Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Corporate Controller

💰 $130,000 - $220,000

AccountingFinanceManagement

🎯 Role Definition

The Corporate Controller is the senior accounting leader responsible for end-to-end financial close and reporting, internal controls and compliance, accounting policy and technical accounting, and the development and coaching of the accounting team. This role owns monthly, quarterly and annual GAAP financial statements, supports external and internal audits, ensures SOX and regulatory compliance, drives process improvements and automation across the finance function, and partners with the CFO and business leaders to deliver timely, accurate financial insights that enable strategic decision-making.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Accountant / Lead Accountant with multi-entity consolidation experience
  • Assistant Controller or Accounting Manager from a mid-market or enterprise company
  • Senior Audit Manager or Senior Auditor from a Big Four or national CPA firm

Advancement To:

  • Vice President of Finance
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Head of Finance or Corporate Treasurer

Lateral Moves:

  • Director of FP&A
  • Head of Corporate Accounting / Technical Accounting
  • Finance Business Partner for a major business unit

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and manage the full monthly, quarterly and annual close process across multiple legal entities, ensuring accurate and timely GAAP financial statements, account reconciliations, intercompany eliminations, and consolidation tasks.
  • Own internal and external financial reporting, preparing consolidated balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and all related disclosures for management, board reporting and lenders; ensure deliverables meet quality and timing expectations.
  • Design, implement and continuously improve internal control frameworks (SOX 404-ready), including process documentation, control testing, remediation plans and coordination with external auditors to achieve audit readiness and minimize control findings.
  • Supervise and mentor a high-performing accounting team (accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, payroll, fixed assets, and tax provision), including hiring, performance management, training and succession planning to scale the department.
  • Serve as the technical accounting authority for complex transactions (revenue recognition ASC 606, leases ASC 842, business combinations ASC 805, impairment, stock-based compensation) and partner with external advisors to ensure compliant accounting treatments.
  • Direct the preparation and review of tax provision (ASC 740) calculations and coordinate with tax advisors to ensure timely tax filings, state and local tax compliance and accurate effective tax rate analysis.
  • Manage relationships and deliverables for external auditors, tax consultants, banking partners and other third parties; lead annual audit and tax engagement processes to ensure smooth fieldwork and timely sign-offs.
  • Develop, maintain and optimize accounting policies, procedures and month-end checklists to ensure consistency, transparency and scalability as the company grows and undergoes M&A activity or IPO preparations.
  • Drive ERP and finance systems strategy, lead implementations, upgrades or integrations (NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, Workday) and champion automation (RPA, AP/AR automation, consolidation tools) to reduce close time and increase reporting accuracy.
  • Oversee cash, treasury and working capital reporting and controls, including bank reconciliations, cash forecasting, wire and payment controls, mitigations for fraud risk, and collaboration with treasury or banking partners.
  • Prepare and present monthly financial results, variance analysis and KPI reporting to the CFO and executive leadership; identify key drivers, risks and actionable recommendations to improve margin, cash flow and profitability.
  • Lead budgeting, annual planning and rolling forecast cycles with FP&A partners; ensure alignment of accounting policies and reporting outputs to support accurate scenario modeling and strategic planning.
  • Manage lease accounting, fixed asset schedules and depreciation methodologies; ensure capitalization and asset tracking policies are enforced across business units.
  • Drive month-end journal entries, accruals and complex reconciliations (intercompany, payroll, benefits, deferred revenue) and certify that reconciliations are reviewed and approved timely.
  • Oversee revenue accounting and contract review processes to ensure accurate recognition, billing alignment and management of contract amendments, variable consideration and performance obligations.
  • Lead or support M&A accounting due diligence, purchase price allocations, carve-outs and post-closing integrations to ensure accounting systems, policies and controls are harmonized and compliant.
  • Implement and monitor key accounting metrics (close cycle time, days payable outstanding, days sales outstanding, reconciliation aging) and use lean methodologies to improve processes and reduce risk.
  • Ensure compliance with SEC reporting requirements where applicable, coordinate XBRL tagging and footnote disclosures, and work with legal and investor relations for public company readiness.
  • Drive SOX remediation projects and process re-designs to strengthen segregation of duties, approval workflows and automated control evidence capture.
  • Foster cross-functional partnerships with FP&A, tax, legal, HR, IT and operations to ensure accounting treatments align with commercial contracts, payroll, benefits and operational changes.
  • Build and maintain a culture of high ethical standards, accuracy, and continuous improvement; model accountability and effective stakeholder communication across finance and the business.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc financial analysis requests from senior leadership, including scenario modeling, sensitivity analysis and business case development for strategic initiatives.
  • Participate in system selection, ERP upgrade and implementation teams, translating accounting needs into system requirements and validating finance deliverables.
  • Provide training, documentation and best-practice guidance to business stakeholders on accounting policies, expense classification and capital approval processes.
  • Assist with cash management initiatives including banking relationship management, short-term investments, and optimizing payment and collection strategies.
  • Coordinate cross-functional project teams for process improvements and ensure changes are reflected in accounting documentation and control matrices.
  • Prepare and present finance-driven recommendations to the executive team and board committees on financial policy, risk mitigation, and operational efficiencies.
  • Monitor regulatory or standards changes (GAAP/IFRS) and drive timely assessment and adoption plans for the organization.
  • Manage vendor relationships for outsourced accounting functions, payroll providers, tax advisors and other finance-related service providers.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep knowledge of US GAAP and financial reporting standards, including technical application of ASC 606, ASC 842, ASC 740 and consolidation guidance.
  • Demonstrated experience managing SOX 404 compliance programs: control design, testing, remediation and liaison with external auditors.
  • Expertise in month-end close, consolidations, intercompany eliminations and account reconciliation best practices.
  • Hands-on experience with ERP and accounting systems implementation and administration (NetSuite, Oracle EBS/Cloud, SAP, Workday Financials).
  • Advanced MS Excel skills (pivot tables, complex formulas, Power Query), and familiarity with financial reporting and consolidation tools (Adaptive, BlackLine, OneStream).
  • Strong knowledge of tax provision accounting and coordination with tax teams for federal, state and international filings.
  • Experience preparing or supporting SEC reporting, 10-Q/10-K schedules and XBRL tagging (if applicable).
  • Proven ability with treasury and cash management, bank reconciliations, and internal controls over cash and payments.
  • Capability to lead technical accounting research and apply guidance to complex transactions, M&A accounting and financial instruments.
  • Experience implementing finance automation (AP automation, RPA, automated reconciliations) and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Ability to prepare and present board-level reporting, KPI dashboards and variance analysis for executive decision making.
  • Familiarity with multi-entity accounting, currency translation, and statutory reporting requirements for international operations.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills: coaching, developing and holding teams accountable to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management: translate technical accounting issues into business-focused insights for non-financial leaders.
  • High ownership and attention to detail with an uncompromising focus on accuracy and compliance.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to prioritize change initiatives that deliver the most value to the organization.
  • Problem-solving mindset and comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
  • Collaborative team player who builds cross-functional relationships and influences without formal authority.
  • Resilient and deadline-driven: proven record of delivering under month-end, audit and regulatory pressures.
  • Continuous improvement orientation: drives process simplification, automation and efficiency gains.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field (required)

Preferred Education:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation preferred
  • MBA or Master’s in Accounting/Finance is a plus

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business Administration
  • Information Systems (with emphasis on ERP/finance systems)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8–15+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 3–5 years in a senior accounting leadership role (Controller / Assistant Controller) in a multi-entity environment.

Preferred: Public accounting experience (Big Four or national firm) with exposure to audits and technical accounting early in career, experience leading SOX compliance, ERP implementations, multi-state tax coordination, and prior involvement in M&A or IPO readiness initiatives.

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