Controller (Elk Grove Village)

Role Description

You will own the accuracy, discipline, and day to day leadership of Stern Pinball’s accounting

function. Reporting to the CFO, you will ensure the books close on time, financial statements can

be trusted, inventory and product costs are accurate, controls protect the company, and leaders

understand what the numbers mean.

This is a hands-on finance leadership role for someone who can move comfortably between the

general ledger and the factory floor. Every Stern game combines thousands of parts, specialized

labor, licensed content, hardware, software, and global supply chain activity. The right Controller

will turn that complexity into reliable information and practical actions that improve margin, working

capital, forecasting, and execution.

What you will own

Close and financial reporting . Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including

journal entries, account reconciliations, analytical review, issue resolution, and clear management

commentary. Prepare timely and accurate financial statements in accordance with US GAAP and

company policy.

Accounting operations. Maintain the chart of accounts, general ledger, accounting policies, and

supporting schedules for cash, working capital, fixed assets, leases, debt, and other key accounts.

Provide disciplined oversight across accounts payable, accounts receivable, and related

accounting operations.

Product costing . Maintain a dependable First-In First-Out (FIFO) system for materials. Maintain or

improve accounting policies to calculate actual labor rates and allocations of overhead, freight,

duties, and other landed cost components. Partner with Engineering, Operations, and Supply

Chain to improve the financial accuracy of BOMs, labor standards, and production transactions.

Manufacturing performance . Analyze material price and usage, labor efficiency and rate,

overhead absorption, scrap, rework, and other production variances. Explain the operational and

financial drivers and help leaders assign practical corrective actions.

Inventory accuracy and risk. Oversee accounting for raw materials, work in process, and finished

goods, including cycle counts, annual physical inventory, reconciliations, adjustments, and root

cause follow through. Maintain appropriate reserves and controls for excess, slow moving,

obsolete, and damaged.

Controls, audit, and technical accounting. Design, document, test, and continuously improve

internal controls that safeguard assets and improve financial accuracy. Serve as the primary

accounting contact for external auditors, own PBC schedules, resolve technical accounting

questions, and ensure recommendations are completed.

Tax, compliance, and risk. Coordinate income, sales and use, and other tax matters with external

specialists. Ensure compliance with banking covenants, contractual requirements, and applicable

reporting obligations while supporting insurance, treasury controls, and fraud prevention.

Planning, cash, and working capital. Partner with the CFO and FP&A resources on budgets,

forecasts, long range planning, and analysis of actual results versus plan. Monitor cash flow,

receivables, payables, inventory, and other working capital drivers and recommend practical

improvements.

Capital and strategic support . Support financial due diligence for acquisitions, integrations, and

other strategic initiatives as needed.

Systems, data, and process improvement. Maintain strong ERP governance and accounting

data integrity, particularly for inventory, costing, and master data. Use automation, dashboards,

business intelligence, workflow improvements, and practical AI tools in accordance with company

policy to reduce manual work and improve decision quality.

Team leadership and business partnership . Set clear expectations, coach performance,

strengthen technical capability, cross train key responsibilities, and create appropriate backup

coverage. Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Sales, HR, and executive

leadership to turn financial information into operating action.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive accounting experience, including significant responsibility for

close, financial reporting, internal controls, audit, and tax compliance.

• Meaningful Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership experience, including

direct management and development of an accounting team.

• Hands on manufacturing accounting experience, including FIFO costing, inventory valuation, cost

of goods sold, and material, labor, and overhead variance analysis.

• Strong command of US GAAP and the ability to research and document technical accounting conclusions.
• Experience leading external audits, strengthening internal controls, and coordinating tax compliance with internal and external specialists.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong experience working in a manufacturing focused ERP environment.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, sales, and executive leaders.
• High integrity, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with Infor VISUAL or another manufacturing focused ERP platform.
• CPA and/or public accounting experience.
• Experience with multi-channel or global product businesses, including landed costs, duties, tariffs, or foreign transactions.
• Experience with sales and use tax compliance, including through Avalara or similar service providers.
• Experience with reporting automation, business intelligence tools, or finance transformation.
• Acquisition due diligence and post close integration experience.
• A genuine interest in pinball, gaming, entertainment products, or leading finance inside a complex product company.

Pay range-$160,000-180,000