Controller

Colt Optics; Brighton (MI); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Colt Electro Optics in Brighton, MI is seeking a Controller to lead our accounting and financial reporting functions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of information for executive leadership.

You will oversee day-to-day accounting, cost and inventory analysis, budgeting and internal controls while partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Engineering to drive profitability and financial discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA certification or strong progression toward it (preferred).
• 7+ years of accounting or finance experience in manufacturing.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and financial reporting experience.
• Experience with cost and inventory accounting.
• Excellent Excel and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting and finance operations and produce monthly, quarterly, and annual statements.
• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and variance analyses.
• Coordinate with operations and supply chain to improve inventory accuracy.
• Ensure internal controls and ERP system effectiveness.

Skills

Financial analysis

GAAP knowledge

Internal controls

Cost accounting

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field

CPA certification (preferred)

Tools

ERP system

Manufacturing ERP

Job description

Job Details

• Job Location: Colt Electro Optics - Brighton, MI 48116


• Position Type: Full Time


• Education Level: Not Specified


• Salary Range: $135,000.00 - $150,000.00 Salary


• Job Category: Finance

Position Summary

The Controller is a key member of the management team responsible for leading the company’s accounting and financial reporting functions and ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial information.

The Controller will oversee day-to-day accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, internal controls, inventory accounting, cost accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, and financial compliance.

Because this is a manufacturing business, the Controller will play a particularly important role in inventory valuation, standard and actual costing, gross-margin analysis, manufacturing variances, labor and overhead allocation, capital expenditures, working capital management, and operational financial reporting.

The successful candidate will be both a strong technical accountant and a practical business partner who can work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Engineering, and executive leadership to manage profitability and financial discipline.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Management & Reporting
   
   
   
   • Lead the company's accounting and finance operations.
   
   
   • Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements to include IFRS account mapping.
   
   
   • Preparation of quarterly consolidation file which reconciles the movements in key accounts.
   
   
   • Develop management reporting packages that provide clear visibility into revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, cash flow, working capital, and profitability.
   
   
   • Establish and maintain appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
   
   
   • Ensure compliance with applicable accounting principles, tax requirements, and company policies.
   
   
   • Provide financial analysis and recommendations to the CEO and executive leadership team.
   
   
   • Identify financial risks, trends, and opportunities and communicate them proactively to management.
   
   
   
   


2. Manufacturing & Cost Accounting
   
   
   
   • Own the company's manufacturing cost accounting processes.
   
   
   • Maintain and analyze standard costs for materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead.
   
   
   • Monitor actual versus standard costs and investigate significant variances.
   
   
   • Analyze product-level and customer-level profitability.
   
   
   • Oversee inventory valuation and reconciliation, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
   
   
   • Work with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy and reduce excess and obsolete inventory.
   
   
   • Establish appropriate methodologies for allocating manufacturing overhead.
   
   
   • Monitor manufacturing labor efficiency, material usage, scrap, yield, and other operational cost metrics.
   
   
   • Support pricing decisions through detailed product cost and margin analysis.
   
   
   • Provide financial analysis for make-versus-buy decisions, sourcing decisions, capacity investments, and manufacturing initiatives.
   
   
   
   


3. Budgeting & Forecasting
   
   
   
   • Support the annual budgeting process led by the FP&A Director.
   
   
   • Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast.
   
   
   • Provide management with variance explanations and recommended corrective actions.
   
   
   
   


4. Cash Flow & Working Capital
   
   
   
   • Monitor daily and weekly cash position.
   
   
   • Develop and maintain cash-flow forecasts.
   
   
   • Manage accounts receivable and accounts payable processes.
   
   
   • Monitor customer collections and payment performance.
   
   
   • Optimize working capital while maintaining appropriate supplier and customer relationships.
   
   
   • Support banking relationships and financing activities.
   
   
   • Monitor borrowing, debt obligations, interest expense, and covenant requirements, as applicable.
   
   
   
   


5. Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable
   
   
   
   • Oversee accurate and timely customer invoicing.
   
   
   • Establish appropriate credit and collection practices.
   
   
   • Monitor aging reports and collection performance.
   
   
   • Oversee vendor invoice processing and payment schedules.
   
   
   • Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and approval controls.
   
   
   • Resolve significant customer and vendor account discrepancies.
   
   
   
   


6. Inventory & Fixed Assets
   
   
   
   • Maintain accurate inventory accounting and reconciliation processes.
   
   
   • Establish appropriate cycle-counting and physical-inventory procedures in coordination with Operations.
   
   
   • Monitor inventory turns, aging, excess inventory, and obsolete inventory.
   
   
   • Ensure proper accounting for tooling, equipment, machinery, and other fixed assets.
   
   
   • Maintain the fixed asset register and depreciation schedules.
   
   
   • Review and support capital expenditure requests and ROI analyses.
   
   
   
   


7. Internal Controls & Compliance
   
   
   
   • Develop, implement, and maintain effective financial controls.
   
   
   • Ensure appropriate authorization and approval processes.
   
   
   • Identify control weaknesses and implement corrective actions.
   
   
   • Maintain appropriate segregation of financial responsibilities.
   
   
   • Coordinate annual financial reviews, internal and external audits, tax filings, and other financial requirements.
   
   
   • Work with outside accountants, auditors, tax advisors, banks, insurance providers, and other financial partners as appropriate.
   
   
   
   


8. ERP & Financial Systems
   
   
   
   • Serve as a key financial owner of the company's ERP and accounting systems.
   
   
   • Ensure financial data is accurate, properly classified, and appropriately controlled.
   
   
   • Work with Operations and IT to improve ERP processes and reporting.
   
   
   • Identify opportunities to automate accounting and financial processes.
   
   
   • Ensure appropriate system controls, user access, and approval workflows.
   
   
   • Support implementation of improved financial reporting and business intelligence tools.
   
   
   
   


9. Leadership & Business Partnership
   
   
   
   • Lead, develop, and manage accounting personnel.
   
   
   • Establish clear expectations, processes, and performance standards for the finance function.
   
   
   • Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Engineering, HR, and executive leadership.
   
   
   • Help non-financial managers understand financial performance and the financial impact of business decisions.
   
   
   • Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, cost discipline, and continuous improvement.
   
   
   • Participate as a financial leader in strategic planning and major business initiatives.
   
   
   
   

Key Performance Indicators

• Revenue and gross-margin performance


• Product and customer profitability


• Manufacturing cost variances


• Inventory accuracy and inventory turns


• Excess and obsolete inventory


• Accounts receivable aging and DSO


• Accounts payable and payment performance


• Working capital


• Operating expenses versus budget


• Cash flow and cash conversion


• Forecast accuracy


• Month-end close performance


• Capital expenditure versus budget


• Financial control effectiveness

Month-End Close Responsibilities

• General ledger reconciliation


• Bank reconciliations


• Accounts receivable reconciliation


• Accounts payable reconciliation


• Inventory reconciliation


• Accruals and prepaid expenses


• Fixed assets and depreciation


• Payroll-related accounting


• Manufacturing cost and variance accounting


• Revenue recognition


• Intercompany transactions


• Financial statement preparation


• Management reporting


• Balance-sheet account reconciliation

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.


• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.


• CPA certification.


• Prior experience in a manufacturing environment.


• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting.


• Demonstrated experience with inventory and cost accounting.


• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.


• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting processes.


• Advanced Excel skills.


• Experience working with an ERP system.


• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.


• Ability to operate effectively in a hands-on, entrepreneurial business environment.

Preferred

• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) experience


• Experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting manager.


• Experience with manufacturing ERP systems.


• Experience with standard costing and variance analysis.


• Experience supporting a company undergoing growth or operational transformation.


• Experience with financial systems implementation or ERP optimization.


• Experience working with external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners.


• Experience in a privately held manufacturing company.