A Controller directs and oversees the treasury of a government, private corporation or non-profit organization, and may oversee the investment of funds. Supervises the quality of accounting and financial reporting within an organization, and directs preparation of reports that show the financial position of an organization.
New York City Metro Area / New Jersey (minimum three days per week in office) | Confidential search About the Role We are a growing, private equity-backed professional services and advisory firm hiring a Controller, and we are hiring the role with succession in mind. The plan is for this person to grow into the CFO seat as the firm scales. In your first 18 to 24 months you will own the monthly close, lender and sponsor reporting, the billing function, and the accounting integration of firms we acquire. As those run well, the forecasting, pricing, and capital work shifts to you, and the title follows. The firm is growing both organically and through acquisition, and we are in the middle of rebuilding our systems and processes. You would be building financial infrastructure rather than maintaining it, with support from a team of hands-on CPAs who know the business well and will help you ramp. The role reports directly to the CEO / Managing Partner. The AR Specialist reports to you, along with accounting staff who join through acquisitions. What You'll Do Financial Reporting and Lender Relations Run the monthly close and consolidation across all entities, including adjusting entries, intercompany eliminations, and acquisition accounting Prepare the monthly reporting package (consolidated financial statements plus budget vs. actual) for leadership, the sponsor, and the board Calculate Adjusted EBITDA for lender and sponsor reporting, including management fee addbacks, one-time and non-recurring adjustments, and transaction cost normalization Prepare quarterly covenant compliance packages and borrowing base certificates, monitor liquidity, and maintain the 13-week cash flow model Lead the annual audit, prepare statutory financial statements under the firm's governing agreements, and serve as the main point of contact for the auditors Planning and Analysis Build the annual budget, forecasts, and long-range model, and present them to leadership and the board Analyze the numbers that drive a professional services firm: realization, utilization, margin by service line, pricing, and partner compensation Build dashboards and reporting in Excel and Power BI so operators can see their own numbers Acquisitions Support deals through diligence and closing, including quality of earnings responses, working capital targets and true-ups, opening balance sheets, and purchase price allocation Lead the accounting integration of acquired firms: move their billing and AP onto our platform, track acquired receivables, and train their staff on our policies and close calendar Billing and Accounting Operations Run the monthly billing cycle. This includes reviewing time entries, drafting the non-standard invoices that require judgment about the firm's billing arrangements, routing invoices for approval, and managing the AR Specialist who handles standard invoicing and collections Track WIP and unbilled AR, including aging and conversion to billing Oversee AR, AP, and multi-entity ledgers, and keep the books, workpapers, and supporting documentation audit-ready Tax Work with our outside tax advisors on partnership returns, K-1s, partner distributions, and state filings What Success Looks Like Six months in, the close runs on a set calendar and the covenant package goes out on time without heroics. By eighteen months, you own the forecast, acquired firms are integrating on a repeatable playbook, and leadership runs the business off your reporting. After that, you are in the room with the lenders and the sponsor, and the CFO conversation becomes formal. What We're Looking For 8 to 12 years of accounting and finance experience, including time as a Controller or Assistant Controller at a multi-entity, PE-backed, or professional services firm Active CPA license and a bachelor's degree in accounting Strong technical accounting, including GAAP, consolidations, and financial statement preparation, with the ability to research a position and document it Experience owning a budget or forecast, not just reporting the actuals Experience with an ERP implementation or migration, and with training a team on new systems. We are doing this now. Advanced Excel skills. This is a hands-on role, not an oversight role. Comfortable presenting financial information to partners, lenders, and board members, and answering their questions Nice to Have Purchase accounting and integration experience at an acquisitive company Partnership tax exposure (K-1s, distributions, multi-state apportionment) NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or a comparable ERP, and Power BI or similar reporting tools Professional services billing experience, including time and materials, WIP, and realization Compensation $185,000 to $215,000 base salary depending on experience, plus an annual performance bonus. As the role grows toward CFO, we expect compensation to grow with it. Benefits 401(k) with employer matching Medical, dental, and vision insurance Long-term disability insurance Paid time off and company holidays Professional development support
Location Hybrid:
New York City Metro Area / New Jersey with a minimum of three days per week in the office. This posting is confidential. Firm details will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process.
Pay:
$185,000.00 - $215,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
Experience:
accounting and finance: 8 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
CPA (Preferred) Willingness to travel: 75% (Preferred)
