Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Finance Controller

💰 $130,000 - $195,000

FinanceAccountingCorporate LeadershipFinancial Management

🎯 Role Definition

As the Finance Controller, you will be the cornerstone of our company's financial health and integrity. You will be responsible for the full spectrum of accounting operations, from leading the monthly close process to producing insightful financial reports and ensuring robust internal controls. This is a high-visibility role that partners closely with executive leadership, department heads, and external auditors. This role requires a proactive leader who can not only manage the day-to-day but also strategically scale our financial infrastructure to support future growth. You will be instrumental in safeguarding company assets and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Accounting Manager
  • Senior Accountant
  • Assistant Controller

Advancement To:

  • Director of Finance
  • VP of Finance
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Lateral Moves:

  • Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
  • Corporate Treasurer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Oversee the complete and timely execution of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial closing procedures, ensuring all journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules are accurate.
  • Prepare and present comprehensive financial statements and reporting packages for executive leadership and the Board of Directors, ensuring compliance with US GAAP and/or IFRS standards.
  • Manage all aspects of the general ledger, including chart of accounts maintenance, detailed account reconciliations, and flux analysis to explain period-over-period variances.
  • Direct and supervise all transactional accounting functions, including accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), payroll, and fixed asset management, to ensure operational efficiency and accuracy.
  • Lead the annual external audit process, acting as the primary point of contact for auditors, preparing PBC (Prepared by Client) schedules, and resolving audit inquiries.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a robust system of internal controls and financial policies to ensure the safeguarding of company assets and compliance with SOX requirements.
  • Spearhead the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes in collaboration with the FP&A team and department heads, providing critical analysis of performance against targets.
  • Manage corporate cash flow and treasury functions, including cash forecasting, banking relationships, and optimizing working capital.
  • Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings, coordinating with external tax advisors.
  • Analyze complex accounting transactions and technical accounting issues, preparing memos to document treatment and conclusions.
  • Drive continuous process improvement and automation initiatives within the accounting and finance department to enhance efficiency and scalability.
  • Provide strong leadership and mentorship to the accounting team, fostering a culture of high performance, professional development, and collaboration.
  • Partner with legal and other departments to ensure compliance with debt covenants and other contractual financial obligations.
  • Manage the company's equity administration platform and related accounting for stock-based compensation (ASC 718).
  • Oversee revenue recognition processes (ASC 606), ensuring accurate reporting and compliance for complex contracts.
  • Support strategic initiatives, including M&A activities, by conducting financial due diligence and leading post-acquisition integration of accounting functions.
  • Act as the primary administrator for the company's ERP system (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle), ensuring data integrity and optimizing system functionality for financial processes.
  • Develop and monitor key financial and operational metrics (KPIs), providing insightful analysis to guide business strategy and operational decisions.
  • Manage state sales and use tax compliance, including registrations, reporting, and responding to notices from various jurisdictions.
  • Prepare and review consolidated financial statements for multiple entities, including handling intercompany transactions and foreign currency translations.
  • Assess the financial impact of new business ventures, product lines, or operational changes, providing data-driven recommendations to leadership.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the executive team and department heads with ad-hoc financial analysis, special projects, and data-driven inquiries to inform strategic decision-making.
  • Assist the FP&A team in building complex financial models to support long-range planning, scenario analysis, and investment decisions.
  • Participate in the selection and implementation of new financial systems and tools to enhance reporting capabilities and operational efficiency.
  • Provide financial training and guidance to non-finance managers to improve financial literacy and accountability across the organization.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expertise in US GAAP/IFRS: Deep understanding and practical application of accounting principles for accurate financial reporting.
  • Financial Reporting & Consolidation: Proven ability to prepare and consolidate complex financial statements for multiple entities.
  • ERP System Proficiency: Hands-on experience with major ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel: Mastery of advanced functions, pivot tables, and financial modeling for analysis and reporting.
  • Internal Controls (SOX): Experience designing, implementing, and testing internal controls in a SOX-compliant environment.
  • Budgeting & Forecasting: Skill in leading the budget creation process and developing accurate financial forecasts.
  • Technical Accounting Research: Ability to research, interpret, and document positions on complex accounting issues (e.g., ASC 606, ASC 842).

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Team Management: Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team.
  • Strategic & Critical Thinking: Capacity to see the bigger picture, analyze situations, and make sound, data-driven decisions.
  • Exceptional Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
  • Impeccable Attention to Detail: A commitment to accuracy and precision in all financial data and reporting.
  • Integrity and Ethics: Unwavering commitment to professional ethics and protecting confidential information.
  • Problem-Solving & Proactivity: A proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues before they become significant problems.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Master's in Accounting/Finance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8-12+ years of progressive accounting experience.

Preferred: A combination of experience in public accounting (Big 4 preferred) and a corporate accounting environment. Active CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license is strongly preferred. Experience in a high-growth or publicly traded company is a significant plus.

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