Controller

HAPPIER; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

HAPPIER in New York seeks an experienced hands-on Controller to lead the finance function, transitioning from a fractional team to in-house, and to build scalable financial infrastructure for our expanding retail and hospitality operations. You will partner with the CFO to set strategy and ensure integrity of financial records.

You will own the month-end close across all entities, manage GL, inventory accounting, A/P and A/R, intercompany eliminations, cash reporting, payroll, and the setup of

Responsibilities

• Own the full month end close process across all legal entities including the retail store and commissary. Prepare consolidated and entity-level P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements. Deliver a complete management reporting package to the CFO and CEO by business day 15 each month with a target of business day 10 within 60 days.
• General Ledger and Accounting Operations: Assess, clean up, and maintain the chart of accounts and general ledger across all entities. Post and review all journal entries. Ensure all transactions are accurately classified, properly supported, and consistently documented. Build trust in the financial records from the foundation up.
• Inventory and COGS Accounting: Establish and maintain the inventory accounting methodology across the retail store and commissary kitchen. Implement a consistent physical-count cadence. Track spoilage and waste with daily discipline. Ensure cost of goods sold is accurately stated at all times across both entities.
• Accounts Payable and Receivable: Oversee AP and AR transaction processing. Review AP and AR aging reports weekly. Ensure vendor invoices are properly approved, coded, and paid on schedule. Manage vendor relationships professionally and elevate any payment or collection issues promptly.
• Intercompany and Multi-Entity Accounting: Manage all intercompany transactions across entities. Reconcile intercompany balances monthly. Prepare proper eliminations for consolidated reporting. Identify and document all related party transactions with appropriate disclosure.
• Cash and Banking: Work in close collaboration with the Treasury and Cash Manager on daily cash position reporting. Review and approve bank reconciliations across all entities monthly.
• Payroll Accounting: Record all payroll journal entries. Reconcile payroll to the general ledger monthly. Ensure proper departmental and location-level labor cost allocation.
• New Location Buildout: Establish the accounting infrastructure for each new location as it opens. Properly capitalize pre-opening and leasehold improvement costs. Set up entity-level chart of accounts. Train and oversee location-level bookkeeping staff.
• Team Management: Directly manage the Senior Accountant, Store Bookkeeper, and Commissary Bookkeeper. Establish clear daily and monthly deliverable expectations. Build a culture of accuracy, timeliness, and accountability across the accounting function.
• Audit and Tax Coordination: Maintain audit-ready financial records at all times. Coordinate annual tax filings and any audit or compliance requirements.

Job description

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to join our finance leadership team reporting directly to the CFO. This is a build-phase opportunity for a technically strong accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic, fast-moving environment and is energized by the challenge of establishing financial infrastructure from the ground up.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to join our finance leadership team reporting directly to the CFO. This is a build-phase opportunity for a technically strong accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic, fast-moving environment and is energized by the challenge of establishing financial infrastructure from the ground up.

The Controller will be responsible for transitioning the accounting function in-house from an existing fractional finance team, establishing rigorous financial processes to be used to scale across multiple entities when needed, and producing accurate and timely financial reporting as the company scales its retail and hospitality portfolio.

This role requires someone who is equally comfortable setting strategy and posting journal entries - a true builder who takes personal ownership of the integrity of the financial records.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Close and Reporting
  • Own the full month end close process across all legal entities including the retail store and commissary. Prepare consolidated and entity-level P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements. Deliver a complete management reporting package to the CFO and CEO by business day 15 each month with a target of business day 10 within 60 days.
  • General Ledger and Accounting Operations
  • Assess, clean up, and maintain the chart of accounts and general ledger across all entities. Post and review all journal entries. Ensure all transactions are accurately classified, properly supported, and consistently documented. Build trust in the financial records from the foundation up.
• Inventory and COGS Accounting
  • Establish and maintain the inventory accounting methodology across the retail store and commissary kitchen. Implement a consistent physical-count cadence. Track spoilage and waste with daily discipline. Ensure cost of goods sold is accurately stated at all times across both entities.
• Accounts Payable and Receivable
  • Oversee AP and AR transaction processing. Review AP and AR aging reports weekly. Ensure vendor invoices are properly approved, coded, and paid on schedule. Manage vendor relationships professionally and elevate any payment or collection issues promptly.
• Intercompany and Multi-Entity Accounting
  • Manage all intercompany transactions across entities. Reconcile intercompany balances monthly. Prepare proper eliminations for consolidated reporting. Identify and document all related party transactions with appropriate disclosure.
• Cash and Banking
  • Work in close collaboration with the Treasury and Cash Manager on daily cash position reporting. Review and approve bank reconciliations across all entities monthly.
• Payroll Accounting
  • Record all payroll journal entries. Reconcile payroll to the general ledger monthly. Ensure proper departmental and location-level labor cost allocation.
• New Location Buildout
  • Establish the accounting infrastructure for each new location as it opens. Properly capitalize pre-opening and leasehold improvement costs. Set up entity-level chart of accounts. Train and oversee location-level bookkeeping staff.
• Team Management
  • Directly manage the Senior Accountant, Store Bookkeeper, and Commissary Bookkeeper. Establish clear daily and monthly deliverable expectations. Build a culture of accuracy, timeliness, and accountability across the accounting function.
• Audit and Tax Coordination
  • Maintain audit-ready financial records at all times. Coordinate annual tax filings and any audit or compliance requirements.