Accounting Director / Assistant Controller

Lawler Foods; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Dessert Holdings, the leading premium dessert company, seeks an Accounting Director/Assistant Controller to join its St. Paul, MN headquarters. You will lead month-end close, prepare financial statements, manage audits, and oversee technical accounting across multi-entity and multi-currency operations.

You will partner with executives, auditors, tax advisors, and cross-functional teams to strengthen governance and scale growth, mentoring a 5-person finance team and driving process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance required.
• Active CPA license with strong US GAAP knowledge.
• Experience with SEC reporting and external audits.
• Proven leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to manage multi-entity, multi-currency environments.

Responsibilities

• Direct month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close across entities with strong controls.
• Lead technical accounting positions, policies, and memoranda.
• Oversee financial reporting, consolidations, and schedules.
• Prepare Forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K and proxy statements as needed.
• Manage external tax advisors and tax provisions.
• Drive process improvements and automation in accounting.
• Act as liaison with external auditors and resolve issues.
• Align accounting policies with business objectives with cross-functional teams.
• Lead M&A accounting, including purchase accounting and integration.
• Mentor a team and foster accountability and excellence.

Skills

CPA licensed

US GAAP knowledge

SEC reporting

Leadership

Cross-functional

Audit management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA license

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

Help Shape the Future of a High-Growth Company

Dessert Holdings is seeking an Accounting Director/Assistant Controller to join our headquarters team in St. Paul, MN as we continue our exciting growth journey. Leading a team of 2 direct and 3 indirect reports, this individual will lead month-end close, financial statement preparation, audit management, SOX/internal controls,and technical accounting within multi-entity and multi-currency organizations. We are looking for someone experienced in partnering with executive leadership, external auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, and cross-functional stakeholders to strengthen financial governance, ensure reporting accuracy, and support scalable growth.

If you are energized by complex accounting challenges, thrive in high-growth environments, and want the opportunity to leave your mark on a company with significant momentum, we'd love to hear from you.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES

• Direct month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial close activities across multiple legal entities, improving close efficiency while maintaining strong financial controls and reporting accuracy and insights into financial results to leadership.
• Serve as the primary technical accounting leader, evaluating complex transactions and developing accounting positions, policies, and memoranda supporting key business activities.
• Manage the company's financial reporting process and preparation of financial statements and supporting schedules at public company standards, including report development and financial statement consolidation activities across the company's reporting applications.
• Lead the drafting and filing of Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy statements in the future as required, partnering with Legal to support other regulatory filings.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors to ensure the timely preparation and review of tax provisions, returns, and related disclosures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the accounting organization, implementing scalable processes, automation solutions, and standardization efforts that increase efficiency and control effectiveness.
• Serve as the principal liaison with external auditors, managing annual audits, quarterly reviews, technical accounting consultations, and audit issue resolution.
• Collaborate with tax, FP&A, legal, operations, and IT leadership to ensure alignment of accounting policies, reporting requirements, and business objectives.
• Lead accounting and financial reporting activities related to mergers and acquisitions, including purchase accounting, opening balance sheet validation, integration planning and post-acquisition reporting compliance.
• Mentor and develop team and cross functional partners, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance with an active CPA license
• 10+ years of progressive accounting, financial reporting, or audit experience; prior public company experience is a plus
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements and financial statement preparation of SEC reports
• Strong technical accounting background with ability to research, interpret, and apply complex accounting standards and regulatory guidance
• Proven success operation in a fast-paced, evolving environment, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated team leadership and project management skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional initiatives, manage competing deadlines, and influence stakeholders across the organization
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to travel occasionally within the U.S. and Canada (no more than 10%)

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.