Controller

Bell & Associates, Inc.; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Bell & Associates, Inc. is seeking a seasoned accounting leader to drive the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, prepare robust financial statements, and guide strategic financial planning for a manufacturing environment.

You will own reconciliations, variances analysis, and business partnering with senior leadership. The role requires 7–10 years of progressive accounting and 3+ years in a Controller or senior leader role, with strong GAAP knowledge and ERP experience; a Bachelor's in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a Controller or senior financial leadership role.
• Manufacturing industry experience required.
• Strong background in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, inventory management, external audits, and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements, management reports, and corporate reporting packages.
• Ensure balance sheet reconciliations are completed and adequately supported.
• Analyze financial results and explain variances to budget, forecast, and prior year performance.
• Develop financial analyses and reporting tools to communicate trends in revenue, profitability, operating expenses, working capital, and cash flow.
• Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies and reporting requirements.
• Oversee inventory valuation, standard costing, and cost accounting processes.
• Monitor manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, efficiency, and scrap costs.
• Support inventory management programs and physical inventory counts.
• Ensure inventory reserves and valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied.
• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, Engineering, and Production to improve financial and operational performance.
• Oversee all accounting functions, including General Ledger, AP, AR, Payroll, Fixed Assets, Inventory Accounting, and Cash Management.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Communication

Excel

Financial modeling

Business partnering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field

Tools

MS Excel

ERP systems

EPM systems

Job description

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements, management reports, and corporate reporting packages.
• Ensure balance sheet reconciliations are completed and adequately supported.
• Analyze financial results and explain variances to budget, forecast, and prior year performance.
• Develop financial analyses and reporting tools to communicate trends in revenue, profitability, operating expenses, working capital, and cash flow.
• Ensure compliance with corporate accounting policies and reporting requirements.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting and business planning process.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly forecasts, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow projections.
• Partner with department leaders to develop budgets, forecasts, and operational plans.
• Monitor financial performance and identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Develop financial models and business cases to support capital investments, pricing decisions, profitability analysis, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives.

Manufacturing Finance & Cost Accounting

• Oversee inventory valuation, standard costing, and cost accounting processes.
• Monitor manufacturing variances, including material, labor, overhead, efficiency, and scrap costs.
• Analyze gross margin performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Support inventory management programs and physical inventory counts.
• Ensure inventory reserves and valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied.
• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, Engineering, and Production to improve financial and operational performance.

Accounting Operations & Internal Controls

• Oversee all accounting functions, including General Ledger, AP, AR, Payroll, Fixed Assets, Inventory Accounting, and Cash Management.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time.
• Maintain effective accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Continuously improve accounting processes, workflows, and reporting efficiency.
• Safeguard company assets through sound financial controls and risk management practices.

Audit, Compliance & Treasury

• Coordinate annual audits and serve as the primary liaison with the auditors.
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation.
• Ensure compliance with tax regulations, statutory filings, government reporting requirements, and corporate policies.
• Monitor changes in accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee cash flow management, liquidity planning, customer credit risk, collections, and working capital performance.
• Support banking, insurance, and regulatory reporting requirements.

Leadership & Business Partnership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team through coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and customer service.
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to the President and management team.
• Present financial results, recommendations, and business insights to senior leadership.
• Support ERP optimization, process improvement initiatives, and special projects.
• Drive initiatives focused on profitability enhancement, cost reduction, working capital management, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Experience

• 7–10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a Controller or senior financial leadership role.
• Manufacturing industry experience required.
• Strong background in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, inventory management, external audits, and ERP systems.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) systems is considered an asset.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and business partnering abilities.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and results-driven.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.