Controller

Confidential; New Jersey; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential – PE-Backed Residential Services Company in Monmouth County, NJ seeks an experienced Controller to lead and strengthen the accounting organization. This on-site role reports to the CFO and collaborates with executive leadership and the private equity sponsor.

The successful candidate will stabilize and elevate the function, drive strong controls, develop the team, and modernize the finance infrastructure in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.
• Active CPA or CMA certification required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• 3+ years as a Controller or in a comparable leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, GL, and internal controls.
• Experience with multi-state income, sales, and use tax requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting professionals.
• Excellent communication with senior executives and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operations and overall performance of the accounting organization.
• Oversee the general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, and month-end/year-end close processes.
• Ensure timely, GAAP-compliant financial reporting.
• Develop and strengthen accounting policies, controls, and reporting processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team with clear priorities.

Skills

GAAP expertise

Financial reporting

General ledger

Internal controls

Month-end close

Year-end close

Multi-state taxes

Team leadership

Executive communication

Private equity environment

Education

Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Company: Confidential – PE-Backed Residential Services Company

Location: Monmouth County, New Jersey – On-Site at Corporate Headquarters

Title: Controller

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

Company Overview

Our client is a large, established, private equity-backed residential services company generating $500M+ in annual revenue. The organization has a significant multi-state operating footprint, more than 2,500 employees, and is continuing to invest in the infrastructure, systems, and leadership required to support its scale and continued growth.

The company is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Controller to lead and strengthen its accounting organization. This is a highly visible leadership position reporting directly to the CFO, with regular interaction with executive leadership and the company's private equity sponsor.

The Opportunity

This is not a maintenance‑oriented Controller role. The successful candidate will have a meaningful mandate to stabilize and elevate the accounting function, strengthen controls and processes, develop the team, and modernize the organization’s financial infrastructure.

The Controller will need to be comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial, fast‑moving environment where processes are still maturing. The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with a practical, business‑oriented approach and is willing to work hands‑on alongside the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day operations and overall performance of the accounting organization.
• Oversee the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and month‑end/year‑end close processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and company standards.
• Develop and strengthen accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and financial reporting processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team while establishing clear priorities, expectations, and accountability.
• Analyze financial results, identify trends and risks, and provide actionable insights to the CFO and executive leadership.
• Partner with the CFO on annual budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial planning, and strategic initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, manage costs, and strengthen overall financial performance.
• Oversee the integrity and effectiveness of accounting systems and financial data.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, financial institutions, tax professionals, and other outside partners.
• Partner with external CPAs on annual tax preparation and reporting across multiple legal entities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including multi‑state income, sales, and use taxes.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation across accounting processes, reporting, systems, and controls.
• Serve as a credible finance partner to the CFO, senior leadership, and private equity sponsor.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Active CPA or CMA certification required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• 3+ years serving as a Controller or in a comparable accounting leadership position.
• Strong command of GAAP, financial reporting, general ledger accounting, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated ownership of month‑end and year‑end close processes.
• Knowledge of multi‑state income, sales, and use tax requirements across multiple entities.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting professionals.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities with a track record of identifying issues and driving solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior executives, business leaders, auditors external partners, and private equity stakeholders.
• A level-headed, stabilizing leadership style with the ability to bring structure, accountability, and process discipline to a less mature accounting environment.
• Willingness to balance strategic leadership with hands‑on execution.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within a service‑based or field‑services organization, particularly construction, HVAC, home improvement, renewable energy, or a similar multi‑location environment.
• Experience with job‑costing systems and customer billing platforms.
• Strong ERP experience; NetSuite experience is highly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience operating within a private equity‑backed environment and interacting directly with a financial sponsor is highly desirable.

Why This Opportunity

• High‑visibility leadership role reporting directly to the CFO.
• Regular exposure to executive leadership and the company's private equity sponsor.
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact rather than simply inherit and maintain an established accounting function.
• Significant mandate to build the team, improve processes, strengthen controls, and modernize accounting operations.
• Join a large, established organization at an important stage in the continued evolution of its finance function.
• Opportunity for a hands‑on accounting leader to help build the infrastructure required to support a $500M+ multi-state business.