Controller (Retail Industry Experience required)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Controller (Retail Industry Experience required) based in the United States.

This role offers the opportunity to provide strategic financial leadership to a portfolio of growing retail businesses. The Controller will act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, delivering insights that improve profitability, operational efficiency, and long-term performance. The position combines hands-on accounting expertise with strategic partnership, supporting full-cycle financial operations and business decision-making. Working remotely, the successful candidate will collaborate with small business leaders and employee-owners across multiple organizations. This is a high-impact role for a finance professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, improving processes, and creating measurable business value. The ideal candidate will bring retail accounting expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic entrepreneurial environment.

Accountabilities:: The Controller will oversee financial operations for a portfolio of retail businesses, providing accurate reporting, strategic recommendations, and operational support. This role requires a hands-on approach to accounting, financial analysis, process improvement, and partnership with leadership teams.

Key responsibilities include:

Serve as a financial advisor to multiple retail business leaders, providing insights tailored to operational goals and strategic priorities.

Apply retail and food service accounting expertise to support cost control, product margin analysis, vendor management, and inventory forecasting.

Translate financial data into clear recommendations that support business growth and informed decision-making.

Manage full-cycle accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, inventory accounting, revenue recognition, and payroll.

Lead month-end and year-end close processes, including reconciliations, accruals, fixed assets, and deferred revenue adjustments.

Oversee inventory accounting processes, ensuring accurate valuation and effective management of stock levels, waste, and shrinkage.

Maintain cash flow forecasting and provide recommendations to optimize working capital.

Prepare financial reports, dashboards, trial balances, and variance analyses to support leadership decisions.

Collaborate on budgeting, quarterly planning, financial forecasting, and long-term strategic initiatives.

Track and communicate key operational metrics, including cost percentages, labor trends, sales performance, and margin indicators.

Identify opportunities to improve accounting systems, reporting workflows, POS integrations, and operational processes.

Develop and strengthen internal controls and financial procedures within retail environments.

Support remote collaboration while managing multiple priorities independently.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate is a proactive finance professional with strong retail accounting experience and the ability to combine technical accounting skills with strategic business partnership. The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently, communicating with non-financial stakeholders, and improving financial processes in a fast-paced environment.

Required qualifications and skills include:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA certification preferred.

5+ years of experience in a Controller, Senior Accountant, or similar financial leadership role.

Proven experience supporting restaurant, food service, or retail accounting operations, preferably within multi-location environments.

Experience working with small to medium-sized businesses; fractional or outsourced accounting experience is a plus.

Strong knowledge of US GAAP and financial reporting principles.

Experience managing full accounting cycles, inventory accounting, financial closes, and operational reporting.

Proficiency with accounting and business tools such as QuickBooks Online, POS systems, ERP platforms, and Microsoft Excel.

Familiarity with reporting and consolidation tools such as OneStream is preferred.

Comfortable working remotely in a technology-driven and fast-moving environment.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly to business leaders and non-financial audiences.

Self-motivated mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results independently.

Benefits:

The organization provides benefits designed to support employee wellbeing, professional development, and meaningful impact, including:

Competitive salary package.

Fully remote work environment with occasional travel requirements.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer-paid coverage for employees and dependents on most plans.

Paid time off, including:

15 vacation days.

19 company holidays.

5 sick days.

1 floating holiday of choice.

Ongoing professional development through access to finance and accounting expertise.

Opportunity to support employee ownership and contribute to the success of small businesses.

Collaborative culture built around integrity, humility, and teamwork.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1