Assistant Controller

Assistant Controller

The Assistant Controller is a hands on leader that is responsible for the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for an accurate accounting and reporting of consolidated business results, and the integrity of the general ledger in accordance with GAAP. The Assistant Controller oversees the corporate accounting, accounts payable, and accounts receivable functions and coordinates with external auditors and tax professionals. This position is responsible for building a service-oriented team and related processes and internal controls to facilitate the flow of information, the timely processing of transactions and the resolution of discrepancies.

Other Required Responsibilities:

• Supervise central accounting functions, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger accounting, daily cash positioning, chart of accounts maintenance, financial statement maintenance
• Supervise month-end close for the corporate accounting functions and coordinate the overall month-end close process between farms, plants and cost-accounting teams.
• Review journal entries and various account reconciliations to facilitate the month end closing process, including bank reconciliations, intercompany accounts and other balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Enter, reconcile and troubleshoot data in the ERP system, research transactions and outages, test and implement additional functionality as directed.
• Compile and distribute financial statements as directed.
• Prepare periodic analysis of actual results, prior year actuals, comparisons to budget and any other analysis as requested.
• Provide financial and accounting support to other departments including analyses as requested; provide scheduled or ad hoc financial reporting appropriate to the audience.
• Ensure proper accounting and reporting of fixed asset activities; lead cost segregation projects.
• Coordinate lease and other loan activities, including compliance reporting, and reimbursements and payments.
• Lead the design and implementation of internal controls and improvement of processes across the central accounting function.
• Stays current on new accounting principles and general trends in financial reporting.
• Assess and support the Company's implementation of new accounting pronouncements.
• Ensure that the corporate accounting staff consists of people with sufficient and appropriate talent; assess staffing needs; hire, train and develop staff; allocate workload; set appropriate deadlines for completion of work.
• Lead, direct and manage staff; execute performance evaluations; meet regularly with team members to discuss challenges and opportunities, career goals and objectives, and developmental needs and desires; possess full authority for personnel actions in compliance with HR policies.
• Document, maintain and monitor adherence to accounting policies / standard operating procedures.
• Communicate as appropriate with other departments when policies, procedures or requests for information change.
• Serve as lead on annual audit process; coordinate with external auditors and tax professionals.
• Lead preparation of tax return deliverables and review prior to filing
• Serve as primary payment approver on bank platforms for daily ACH proposals and outbound wire transfers across all entities; arrange and document back-up approver coverage during planned absences in accordance with segregation-of-duties controls.
• Own and publish the monthly corporate close calendar; monitor task completion, escalate variances, and administer the company's close-cycle automation platform (e.g., FloQast), including configuration, reviewer assignments, and reconciliation mapping.
• Coordinate the multi-entity close (parent and subsidiary entities), including sub-ledger close, intercompany activity, and execution and reconciliation of the year-end trial-balance roll-forward in the ERP.
• Prepare and distribute monthly operational reporting to internal stakeholders, including accounts receivable aging with commentary and sales-allowance / customer-reserve detail.
• Oversee state and local indirect tax compliance, including sales and use tax, privilege tax, and business license renewals; partner with external tax advisors on multi-state filings.
• Administer the corporate credit-card program, including coding review, fraud-loss treatment, and reconciliation to the general ledger.
• Maintain vendor master integrity; review and approve vendor additions, payment terms, and changes; resolve duplicate or related-party vendor records.
• Partner with Human Resources to draft and maintain accounting role job descriptions and to support recruiting for the central accounting function.
• Develop and track annual team goals and continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., vendor ACH conversion, reporting clean-up, system implementations); maintain a prioritized project portfolio for the accounting team.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance with at least 10 or more years of demonstrated success in accounting roles of increasing responsibility, or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years supervisory/leadership experience stemming from progressive experience in a hands on accounting environment.
• Extensive knowledge of US GAAP with experience in preparation of financial accounting statements and notes.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, and proficiency with other Microsoft applications such as Word and PowerPoint.
• Process-oriented organizational skills and attention to detail and accuracy with self-review of work performed.
• Ability to effectively multi-task, prioritize work, and establish and execute plans to meet tight deadlines for self and team.
• Ability to work independently and make appropriate decisions.
• Good communicator – clear and concise, appropriate to circumstances, targeted to the relevant audience; ability to interact professionally with all levels of the organization.
• Strong team player and highly collaborative.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems; experience with Infor M3, Great Plains and Concur a plus.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to sit/stand and focus for extended periods of time in front of a computer screen and/or while utilizing various office equipment (calculators, copy machines, etc.). Available for regular scheduled travel to remote facilities via automobile or airline.