Controller

A top client is hiring an experienced Controller in Raleigh, NC. As the Controller, you are the senior finance and accounting leader responsible for building a disciplined, scalable finance operation in a fast-growing, private equity-backed, multi-entity, project-based services environment. This is a high-visibility, hands-on leadership role that blends technical accounting expertise with operational execution, systems modernization, and change leadership. Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, strong cross-functional influence, and a pragmatic approach to building structure in a rapidly evolving organization.

A core mandate is creating capacity through automation, ERP optimization, and AI-enabled workflows, while maintaining strong controls, audit trails, and data integrity.

As the Controller, your responsibilities include:

Finance Operating Model & Shared Services

• Own weekly and monthly operating cadence: cash, close, working capital, KPIs, and issue escalation
• Build standard work, checklists, service levels, and clear ownership across entities and locations
• Establish shared services discipline that scales across organic growth and acquisitions

Cash & Treasury Management

• Own 13-week cash forecasting, variance analysis, and working capital reporting
• Govern bank accounts, access controls, signer authority, and reconciliations
• Implement payment controls and fraud prevention (dual approvals, positive pay, vendor verification)

Order-to-Cash (Billing, AR, Collections)

• Ensure accurate billing tied to project/job economics
• Own AR and collections cadence, dispute resolution, and escalation
• Maintain customer master data controls and revenue cutoff discipline (ASC 606 as applicable)

Procure-to-Pay (AP, Purchasing, T&E)

• Implement purchasing controls, approval matrices, and value-added 3-way match
• Own vendor onboarding, AP workflows, payment runs, and spend visibility reporting

Close, Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Own the close calendar, journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement accuracy
• Manage intercompany accounting, consolidations, and month-end review packages
• Support technical accounting, policy documentation, and external audit execution

Internal Controls & Risk Management

• Design and implement internal controls with a SOX-ready mindset
• Own policy documentation, testing, exception tracking, and remediation
• Strengthen access controls and segregation of duties across ERP, banking, and expense systems

Systems, Automation & AI

• Lead finance systems administration and continuous improvement (NetSuite or similar ERP)
• Automate close, AP/AR, reconciliations, approvals, and reporting
• Implement AI-enabled use cases (coding support, anomaly detection, invoice validation) with proper controls

Acquisition Accounting & Integration

• Own the accounting integration playbook for acquisitions
• Coordinate purchase accounting and ensure clean handoff to ongoing reporting
• Standardize chart of accounts, policies, and reporting across acquired entities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team through clear expectations and accountability
• Redesign roles and workflows to improve efficiency and elevate performance

To be successful in the role, you must possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience; 3+ years leading teams
• Proven ownership of close in a multi-entity, PE-backed, or high-growth environment
• Experience in project-based, field-service, construction, or services businesses with job costing
• Strong cash flow and working capital management experience
• Demonstrated success in improving close timelines, controls, and reporting quality
• ERP leadership experience (NetSuite preferred) with a strong automation mindset
• CPA preferred (or equivalent technical accounting expertise)

If you feel that you are a strong fit for this role, please apply today!