Controller

McGuckin Hardware has been a cornerstone of the Boulder, Colorado community since its founding in 1955 by Bill McGuckin. Known for its dedication to personalized service, extensive selection, and hands‑on expertise, the store has grown significantly from its humble beginnings. Now occupying over 60,000 square feet of sales space, McGuckin Hardware offers over 200,000 items across 18 diverse departments such as Garden, Housewares, and Automotive. With a team of approximately 200 employees, McGuckin Hardware continues to uphold its tradition of exceptional service and community engagement. Role Description We are a well-established, privately held retail organization seeking a hands‑on Controller who combines strong technical accounting expertise with solid business acumen and operational judgement. This is a 32 hour a week position - 4 days in the office. This is a high‑impact role in a lean organization where the right candidate can grow into a future CFO position. You will work directly with ownership and play a meaningful role in financial strategy, operation performance, and long‑term planning. If you are seeking a narrowly defined corporate accounting role with layers of hierarchy, this is NOT that opportunity. If you want visibility, accountability, and the ability to influence real business decisions, we would like you to apply. Why this opportunity? This is a high‑visibility leadership position with direct access to ownership. The Controller will influence profitability, vendor strategy, inventory performance, capital decision, and long‑term planning. For the right individual, this role offers meaningful responsibility today and a clear path toward broader executive financial leadership. If you are an operator at heart and enjoy being deeply involved in the financial engine of a business, we encourage you to apply. The Controller serves as the senior financial leader of the organization and a strategic partner to ownership to drive growth and profitability while providing financial oversight. This position requires both hands‑on execution and the ability to think beyond the numbers. You will: Direct and oversee all accounting operations including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and inventory accounting Work as a member of the corporate management team providing financial and accounting support for analysis and planning of corporate activities Personally ensure the accuracy and timeliness of monthly financial statements Manage processes for financial forecasting, budgets, and reporting to the company Lead full‑cycle accounting operations (GL, AP, AR, payroll, inventory accounting) Maintain strong internal controls and GAAP compliance Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts Actively manage cash flow and working capital Provide detailed gross margin analysis by department/category Maintain in‑depth oversight of inventory management, including both physical inventory control processes and general ledger financial accuracy Partner with operations to improve inventory accuracy, reduce shrink, and optimize inventory turns Ensure alignment between physical inventory counts, cycle counts, POS systems, and financial reporting Provide actionable financial insight to improve profitability Negotiate and evaluate key vendor agreements, including employee insurance and benefit contracts Work directly with outside counsel in lease negotiations and contract review Provide strategic leadership and support financing discussions and capital investment decision Coordinate year‑end review and tax filings with external CPA Lead and develop a small accounting team This role requires someone who understand how inventory drives working capital, margin performance, and overall retail profitability – both operationally and on the balance sheet. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field 7-10+ years of progressive accounting experience with leadership responsibility Retail or multi‑location operation experience strongly preferred Demonstrated in‑depth knowledge of inventory management, including physical inventory controls and financial inventory accounting Experience in privately held or owner‑led businesses preferred Strong GAAP and internal control knowledge Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills Demonstrated business acumen and commercial awareness Most importantly, we are looking for someone who: Thinks like a business partner, not just an accountant Understanding inventory as both an operational asset and a financial driver Is comfortable engaging in vendor negotiations and contractual discussions Is hands‑on and detail‑oriented Takes ownership and follows through Has the maturity and ambition to grow into a CFO role #J-18808-Ljbffr