Assistant Corporate Controller

Populus Group; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Health insurance

Dental

Vision

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Treat Yourself Fund

Job summary

Populus Group seeks an Assistant Corporate Controller to lead core accounting functions, strengthen internal controls, and support strategic financial initiatives across domestic and international entities. This role partners with Operations, Payroll, Compliance, and customer teams in a high-volume staffing environment.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in accounting, supervisory experience, and strong GAAP knowledge, with ERP and BI tool proficiency. Hybrid work options available in Michigan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• Master's degree and/or CPA designation highly preferred.
• 5+ years of accounting experience; 1-2+ years supervisory experience.
• Experience with multi-entity and international consolidations preferred.
• Strong GAAP knowledge including revenue and expense recognition.

Responsibilities

• Oversee AP, cash application, GL maintenance, fixed assets and tax compliance.
• Coordinate month, quarter, and annual close for U.S. and international entities.
• Maintain internal controls and audit readiness; manage external audits.
• Ensure accurate invoicing, revenue recognition, and profitability analyses.
• Lead accounting team development and performance management.
• Collaborate on budgeting, forecasting, and process improvements.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Master's degree and/or CPA designation

Tools

PeopleSoft

Oracle

Great Plains

Microsoft 365 with Copilot

Bullhorn

Power BI

Tableau

Excel

Job description

**Please note we are only considering candidates who currently reside in the state of Michigan for this position

The PG Difference

PG is a Minority and Veteran Owned Workforce Solutions company. Our culture and our brand are built around our people-first mentality. We place an emphasis on building relationships and getting to know our PG community and business before we train employees on their day-to-day jobs. Our goal is simple, to help our employees build a network of lasting relationships based on trust and respect for each other. This allows us to foster an environment that supports employees' choices to balance what's most important to them. Our hybrid environment provides employees opportunities to connect, develop, and succeed, while still giving them autonomy and flexibility to work remotely or from a local office based on their needs.

We believe that everyone's voice matters regardless of their role or tenure. Within PG, employees have access to leadership of all levels and the opportunity to give and receive feedback to influence change in both formal and informal ways. We also like to have quite a bit of fun along the way!

Job Description

The Assistant Corporate Controller is a key member of the Finance leadership team, responsible for overseeing core accounting functions, ensuring financial accuracy, strengthening internal controls, and supporting strategic financial initiatives across Populus Group's domestic and international entities. This role partners closely with Operations, Payroll, Compliance, and customer-facing teams to support a high-volume, fast-paced staffing environment.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall operation and development of Accounts Payable, Cash Application, Financial Reporting, General Ledger Maintenance, Fixed Assets, and Tax Compliance for all Populus Group entities.
• Manage the timely and accurate preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial results through the close and consolidation process for U.S. and international subsidiary operations.
• Facilitate and review monthly financial reporting packages for presentation to leadership.
• Review accounting data to identify, investigate, and resolve inaccuracies or imbalances.
• Utilize accounting systems to maintain accurate financial records and streamline accounting processes.
• Lead the development, enforcement, and monitoring of internal controls across all accounting functions.
• Maintain audit readiness and manage audit requests and remediation plans for audit findings.
• Partner with ecosystem stakeholders to ensure financial statement accuracy and company profitability, including:
• Ensure clean, timely, and accurate weekly contractor payroll processing.
• Oversee alignment between invoicing and revenue recognition across multiple service lines.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Business Development support teams to ensure financial adherence to client contractual terms, regulatory requirements, and risk mitigation processes.
• Partner with DFO and delivery leadership to analyze gross margin drivers, pricing changes, tax impacts, project terms, and customer escalations.
• Collaborate with the Controller to design and implement scalable processes and automation initiatives that support business growth and increasing operational complexity.
• Serve as functional owner for ERP and financial reporting systems; drive system enhancements, automation, and integrations.
• Support front-end operations teams with new customer implementations and process changes for existing customers.
• Manage, train, and develop the Accounting team; foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Lead performance management, career development, and succession planning for the Accounting team.
• Perform resource planning to ensure adequate staffing levels for all close cycles.
• Lead the relationship with external independent tax preparers; manage the annual close and tax compliance process.
• Participate in the annual budgeting and forecasting process
• Support the Controller with special projects and workflow/process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• Master's degree and/or CPA designation highly preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in the accounting field.
• 1-2+ years of supervisory experience in Accounting preferred.
• Experience in the staffing industry or other high-volume, transaction-driven environments preferred.
• Experience with multi-entity and international consolidations preferred.
• Prior ownership or significant involvement in internal controls and audit processes preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong technical accounting foundation with in-depth GAAP knowledge, including revenue and expense recognition.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (PeopleSoft, Oracle, Great Plains, Microsoft 365 with Copilot integration, Bullhorn).
• Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau), advanced Excel, and familiarity with VMS and/or payroll systems.

Professional Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and deliver on multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong customer service skills when working with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to challenge the status quo while leading with positivity and a solution-oriented mindset.

We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed. This is why it is so important to us that our employees' have access to a wide variety of development options to help them become better professionals and people. This includes informal opportunities for self-development, skills-based development, and formal training. The opportunities are endless, highlighting some of our options below:

• Our hybrid environment provides autonomy and flexibility to work remotely or from a local
• office based on team need
• Employee Development Program offering learning opportunities for varying levels of experience
• Tuition Reimbursement for both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
• Free Book Program (Yup, free books sent right to your door!)
• Internal development lunches and Snack Chats (Yes.. snacks!)
• Annual Training Fund
• Community Service Hours
• 20 Days PTO (Not Including Observed Paid Holidays!)

Projected Budget Compensation

Base: $88,000-109,000

Bonus: eligibility up to $12,000

Cost of Labor Adjustment applicable in specific markets

Position Benefits: 401K with Company Match; Health; Dental; Vision; Long & Short Term Disability; Life Insurance; Paid Holidays; Paid Time Off (PTO); Treat Yourself Fund; Tuition Reimbursement for Continuing Education/Professional Certification

Populus Group is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards 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 [e-mail] for other accommodation options. However, if you have questions about this position, please contact [e-mail].