Automotive Controller - Fairfax, VA

Element Partners; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and paid holidays

Employee purchase and service discount

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Element Partners is seeking an Automotive Controller for a high-volume luxury dealership in Fairfax, VA. You will lead the business office, manage monthly close, cash flow, and reporting to the factory.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in dealership finance, DMS experience (CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds, Dealertrack), a Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance, with CPA a plus. Competitive compensation with bonus and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 3+ years as a dealership Controller or Office Manager.
• Automotive experience required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA a plus.
• Strong Excel skills and analytical mindset.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly financial statements and submit on time to the factory.
• Perform month-end close, journal entries, accruals, and reconcile balance sheet schedules.
• Manage daily cash, bank reconciliations, floor plan reconciliation, and curtailment tracking.
• Oversee factory receivables: warranty claims, incentives, holdback, and rebate collection.
• Oversee the business office: title & tag clerks, billing, AP/AR, payroll, warranty administration.
• Ensure internal controls, deal jacket compliance, and Safeguards Rule adherence.
• Process payroll and calculate commissions for sales, service, and management.
• Control expenses, manage vendors, and analyze variances for GM and dealership.
• Manage working capital, insurance, licensing, and Virginia DMV compliance.
• Collaborate with department managers to explain financial statements.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Leadership

Financial reporting

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

CDK

Reynolds & Reynolds

Dealertrack

Job description

Fairfax, United States | Posted on 08/27/2026

Automotive Controller — High-Volume Luxury Dealership

The Opportunity

A top-performing luxury brand dealership in Fairfax, VA is hiring a Controller to run the business office. This is a high-volume store in one of the strongest retail automotive markets in the country — meaningful new and used volume, a heavy F&I and fixed ops contribution, and a factory that expects clean, on-time reporting every month.

This is not a caretaker seat. The dealer principal and GM want a Controller who protects the numbers, tightens the schedules, and gives leadership a real read on where gross is coming from and where it's leaking.

What You'll Own

• Monthly financial statement preparation and on-time submission to the factory
  
• Month-end close, journal entries, accruals, and reconciliation of all balance sheet schedules
  
• Daily cash management, bank reconciliations, floor plan reconciliation, and curtailment tracking
  
• Factory receivables: warranty claims, incentives, holdback, and rebate collection — aged and cleared, not carried
  
• Full oversight of the business office: title and tag clerks, billing, AP/AR, warranty administration, and payroll
  
• Internal controls, deal jacket compliance, and Safeguards Rule adherence
  
• Payroll processing and commission/pay plan calculation for sales, service, and management
  
• Expense control, vendor management, and month-over-month variance analysis for the GM and dealer
  
• Working capital, insurance, licensing, and Virginia DMV compliance
  
• Partnering with department managers to explain the statement — not just publish it
  

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years as a dealership Controller or Office Manager ready to step up; automotive experience is required
• Strong command of a dealership DMS — CDK / Reynolds & Reynolds / Dealertrack preferred
• Proven ability to close on time and keep schedules clean
• Comfort with luxury or high-line brand reporting requirements and factory audits
• Hands-on leadership of a business office team, including hiring, training, and accountability
• Advanced Excel and a genuine analytical instinct — you find the problem before it shows up on the statement
• Discretion, integrity, and the judgment to tell a dealer something they don't want to hear
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance preferred; CPA a plus, not a requirement
• $170,000+ total compensation commensurate with experience
• Performance bonus tied to store profitability
• Medical, dental, and vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee purchase and service discounts
• A stable, well-capitalized ownership group with room to grow into a multi-store role

Element Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.