Controller

Job Title: Controller

Job Description

This hands-on, business-minded Controller role leads all accounting and financial operations for a growing, privately held company. The Controller ensures accurate financial reporting, oversees the monthly close process, maintains strong internal controls, manages cash flow, and provides actionable financial insight to support strategic and operational decision-making. Serving as the accounting leader, this position partners closely with ownership and department leaders to balance high-level financial strategy with active involvement in day-to-day accounting activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and timely financial reporting to ownership and leadership, delivering clear analysis of financial performance, trends, and key business metrics.
• Develop data-driven recommendations that support profitability, cash flow, and operational decision-making, and partner with department leaders to evaluate costs, margins, and overall business performance.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring all deadlines are met and the close is efficient, accurate, and well-documented.
• Prepare and review financial statements and supporting schedules, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Analyze and explain variances between actual and expected financial results, providing insight and guidance to leadership on drivers and corrective actions.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, and payroll accounting functions, ensuring all transactions are processed accurately and on time.
• Review account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting documentation to maintain complete, accurate, and properly maintained accounting records.
• Establish and maintain consistency across accounting processes and financial controls, standardizing procedures and documentation.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls and accounting policies, ensuring adherence across the organization.
• Coordinate annual reviews, audits, and requests from external accounting partners, serving as the primary point of contact for financial and accounting inquiries.
• Oversee sales tax reconciliations and support tax filing requirements, ensuring compliance with applicable financial reporting and regulatory standards.
• Partner with the company’s Corporate CPA, who manages tax filings, and leverage this resource for complex accounting and technical matters.
• Oversee inventory valuation and related accounting processes, ensuring accurate costing and reporting.
• Monitor job costing and profitability by client, project, and service line, providing visibility into margins and performance.
• Support operational leaders with financial analysis and reporting, helping them understand financial impacts and make informed decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and financial visibility across the organization, driving continuous improvement in processes and reporting.
• Lead and develop accounting team members, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and consistency in performance and deliverables.
• Provide coaching, training, and day-to-day support to the accounting team, fostering a culture of ownership, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Balance strategic financial oversight with hands-on execution in daily accounting operations, stepping in where needed to ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
• Collaborate effectively with finance and operations teams, as well as other internal stakeholders, to support high-volume, fast-paced business activities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Experience in roles such as Controller, Assistant Controller, Accountant, or Accounting Manager.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Proven experience leading month-end and year-end close processes.
• Experience with cash flow forecasting and financial analysis, including developing insights and recommendations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, formulas, and data analysis.
• Experience working with ERP or accounting systems; familiarity with Zoho Books is preferred.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills, including leading and developing accounting team members.
• Hands-on experience with cost accounting, reconciliations, forecasting, financial statements, reporting, and audit support.
• Ability to manage internal controls, cash flow, and month-end close processes effectively.
• Strong financial and business acumen, with the ability to connect financial results to operational drivers.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to financial accuracy.
• Proactive ability to identify issues and drive timely resolution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Effective communication skills with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting privately held businesses is preferred.
• Manufacturing, printing, promotional products, fulfillment, distribution, or job-costing environments is strongly preferred.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, high-volume environments while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to wear multiple hats and adapt to evolving responsibilities as the company grows.
• Personable and easy to work with, contributing positively to a tight-knit, collaborative culture.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, clients, and suppliers.
• Ability to focus, stay engaged, and maintain strong attention to detail, identifying errors and inconsistencies before they impact reporting or payment timelines.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with finance, operations, and other teams.
• Comfortable with a creative, dynamic environment that supports a variety of brand and print projects.
• Interest in professional development and long-term career growth within a stable, family-owned organization.

Work Environment

This is a 100% onsite role in a privately held, family-owned company that has evolved from over 40 years of industry experience and now leverages modern, user-friendly technology to deliver print, promotional products, and fulfillment solutions to a diverse customer base. The Controller reports into the CFO and COO and leads a small accounting team, working closely with finance, operations, and other departments. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility for earlier hours as needed. The environment is fast-paced and high volume, with exposure to a wide variety of business operations, brand initiatives, and print projects. The culture is tight-knit, collaborative, and easygoing, with a strong emphasis on hard work, accountability, and mutual respect. Team members are encouraged to wear many hats, stay engaged, and contribute ideas to improve processes and outcomes. The company offers a full benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 401(k) with company match, generous paid time off and holiday schedule, and meaningful opportunities for professional development and career growth in a supportive and enriching workplace.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Machesney Park, IL.

The pay range for this position is $53.00 - $63.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Machesney Park,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.