Assistant Controller

We are conducting a confidential search for a client South of Pittsburgh for an Assistant Controller.

Job Summary

The Assistant Controller is a vital strategic and operational leader within the finance organization, partnering directly with the VP of Finance to oversee comprehensive accounting operations, financial reporting integrity, and internal control frameworks.

This role encompasses management of general ledger accounting, complex monthly financial closes, high-level balance-sheet reconciliations, executive management reporting, and detailed variance analysis. In addition, the Assistant Controller provides strategic oversight and mentorship for Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) operations, leads manufacturing and operational accounting workflows and drives continuous process improvement, ERP optimization, and departmental leadership development.

Essential Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the monthly financial close process, general ledger accounting, and complex journal entries to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Direct complex balance-sheet and account reconciliations, variance investigations, and comprehensive analyses of unusual or non-standard transactions.
• Prepare, review, and analyze comprehensive financial statements and executive management reporting packages for leadership and stakeholders.
• In partnership with the VP of Finance, lead the continued centralization, standardization, documentation, review, and approval governance for global AP and AR functions.
• Provide high-level accounting mentorship and technical guidance for support personnel and direct reports.
• Manage and advance competency in manufacturing and operational accounting flows, including advanced inventory accounting, raw material and finished-goods activity, cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) analysis, and production-related transactions.
• Implement the improvement of robust accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls around AP, AR, inventory, billing, and financial reporting.
• Execute strategic opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate finance workflows and ERP system improvements.
• Lead and develop existing personnel, providing professional guidance, rigorous review, and establishing deep organizational redundancy and cross-functional capability.
• Act as the primary, operational and strategic backup to the Vice President of Finance, learning to advance as part of succession planning.
• Support corporate budgeting, strategic forecasting, cash flow modeling, and advanced financial analysis.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business-related field required;

• CPA certification or ability to obtain CPA preferred.

• Minimum 7+ years of progressive experience in accounting and financial reporting, with a strong foundation in corporate accounting environments required.

• Proven track record of progressive career growth, leadership promotions, and prior experience serving in an Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or Senior Accountant capacity required.

• Prior manufacturing accounting and cost-accounting experience preferred.

• Demonstrated proficiency in advanced Excel, financial modeling, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems required.

• Prior hands-on experience leading or supporting major ERP system implementations or financial workflow automation initiatives preferred.