Corporate Controller - New Orleans

Purpose of the job:

Hoist & Crane Service Group is seeking an experienced Corporate Controller to serve as the senior accounting leader of a $150M revenue, private equity-backed industrial services business operating across 30 branch locations. Reporting directly to the CFO and partnering closely with the FP&A Manager, the Corporate Controller owns the integrity of the general ledger, the monthly close process, financial reporting, internal controls, multi-state sales tax compliance, and all audit activity. This role leads a team of eight across general accounting, AP, AR, and payroll, and will play a central role in an active technology transformation agenda spanning sales tax automation, AP and AR workflow automation, and treasury management. This is a hands-on leadership role for an operator who takes pride in clean books, disciplined controls, and building scalable systems.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Financial Close & Reporting
• Own the monthly close process end-to-end with a target of Business Day 12; oversee journal entries, account reconciliations, intercompany eliminations, and the close checklist across the team.
• Produce accurate, GAAP-compliant financial statements each period - income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement - and deliver to the CFO on schedule.
• Partner with the FP&A Manager to ensure actual results are accurately loaded and explainable in management reporting packages delivered to the PE sponsor.
• Maintain the integrity and organization of the general ledger; enforce consistent chart of accounts and cost center discipline across all 30 branch locations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements and filing deadlines.

Multi-State Sales Tax Compliance
• Own sales tax compliance across all 30 branch locations, spanning multiple states and jurisdictions; ensure accurate, timely filing of all returns.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of a sales tax automation platform (e.g., Avalara, Vertex) to replace manual processes and scale with the branch footprint.
• Manage nexus determinations, exemption certificate administration, and taxability analysis for services and equipment; stay current on legislative changes across active jurisdictions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for sales tax audits; coordinate with external advisors as needed.
• Partner with operations and sales teams to ensure proper tax treatment is applied at the point of billing across all locations.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement
• Design, document, and maintain a robust internal control environment that safeguards company assets and ensures policy compliance across a 30-branch operating structure.
• Establish and enforce month-end close checklists, standard operating procedures, and accounting policy documentation.
• Continuously evaluate accounting processes; identify and drive improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability as the business grows.
• Drive a culture of financial accountability and control-consciousness throughout the organization.

Technology Transformation
• Champion and project-manage the automation initiatives currently underway: sales tax, AP workflow automation, AR automation, and treasury management system implementation.
• Define requirements, manage vendor relationships, coordinate with IT, and drive adoption across the finance team and impacted business units.
• Identify additional opportunities to leverage technology to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and scale the accounting function without proportional headcount growth.
• Evaluate and enhance the ERP environment to better support a multi-location, multi-entity structure.

Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Oversight
• Oversee the AP function (2 clerks): ensure timely and accurate vendor invoice processing, payment runs, and vendor reconciliations; enforce proper approval workflows and segregation of duties; lead the transition to AP automation.
• Oversee the AR function (2 clerks): monitor customer billing, collections activity, DSO trends, and aging across all branches; lead the transition to AR automation and ensure revenue is recorded accurately and timely.
• Provide weekly AR/AP visibility to the FP&A Manager to support cash flow forecasting and working capital planning
Payroll Oversight.
• Provide oversight and direction to the Payroll Manager; ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations across 30 locations.
• Review and approve payroll journal entries and reconciliations; ensure payroll-related liabilities are properly accrued and reported on the balance sheet.
• Partner with HR on compensation changes, new hire onboarding, and benefits accounting to ensure accurate and timely recording.

Cash & Treasury Management
• Manage daily cash positioning and produce weekly cash flow forecasts to ensure adequate liquidity for operations and capital needs.
• Lead the implementation of a treasury management system to automate cash visibility, bank reconciliations, and intercompany funding across the branch network.
• Coordinate with the FP&A Manager on working capital targets and cash flow planning.

Audit, Tax & External Compliance
• Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors during annual audits and interim reviews; coordinate all deliverables and ensure timely, clean completion.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors; oversee income tax compliance across all jurisdictions and coordinate on tax strategy as directed by the CFO.
• Ensure timely filing of all income tax returns, sales/use tax returns, and other statutory obligations.

M&A & Transaction Support
• Support financial due diligence for add-on acquisitions, including preparation of supporting schedules and coordination of financial data requests.
• Lead accounting integration of acquired entities, including chart of accounts alignment, ERP and sales tax system onboarding, and opening balance sheet review.
• Assist the CFO with exit preparation activities, including normalization adjustments and data room financial file organization.

Team Leadership & Developmen t
• Lead, develop, and retain a team of 8 accounting professionals across senior accounting, staff accounting, AP, AR, and payroll; set clear expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and create professional growth opportunities.
• Serve as a player-coach where needed - willing to get hands-on with complex reconciliations, technical accounting issues, or system implementation work while maintaining strategic oversight of the team.
• Foster a culture of urgency, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the accounting function.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or relevant field.
2. 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
3. Prior experience managing a multi-function accounting team spanning general accounting, AP, AR, and/or payroll.
4. Demonstrated experience with multi-state sales tax compliance; working knowledge of nexus rules, exemption certificates, and multi-jurisdiction filing obligations.
5. Thorough command of GAAP, financial reporting standards, and regulatory requirements.
6. Experience in a private equity-backed, sponsor-owned, or similarly performance-driven business environment.
7. Demonstrated ability to manage a disciplined monthly close process and produce timely, accurate financial statements.
8. Strong knowledge of internal controls design and implementation in a multi-location environment.
9. Proven leadership and team-building skills with a track record of developing accounting professionals at multiple levels.
10. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with mid-market ERP platforms (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics).
11. Excellent communication skills; able to present financial information clearly to the CFO, operational leadership, and external parties.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. CPA (active or inactive)
2. Public accounting experience (Big 4 or regional firm)
3. Hands-on experience implementing or managing a sales tax automation platform (e.g., Avalara, Vertex)
4. Experience leading or participating in finance technology implementations (AP automation, AR automation, treasury management systems)
5. Industry experience in field services, industrial services, or equipment; familiarity with job costing and service revenue recognition
6. Experience supporting M&A financial due diligence or post-acquisition accounting integration
7. Experience working alongside a dedicated FP&A function with clearly defined swim lanes
8. MBA or Master's in Accounting or Finance

The qualified candidate will be able to pass drug, alcohol, background, and motor vehicle check.