littleton, providing consistent financial oversight and operational support to every dealership in the group.

We are seeking an experienced Assistant Controller to oversee financial operations for an assigned portfolio of dealership locations and support the centralized accounting structure.

Reporting directly to the Senior Controller, this role serves as the primary operational liaison between the accounting office and dealership leadership, including Variable Operations Directors and Fixed Operations Managers. The Assistant Controller provides leadership and direction to two Brand Accounting Managers and a support team who manage daily accounting operations and execute month-end close processes for their respective stores / processes. This structure promotes clear accountability, operational consistency, and strong financial discipline across assigned locations.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 2–5+ years of dealership accounting experience required
• Experience as Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or Senior Accountant preferred
• Strong understanding of dealership financial statements and manufacturer reporting
• Demonstrated experience supervising accounting staff
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field preferred
• CPA or CPA-track is a plus, but not required

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Oversight:

• Supervise daily accounting processes for assigned dealership locations, including billing, payables, receivables, and deal posting.
• Review and approve general ledger entries to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain processing time standards and operational consistency across assigned stores.
• Provide backup coverage as needed to support continuity of operations.
• Serve as the primary liaison between dealership leadership and the accounting team for operational questions or escalations.

Month-End & Reporting:

• Manage and coordinate the month-end close process for assigned stores.
• Support consolidated reporting efforts and ensure timely submission to the Senior Controller.
• Collaborate with dealership leadership to interpret financial results and provide actionable insights, through balance sheet variances, expense analysis, and forecasting.

Leadership & Management:

• Lead and develop two Brand Accounting Managers, overseeing daily accounting operations and month-end execution across assigned stores.
• Provide coaching, performance management, and workflow guidance to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and accountability.
• Reinforce consistent application of company policies, accounting policies, internal controls, and reporting standards.
• Partner with Variable Operations Directors and Fixed Operations Managers to align financial operations with store performance.

System & Process Management:

• Oversee dealership accounting systems, ensuring proper general ledger configuration, accurate posting practices, and integration with manufacturer reporting requirements.
• Partner with HR, Payroll, and Accounting teams to ensure timely and accurate processing of compensation, pay plan updates, and related financial impacts.
• Identify and controls.
• Coordinate and support internal, external, manufacturer, and compliance audits as required.
• Ensure consistent documentation, workflow standards, and reporting timelines across assigned stores.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong general ledger and reconciliation expertise
• Advanced Excel proficiency; experience with Tekion, CDK, or other DMS preferred
• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving ability
• Deadline-driven, organized, and detail-oriented
• Professional communication skills, able to convey financial insights to operational leaders
• Ability to balance hands-on execution with operational oversight and strategic thinking

Disclaimer:

This position will remain open for at least three days and will close upon candidate selection.