Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Controller is a strategic finance leader responsible for ensuring the financial integrity of Total Fire Protection while serving as a trusted business partner to operational leaders across the organization. This role combines traditional controllership responsibilities with commercial and operational finance leadership to help drive profitable growth, improve decision-making, and support TFP's long-term vision.

The Controller will oversee all accounting operations, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and compliance while partnering closely with leaders across Service, Installations, Sales, Procurement, and Core Operations to improve business performance.

Success in this role requires an individual who is equally comfortable partnering to close the books as they are sitting at the leadership table discussing margins, technician productivity, project performance, pricing strategy, and investment decisions.

This leader embraces TFP's mission of Embracing Relationships, While Keeping You Safe and Delivering First Class Service.

Primary Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Controllership

• Augment our current leadership by supporting all accounting functions including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll support, and Treasury.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close.
• Prepare financial statements and executive reporting packages.
• Maintain strong internal controls and GAAP compliance.
• Coordinate annual audits and tax support.
• Manage banking relationships and cash management activities.

Business Partnership

Serve as the financial partner to operational leaders by:

• Providing actionable financial insights that improve decision-making.
• Reviewing service line profitability and gross margin performance.
• Partnering with Sales on pricing and margin optimization.
• Supporting Project Management with project forecasting and financial performance.
• Developing KPI dashboards for field productivity, labor utilization, backlog, recurring revenue, and customer profitability.
• Identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency and profitability.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Partner on the annual budgeting process.
• Develop rolling forecasts.
• Perform variance analysis and communicate business drivers.
• Support strategic planning initiatives.
• Evaluate capital investment opportunities.
• Provide scenario modeling to support executive decision-making.

Cash Flow & Working Capital

• Optimize working capital.
• Improve billing accuracy and collections.
• Monitor cash flow forecasting.
• Collaborate with our AR team to improve Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
• Partner with Operations to accelerate project/services billing and collections.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Champion NetSuite optimization.
• Automate financial reporting and workflows.
• Improve accounting processes through technology and standardization.
• Support system implementations and business process improvements.

Leadership

• Lead and develop the Accounting function.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability.
• Foster collaboration across Finance and Core Operations.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and customer service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA 
• 8–12+ years of progressive accounting and finance leadership
• Experience within construction, field service, fire protection, mechanical contracting, or related industries strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting
• Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite strongly preferred)
• Advanced financial modeling and analytical capabilities
• Proven leadership experience managing accounting resources

Core Competencies

• Business Partnership
• Commercial Acumen
• Financial Planning & Analysis
• Operational Finance
• Accounting & Controllership
• Cash Flow Management
• Process Improvement
• Executive Communication
• Leadership
• Continuous Improvement

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12 months, the Controller will have established Finance as a proactive business partner by delivering timely insights that improve operational performance, strengthening financial discipline, enhancing NetSuite reporting, improving cash flow, and equipping leaders with meaningful metrics to make better business decisions. This individual will help transform Finance from a transactional support function into a strategic contributor to Total Fire Protection's continued growth.

Think you have what it takes to be a Total Fire Protection team member?  Apply to be a part of this dynamic organization!

Total Fire Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by Federal or State law or local ordinance.