Corporate Controller

Position Summary 

The Corporate Controller owns the integrity of 1915 South's financial records across all legal entities. The role runs the accounting operation end to end: general ledger, month-end and year-end close, all reconciliations, technical accounting, internal controls, and AP/AR process. 

This is a build role as much as a stewardship role. 1915 South has recently migrated its general ledger, restructured its class and cost-center reporting, and is integrating an acquisition. The Controller is expected to establish the control environment, documentation, and close discipline a company of this size and complexity requires. The Controller partners closely with FP&A and reports directly to the Chief Finance & Strategy Officer. 

Key Responsibilities 

Close and General Ledger 

•  Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close calendar; drive close to deadline across all legal entities. 

•  Own multi-entity consolidation and the class and cost-center structure; maintain the chart of accounts and enforce consistent coding. 

•  Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, prepaids, and depreciation with support that will stand up to audit. 

Reconciliations and Internal Controls 

•  Own the balance-sheet review process: every material account reconciled and tied out monthly, general ledger to subledger, bank, and third-party source. 

•  Establish and operate a documented bank reconciliation control covering all accounts. 

•  Own the monthly reconciliation of the customer deposit subledger to the general ledger. 

•  Establish and maintain internal controls over cash, inventory, and the procure-to-pay and order-to-cash cycles, including a documented delegation of authority. 

Technical Accounting 

•  Own lease accounting under ASC 842, including the schedule and the related-party lease population. 

•  Own the fixed-asset register and depreciation, maintained in the ledger rather than reconstructed at audit. 

•  Own recurring estimates and reserves: inventory reserve, allowance for credit losses, self-insurance IBNR, and goodwill triggering-event assessment. Document the methodology for each. 

•  Own related-party and intercompany account maintenance and the supporting disclosure detail. 

Financial Reporting 

•  Produce monthly financial statements with variance analysis for leadership review. 

•  Supply tied-out inputs for lender compliance reporting and covenant certificates; label every figure by reporting basis and never blend bases without disclosure. 

•  Serve as the primary liaison to the external audit and tax firms and own the audit request process. 

Team and Systems 

•  Lead, train, and develop the accounting team including the offshore desk; set priorities, review work, and own the first-level review that establishes segregation of duties. 

•  Serve as the accounting owner for STORIS (retail ERP) and QuickBooks Enterprise; own the integrity of the STORIS-to-ledger flow and partner with the AI and Enterprise Systems team on automation. 

•  Write and maintain documented procedures for every accounting cycle, and build cross-coverage so no critical recurring task depends on one person. 

Performance Measures 

1.  Days to close: monthly close complete and reviewed within the published close calendar; reviewed monthly. 

2.  Balance-sheet integrity: material accounts reconciled and cleared within the close window, with no aged unexplained items; reviewed monthly. 

3.  Audit remediation: findings closed against plan; reviewed quarterly with the CFSO and the Board. 

4.  Audit outcome: no material audit adjustments proposed by the external firm; reviewed annually. 

5.  Function capability: a documented procedure in place for every cycle and cross-coverage for every critical recurring task; reviewed quarterly. 

Required Qualifications 

Education 

Required: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and an active CPA license. Preferred: Master's in Accounting or MBA. 

Experience 

Required: 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting audit experience and multi-entity month-end close and consolidation. Required: prior experience leading and developing an accounting team. 

Preferred: retail, distribution, or multi-location operating experience; experience standing up or remediating an internal control environment; a mid-market retail ERP and QuickBooks Enterprise; lender covenant reporting; and directing offshore or outsourced accounting resources. 

Key Competencies 

•  Ownership and follow-through; closes the loop without being chased. 

•  Sound judgment on technical accounting matters, with documentation that supports the position taken. 

•  Builds repeatable, written process; leaves the function stronger than found. 

•  Clear communication with non-accountants, lenders, auditors, and the Board. 

•  Comfort operating in a company that is actively building; improves the system while running it. 

•  Discretion with confidential financial and compensation information. 

Physical and Work Environment Requirements 

Standard office environment. Full-time, on-site at the Support Office. Extended hours as required around close, audit, and lender reporting deadlines. Occasional travel to store, distribution, and corporate locations.