Controller

Our client is building one of the leading industrial automation platforms in North America. They help companies automate their facilities, improve productivity, and modernize operations through robotics, advanced control systems, machine vision, software, and end-to-end digital transformation solutions. If you have ever walked through a modern, high-tech manufacturing facility and seen robots assembling precision products, advanced camera arrays inspecting quality in real time, or automated packaging lines governed by intelligent software , our client is the organization that designs, programs, and integrates those solutions . What makes this organization uniquely compelling is its stage of growth. This is not a slow, stagnant industrial business. Our client is a rapidly scaling, highly acquisitive platform backed by a prominent private equity sponsor. Operating across critical, high-barrier end markets (including Food & Beverage, Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Semiconductors) the business operates with immense market tailwinds as North American manufacturers aggressively invest in robotics, AI-enabled automation, and digital modernization . The company's long-term strategy is heavily M&A-driven, targeting four to five acquisitions per year to unify a highly fragmented industry. They are currently organizing their regional business units into three major operating divisions: Discrete Robotics Automation, Process Controls, and Life Sciences. For an ambitious financial leader, this represents the rare opportunity to build a scaled infrastructure from the ground up and participate in a complete, high-value PE exit cycle. POSITION FUNCTION & SCOPE Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller will serve as a foundational financial leader within the organization. This is a hands‑on, build-from-scratch role tailored for a professional who thrives on creating order out of chaos rather than simply maintaining a legacy function. The successful candidate will lead the professionalization of the entire accounting organization—transitioning the company from a decentralized holding company model with localized bookkeeping to a centralized, institutional-grade financial reporting structure capable of supporting rapid, multi‑entity scale. The Controller will oversee day‑to‑day accounting operations across all business units, directly manage a localized team of approximately seven bookkeepers, and partner closely with the CFO and FP&A Manager to ensure absolute accuracy, compliance, and GAAP integrity. Crucially, this individual will serve as the primary financial anchor for the company's M&A engine; leading the post‑acquisition accounting integration workstream, managing NetSuite ERP migrations, and converting newly acquired business units from legacy cash‑basis bookkeeping to GAAP‑compliant, percentage‑of‑completion (POC) revenue recognition models. PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES Standardize Accounting Operations: Transition accounting workflows across all regional business units from ad-hoc processes into institutional, documented procedures with clear close checklists and internal controls. Accelerate the Close Cycle: Reimagine and optimize the monthly close process, driving current cycle times from 25 days down toward best‑in‑class PE benchmarks. Multi‑Entity Consolidation: Manage complex financial consolidations across a blending network of NetSuite and QuickBooks instances, executing corporate topside entries, intercompany eliminations, and accrual conversions. ERP Optimization & Advanced Tech Integration NetSuite Project Lead: Serve as the corporate migration lead and systems implementation project manager for all existing business units and incoming acquisitions. Automate Revenue Workflows: Lead data conversion from legacy platforms (like QuickBooks) to NetSuite, configuring process workflows and rolling out automated Percentage‑of‑Completion (POC) revenue recognition modules based on labor costs for fixed‑fee contracts. Enhance Visibility: Drive accounting tech‑stack improvements that increase granular reporting visibility, giving executive leadership and private equity partners deep operational insights. Lead Post‑Acquisition Workstreams: Command on‑site financial integration activities for newly acquired companies, guiding initial team alignments and process assessments. Build Repeatable Playbooks: Develop a scalable, repeatable post‑acquisition financial integration framework capable of absorbing four to five corporate deals per year. Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with the VP of Corporate Development, Integration Manager, and executive leadership to ensure seamless business integration. Team Development & Private Equity Partnership Organizational Design: Assess existing bookkeeping talent across business units; design the future‑state finance department, hire a corporate‑level Accounting Manager, and position the team to scale into divisional accounting structures. PE Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in weekly project check‑in calls with the private equity deal team; co‑lead Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) and package financial performance metrics for board presentation. CORE COMPETENCIES & QUALIFICATIONS Public Accounting Foundation: A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with an active CPA designation derived from a Big 4 or strong regional public accounting background before transitioning into a corporate setting. Technical Accounting Mastery: Expert‑level knowledge of U.S. GAAP with exceptional balance sheet skills, multi‑entity reconciliation expertise, and deep comfort navigating project accounting and Percentage‑of‑Completion (POC) metrics. NetSuite Architecture Fluency: Mandatory, hands‑on experience guiding an organization through a NetSuite ERP implementation, multi‑entity migration, or full‑scale optimization. The "Builder" Mindset: A proven track record of constructing accounting infrastructure, internal controls, and documentation from scratch within low‑structure, entrepreneurial, or startup environments. Pace Tolerance & Agility: Direct experience in smaller, growth‑oriented businesses ($20M–$150M) with the resilience and adaptability required to navigate a high‑velocity, private equity‑backed M&A environment. Executive Presence & Collaboration: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the professional confidence to influence cross‑functional business unit leaders, mentor a distributed accounting team, and present data‑driven strategies directly to the Board of Directors. #J-18808-Ljbffr