Controller

Vaco by Highspring; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations for a well-established manufacturing organization. The role partners with senior leadership to improve financial visibility, controls, and operational performance.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in manufacturing finance, with strong cost accounting, GAAP expertise, ERP experience, and a hands-on yet strategic approach to drive efficiency and business results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience in manufacturing.
• Experience as Controller or senior accounting leader with strong internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting function and oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Ensure timely preparation of financial statements and management reporting.
• Oversee general ledger, AP, AR, fixed assets, inventory, and other core functions.
• Provide leadership around cost accounting, inventory valuation, and margin analysis.
• Partner with Operations and leadership to improve financial performance.
• Develop internal controls and financial processes; support budgeting and forecasting.
• Analyze results and provide insight into profitability and trends.
• Ensure GAAP compliance and support audits and tax activities.
• Lead and develop accounting team members; drive process improvements.

Skills

Manufacturing accounting

Cost accounting

GAAP knowledge

Leadership

Financial reporting

Operations partnering

Education

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

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Our client is a well-established, highly respected manufacturing organization with a long history of producing complex, high-quality products for a global customer base. The company is seeking an experienced Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations and serve as a key business partner to senior leadership.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on finance leader who enjoys working in a complex manufacturing environment and wants to have a meaningful impact on financial reporting, controls, operational performance, and process improvement.

Position Overview

Our client is a well-established, highly respected manufacturing organization with a long history of producing complex, high-quality products for a global customer base. The company is seeking an experienced Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations and serve as a key business partner to senior leadership.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on finance leader who enjoys working in a complex manufacturing environment and wants to have a meaningful impact on financial reporting, controls, operational performance, and process improvement.

Position Overview

The Controller will oversee the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the organization, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting while strengthening internal controls and accounting processes.

The ideal candidate will bring strong manufacturing accounting and cost accounting experience, along with the ability to partner effectively with operations and executive leadership. This person should be comfortable being both strategic and hands-on and will play an important role in improving financial visibility and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting function and oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial statements and management reporting.
• Oversee general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, inventory, and other core accounting functions.
• Provide leadership and oversight around cost accounting and manufacturing finance, including inventory valuation, standard costs, variances, and margin analysis.
• Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and other business leaders to understand financial performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and financial processes.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and long-range planning in partnership with FP&A leadership.
• Analyze financial results and provide meaningful insight into business performance, profitability, and operational trends.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Support external audits, tax activities, and other financial reporting requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, systems, reporting, and overall efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and develop accounting team members.
• Partner with senior leadership on strategic initiatives, business decisions, and process improvement.
• Support special projects, system implementations, acquisitions, and other corporate initiatives as needed.

Ideal Background

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, ideally within a manufacturing or similarly complex operating environment.
• Previous experience in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership role.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and cost accounting.
• Experience with inventory accounting, standard costing, manufacturing variances, and operational financial analysis.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Experience developing and maintaining strong internal controls.
• ERP experience; ability to work effectively with financial systems and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting professionals.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a hands‑on environment while also serving as a strategic business partner to leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a larger or multi-entity manufacturing organization.
• Experience in a regulated, highly controlled, or complex manufacturing environment.
• Public accounting / Big 4 experience is a plus.
• Experience with SOX or similarly rigorous internal control environments is highly desirable.
• Experience with ERP implementations, process improvement, or financial systems enhancements.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a well-established manufacturing organization with a complex operation and strong market presence. The Controller will have significant visibility across the organization and the opportunity to make an immediate impact on accounting operations, financial controls, cost accounting, and business performance.

The ideal candidate will be someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, improving processes, developing a team, and partnering with operations and executive leadership rather than simply overseeing the accounting function from a distance.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).