Controller

Controller Location: Salt Lake City, UT – on-site Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire Target Start: Q3 2026 Compensation: $130,000 – $160,000 + bonus About this position FreshPure Waters (National Water Services, LLC) is a TowerBrook Capital Partners‑backed company that operates bulk filtered water vending machines in major grocery retailers across the United States, including Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, and regional independents. FreshPure is in an active growth phase. This is a ground‑floor opportunity to build the finance function during a period of commercial expansion, ERP transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and PE‑sponsored value creation. The Controller will be the first dedicated accounting leader in the company and will build the function in direct partnership with the CFO, leveraging the foundation established by the existing accounting team. Opportunity This role is for a Controller who wants real ownership. You will own the close, external audit coordination, the chart of accounts, inventory accounting, and the financial reporting that goes to TowerBrook and the lender. You will also lead the finance work‑stream for the Business Central implementation and ensure the system is built to produce accurate, auditable financial information from day one. This is not a maintenance role. It is a build role. What You Will Own Financial Close and Reporting Own the month‑end close process — journal entries, accruals, prepaid amortization, depreciation, inventory adjustments, and intercompany eliminations. Prepare monthly financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) for CFO review and board presentation. Maintain and enforce the chart of accounts — GL structure, coding discipline, and proper transaction classification. Prepare the quarterly lender package for the company's senior lender and support the CFO on covenant compliance calculations. Build and run the close calendar. The expectation is a consistent 5–7 business day close by the end of year one. Inventory Accounting Own the inventory sub‑ledger in QuickBooks (and Business Central post‑migration) – bill of materials integrity, build order accounting, WIP tracking, and finished goods costing. Reconcile the inventory balance sheet account to the inventory valuation report every month. Investigate variances, resolve root causes, and keep the sub‑ledger clean. Partner with Production and Purchasing to enforce inventory SOPs and ensure receiving, transfers, and build orders are processed correctly and on time. Own the capitalization process for installed units – ensure every unit that moves from finished goods to a retail location is properly capitalized as a fixed asset. Audit and Compliance Be the primary management contact for the external audit and own the PBC process. Audit support needs to be timely, complete, and well‑documented. Manage preparation of supporting schedules – PP&E roll‑forward, lease roll‑forward (ASC 842), accrued expenses detail, equity roll‑forward. Own the internal controls framework, document key controls, maintain appropriate segregation of duties, and support ongoing enhancement of audit readiness and control effectiveness. Coordinate with external tax advisors on the tax provision, deferred taxes, and compliance deliverables requiring management input. ERP Implementation – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Serve as the finance lead on the Business Central implementation in partnership with RSM and a dedicated ERP PM. Own the configuration of the BC finance module – chart of accounts, dimensions, posting groups, period close setup, and financial reporting structures. Own the data migration of trial balance, open AP/AR, fixed asset sub‑ledger, and inventory from QuickBooks to Business Central. Lead the parallel close – run QuickBooks and Business Central simultaneously for at least one period before cutover to validate data integrity. Team and Process Development Directly supervise and partner with the Accounting Operations Manager – a long‑tenured team member with deep institutional knowledge of FreshPure’s operations, financial processes, and systems. Build and document the month‑end close checklist, internal control documentation, and accounting policy manual. Be a real thought partner to the CFO. Push back when something is wrong, have a view on technical accounting questions, and contribute to the broader finance agenda. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance. CPA strongly preferred. 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with at least 2 years in a Controller or Assistant Controller role. Experience in a PE‑backed or growth‑stage company. You understand sponsor expectations, lender reporting, and the pace that comes with both. Inventory accounting experience in manufacturing, distribution, or another product‑based environment where cost accounting, WIP tracking, and BOM management are important operational disciplines. Audit experience. You have served as the primary management contact for an external audit and know how to manage the process without supervision. QuickBooks Enterprise experience with responsibility for closing the books and producing financial statements; ability to improve process reliability and support a successful transition to a more scalable ERP environment. Strong Excel skills – you build reconciliation workbooks and financial schedules, not just consume them. Strongly Preferred Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central experience – you have implemented it or worked in it. This is a meaningful differentiator. Experience with significant fixed assets and unit‑level cost tracking – retail rollouts, equipment‑as‑a‑service, or similar models. Experience building or rebuilding a finance function – you have been the first or second accounting hire in a company and you know what that means operationally. Familiarity with ASC 842 lease accounting and purchase price allocation in a PE‑sponsored acquisition context. Who Thrives in This Role You know how to bring order, discipline, and repeatability to a developing accounting environment. You communicate clearly with non‑finance people – operations, purchasing, production. You can explain why the accounting process matters without making people feel audited. You are organized and consistent. The close happens the same way every month. The audit deliverables go out on time. You have a point of view and the judgment to defend it. If something is wrong, you say so and back it up with the accounting. You build trust with operators. The Accounting Operations Manager has deep institutional knowledge at FreshPure – you will learn from her, not over her. Compensation and Team Base Salary: $130,000 – $160,000 Bonus: Performance‑based annual bonus 401(k): Competitive 401(k) Equity: Not included in this role Your immediate team: a Senior Staff Accountant (hire in progress), and an Accounting Operations Manager with significant tenure at FreshPure. Equal Opportunity Statement FreshPure Waters is an equal opportunity employer. Contact: View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr National Water Services