Controller

Vaco by Highspring; Monterey (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Senior Controller to provide financial leadership for a major operating division. This on-site role in Monterey, CA, will oversee accounting, financial reporting, cost analysis, and strategic advisory support to divisional leadership.

The ideal candidate has extensive manufacturing accounting background, executive presence, and proven ability to use financial data to improve profitability, margins and performance across the business.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience with senior leadership responsibility.
• 5+ years of finance leadership in manufacturing, consumer products, or inventory-intensive environments.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, close management, standard costing and operational finance.
• Experience managing large budgets, analyzing manufacturing costs, and partnering with operations.
• Proven team leadership, executive communication, ERP, and advanced Excel skills with ability to influence decisions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with divisional leadership to develop business strategies and support decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to drive revenue growth, margin improvement and profitability.
• Oversee weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting and GAAP compliance.
• Lead month-end and year-end close activities with accurate financial results.
• Manage standard costing, product costing, and analysis of materials, labor, freight and other manufacturing costs.
• Monitor performance metrics and communicate trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, working capital, and capital investment analysis.
• Evaluate capital project spending and returns to support investment decisions.
• Collaborate with operations and other finance leaders to improve processes and reporting.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the divisional accounting and finance team.

Skills

ERP

Advanced Excel

Team leadership

Executive communication

Budget management

Manufacturing accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Senior Controller

Our client, a large consumer products and manufacturing company, is seeking a Senior Controller to provide financial leadership for a significant operating division.

Location:

This role is on-site in Monterey, CA.

Job Description:

This role will oversee accounting, financial reporting, cost analysis, and operational finance while serving as a strategic advisor to divisional leadership. The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing accounting experience with executive presence and the ability to use financial and operational data to improve profitability, margins, and business performance.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with divisional leadership to develop business strategies and support operational and financial decision-making
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations that drive revenue growth, margin improvement, cost optimization, and profitability
• Oversee weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting and ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company policies
• Lead month-end and year-end close activities while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial results
• Manage standard costing, product costing, and analysis of materials, labor, freight, packaging, and other manufacturing costs
• Monitor financial and operational performance metrics and communicate trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, working capital, and capital investment analysis
• Evaluate capital project spending and expected returns to support disciplined investment decisions
• Partner with operations and other finance leaders to improve processes, reporting, and business performance
• Lead, mentor, and develop the divisional accounting and finance team

Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including significant senior leadership responsibility
• 5+ years of finance leadership experience within manufacturing, consumer products, or another inventory-intensive environment
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, close management, standard costing, and operational finance
• Demonstrated experience managing large budgets, analyzing manufacturing costs, and partnering with operational leadership
• Proven team leadership, executive communication, ERP, and advanced Excel skills, with the ability to influence strategic business decisions

Compensation:

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 certifications;
• Office location and other geographic considerations;
• Other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco by Highspring notes that the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

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.

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

• 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).