Controller

Location: In-office, Downtown Denver (5 days per week) Reports To: Chief Financial Officer Base Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 Company Overview Culinova is a rapidly growing food manufacturer supplying leading national retailers. The company is approaching a significant capital raise, a major facility expansion, and increasing institutional investor involvement, with a potential IPO and future acquisition activity on the horizon. Position Summary Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller will lead the day-to-day accounting function and work in close partnership with the CFO to build the financial infrastructure required for the company's next phase of growth. The CFO is closely involved in the business and will serve as a hands-on partner on technical judgments, process design, and priorities. This position is well-suited for a controller or assistant controller looking for a more dynamic environment with greater scope, as well as for someone moving from public accounting into industry who wants real ownership from the start. You will run the monthly close and lead a team of five, and you will grow into the cost accounting, internal controls, and reporting work that becomes increasingly important as the company scales. We are looking for someone who is analytically strong, takes initiative, and is comfortable operating in a company that is still building its systems - the kind of person who identifies what needs to be fixed and takes it on. Responsibilities will expand meaningfully over time. Key Responsibilities Monthly Close and Reporting Own the monthly close, including review and approval of team deliverables Oversee AP, AR, general ledger, bank reconciliations, and journal entry review Ensure proper period cutoff, accruals, and expense matching Prepare accurate and timely financial statements Draft footnote disclosures and contribute to management's discussion and analysis, working with the CFO on presentation and narrative Support an increasing reporting cadence and depth of disclosure as the company matures Customer Billing, Deductions, and Trade Spend Own the customer billing process, ensuring accurate invoicing against retail pricing, terms, and program agreements Investigate and resolve customer deductions, chargebacks, and short pays; pursue recovery of unsubstantiated claims Account for trade promotions, rebates, allowances, and credits, with proper accrual and period matching Build reporting that quantifies trade spend and its effect on net revenue and margin Cost Accounting and Inventory Develop and maintain inventory costing and standard costs, a primary driver of margin performance Build costing methodologies that reflect actual production, yield, waste, and labor Partner with operations, logistics, and payroll to understand cost drivers across the business Technical Accounting Fixed assets, including useful lives, depreciation policy, and capitalization decisions Lease classification and accounting; interest expense across multiple entities Revenue recognition, including variable consideration from customer programs Work with the CFO on convertible notes, cap table maintenance, and related analysis Internal Controls and Process Design Partner with the CFO to design and document controls across procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, treasury, and period close Develop written accounting policies and procedures Maintain audit readiness through organized documentation and well-supported schedules Audit and Tax Serve as primary contact for external auditors, managing the PBC list and fieldwork response Coordinate with tax advisors on federal and multi-state filings Team and Systems Lead, develop, and review the work of a five-person accounting team The company operates on NetSuite. NetSuite expertise is not required; the role calls for defining how processes should function and partnering with implementation consultants on design, testing, and validation Qualifications Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field CPA required Strong ERP experience, Netsuite experience preferred Controller-level experience, or comparable depth from public accounting Cost accounting or FP&A experience a plus Experience with retail customer billing, deduction resolution, and trade promotion accounting preferred Experience preparing or auditing financial statements and footnote disclosures Experience building accounting processes and internal controls, or strong interest in doing so Strong analytical ability and sound judgment, with a track record of solving problems independently Self-directed and comfortable with ambiguity; able to identify gaps and take ownership of solutions Genuine curiosity about manufacturing operations and their financial implications Ability to bring structure to a fast-paced, high-growth environment What We Offer Direct partnership with an experienced CFO at a significant inflection point for the company Exposure to capital raising, facility expansion, ERP development, and potential public company reporting A role designed to expand in scope and responsibility as the company grows Base salary of $150,000 to $180,000, commensurate with experience Performance bonus and equity participation Health, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off #J-18808-Ljbffr