Assistant Controller

Suburban-Automotive-Services-1; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Suburban-Automotive-Services-1 is seeking an Assistant Controller to partner with the Controller on close, consolidation, reporting, budgeting and forecasting across all entities and locations. The role supports monthly flash, MBR, intercompany activities, and allocates costs with cost center owners.

The position requires advanced Excel, NetSuite NSPB expertise, and experience with ERP systems to provide deep variance analysis and business insights for sales and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Intellectually curious and eager to learn—asks questions across departments to understand the business.
• Disciplined and deadline-driven; owns the close calendar and deadlines.
• Trusted finance partner for sales teams needing accurate numbers.
• Able to explain SG&A and fixed cost variances in plain language.
• Advanced Excel and familiarity with ERP, consolidation and planning software.

Responsibilities

• Close, consolidate and report monthly statements and variance analyses.
• Own intercompany and allocations reconciliations and schedules.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and variance analyses for SG&A, fixed costs and commissions.
• Partner with sales on forecasts and revenue reconciliation; provide leadership with insights.
• Act as NSPB/NetSuite expert and trainer for the organization.

Skills

Advanced Excel

NetSuite NSPB

Power BI

ERP systems

Budgeting & forecasting

Tools

NetSuite NSPB

Power BI

Job description

The Assistant Controller is the right hand to the Controller for the close, consolidation, reporting, budgeting and forecasting cycle across all entities and locations, and serves as the Finance partner to the sales managers.

This role will oversee a variety of core areas of responsibility, including the following:

• Develops the close calendar and month-end checklist; assists the Controller in delivering accurate, complete consolidated financial statements on schedule, and provides VP variance analysis before month-end reviews
• Supports the monthly flash and monthly business review (MBR) package
• Designs, executes, reconciles, and analyzes the monthly intercompany and allocations cycle; owns the SA ledgers and allocation methodology and secures VP endorsement
• Builds the SG&A and fixed cost budget and monthly forecast with each cost center owner and explains variances back to them
• Budgets, forecasts, records monthly, and analyzes variances for commissions and performance incentives
• Partners with the sales team on the monthly forecast and annual budget; owns the revenue to reported sales reconciliation, runs variance analysis on results versus plan, and incorporates it into forward-looking statements; performs sales, volume, mix and margin analysis
• Serves as NetSuite subject matter expert and NetSuite Planning and Budgeting (NSPB) super user and trainer for the organization
• Acts as Finance partner to the transportation team on budgeting, forecasting, monthly accrual and variance analysis
• Acts as SA Finance partner to SAS leaders on cross-functional topics and projects
• Owns facility costs as subject matter expert: leases, rent, occupancy accruals, reconciliation and variance analysis; budgeting and forecasting, and CAPEX planning for new projects
• Serves as subject matter expert for Bedliner Certificates and other sales discounts: issuance and redemption tracking, accrual and liability balances, reconciliation and variance analysis
• Delivers ad-hoc analysis and special project support as leadership priorities arise
• Approves journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations prepared by the accounting team

Key Responsibilities

Close, Consolidation & Reporting

• Close: calendar, JE and recon review, statements (Monthly)
• VP variance analysis before month-end reviews (Monthly)
• Intercompany and allocations: entries, elims, variance (Monthly)
• Reporting: flash, MBR, consolidated flux and packages (Monthly)
• Balance Sheet Review (Monthly)
• Regional controllers: policy and close support (Monthly)

Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• SG&A and fixed costs: forecast, budget, variance review (Monthly/Annual)
• Commissions and incentives: recording, planning, variance (Monthly/Annual)
• Sales: forecast, budget, revenue recon, variance (Monthly/Annual)
• Sales, volume, mix and margin analysis (Monthly)

Business Partnership

• Ryder: partnering, planning, accrual, variance (Monthly/Annual)
• SAS: partnering on cross-functional topics, projects (Ongoing)
• Facilities: leases, rent, occupancy, recon, variance (Monthly)
• Facilities: budget and forecast (Monthly/Annual)
• Facilities CAPEX planning for new projects (As needed)
• Bedliner certificates and discounts: accrual, recon (Monthly)

Systems & Special Projects

• Systems: NetSuite and NSPB admin, training, support (Ongoing)
• Ad-hoc analysis and special projects (As needed)

Qualifications and Skills:

• Intellectually curious and eager to learn – digs past the number to understand the business behind it, asks questions across departments, and actively seeks out new skills, systems and responsibilities.
• Disciplined and deadline-driven; owns the close calendar and holds others to it.
• Trusted business partner – approachable, responsive, and the first call for sales managers who need to understand their numbers.
• Able to explain SG&A and fixed cost variances in plain language to non-financial leaders and hold them to their commitments.
• Advanced Excel; proficient in ERP, consolidation and planning software, and Power BI.
• Consolidated financial statement preparation, understanding and analysis.
• System-minded – deep NetSuite and NSPB capability, and the instinct to fix a process in the system rather than in a spreadsheet.
• Detail-oriented without losing sight of the consolidated picture and materiality.
• Leads through influence rather than authority; sets the standard by example and gives direct, constructive feedback to peers and partners.
• Discretion and integrity in handling confidential financial and compensation information.

Decision-Making Authority:

Authority to approve journal entries and account reconciliations within established policy. Determines the accounting treatment for routine and moderately complex transactions and recommends positions on complex or unusual items to the Controller and CFO. Maintains and enforces the close calendar. Owns the SG&A and fixed cost budget and forecast methodology and challenges cost center submissions before they are consolidated. No authority to commit company funds, approve spending outside of policy, change accounting policy, or execute contracts without approval from the Controller or CFO.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands Include:

• The majority of the time this job will be completed in an office setting while sitting at a desk using a computer.
• Occasional travel to other company locations may be required.