Controller

ProSearch; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ProSearch seeks a practical finance leader to manage the day-to-day accounting function while elevating budgeting, reporting, forecasting, cash visibility, dashboards, systems and process discipline.

The ideal candidate will both manage and perform work, bringing structure, accountability, and scalable finance practices to a growing business, and will develop the team and internal controls as the company scales. Experience in food, distribution, or retail sectors is a plus.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and practical GAAP experience.
• Experience managing or materially supporting month-end close.
• Experience with financial statements, reconciliations, general ledger, A/P, A/R, cash reporting, and internal controls.
• Experience creating budgets, forecasts, management reports, and variance analysis.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with ERP and reporting systems.
• Ability to build useful reports, dashboards, and financial tools.
• Experience managing or supervising accounting staff.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with executives, managers, outside advisors, and ownership.
• Practical, hands-on operating style.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly close process and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Oversee general ledger, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, A/P, A/R, cash application, and payroll‑related accounting controls.
• Create close calendars, task ownership, documentation, and backup responsibilities.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and budget‑to‑actual reporting.
• Develop management reporting and dashboards around revenue, margin, operating expenses, labor, cash flow, A/R, and departmental performance.
• Improve cash visibility and working capital discipline.
• Oversee A/R processes, including aging review, collections workflow, payment portal adoption, disputes, exceptions, and coordination with sales.
• Strengthen internal controls appropriate for the company’s size and stage.
• Improve financial reporting from ERP and related business systems.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual work through improved systems, reporting tools, automation, and AI‑enabled workflows where appropriate.
• Document key accounting processes and create better redundancy across the department.
• Manage, train, and develop accounting and finance staff.
• Evaluate department structure over time and recommend the most efficient staffing model as the company grows.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Financial reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Excel skills

ERP experience

Dashboards & reporting

Staff management

Executive communication

Internal controls

Automation / AI in finance

Education

CPA or CMA or MBA (optional)

Tools

ERP systems

Power BI

Power Query

Advanced Excel

Financial reporting tools

Job description

This role is ideal for a practical, technically strong accounting and finance leader who can manage the day-to-day accounting function while also improving budgeting, reporting, forecasting, cash visibility, dashboards, systems, and process discipline.

The right candidate should be comfortable both managing and doing the work. This person will bring structure, accountability, and improved financial visibility to a growing operating business while helping build a more scalable and efficient department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly close process and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Oversee general ledger, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, A/P, A/R, cash application, and payroll‑related accounting controls.
• Create clear close calendars, task ownership, documentation, and backup responsibilities.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and budget‑to‑actual reporting.
• Develop management reporting and dashboards around revenue, margin, operating expenses, labor, cash flow, A/R, and departmental performance.
• Improve cash visibility and working capital discipline.
• Oversee A/R processes, including aging review, collections workflow, payment portal adoption, disputes, exceptions, and coordination with sales.
• Strengthen internal controls appropriate for the company’s size and stage.
• Improve financial reporting from ERP and related business systems.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual work through improved systems, reporting tools, automation, and AI‑enabled workflows where appropriate.
• Document key accounting processes and create better redundancy across the department.
• Manage, train, and develop accounting and finance staff.
• Evaluate department structure over time and recommend the most efficient staffing model as the company grows.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate has likely served as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Director of Accounting, Director of Accounting & Finance, Accounting Manager, or finance leader in a small-to-midsized operating business.

This person should have strong accounting fundamentals, practical GAAP experience, and the ability to improve reporting, budgeting, analysis, systems, and financial visibility. They should be equally comfortable reviewing financial statements, building a budget, improving an A/R process, working inside an ERP, and helping department leaders understand their numbers.

Experience in food, distribution, wholesale, retail, e‑commerce, manufacturing, inventory‑based businesses, or other operationally complex environments is strongly preferred.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and practical GAAP experience.
• Experience managing or materially supporting month‑end close.
• Experience with financial statements, reconciliations, general ledger, A/P, A/R, cash reporting, and internal controls.
• Experience creating budgets, forecasts, management reports, and variance analysis.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with ERP and reporting systems.
• Ability to build useful reports, dashboards, and financial tools.
• Experience managing or supervising accounting staff.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with executives, managers, outside advisors, and ownership.
• Practical, hands‑on operating style.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or equivalent practical experience preferred but not required.
• Experience with inventory, distribution, food, seafood, wholesale, retail, or e‑commerce businesses.
• Experience with ERP systems and financial reporting tools.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Query, advanced Excel, or similar reporting platforms.
• Experience with A/R portals, customer payment systems, process automation, or finance workflow improvement.
• Familiarity with AI‑enabled tools or automation in accounting and finance workflows.
• Experience preparing reporting for ownership, lenders, or board‑level review.

Key Attributes

• Hands‑on and detail‑oriented.
• Strong accounting fundamentals.
• Comfortable in a growing, entrepreneurial business.
• Able to bring structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Process‑driven and systems‑minded.
• Curious about technology, automation, and better ways of working.
• Able to build redundancy and reduce single‑person dependency.
• Practical, direct, and accountable.
• Capable of growing with the business over time.

Compensation

Base salary range: $125,000-$150,000, depending on experience.

Performance bonus opportunity may be considered based on company performance and achievement of agreed‑upon goals related to reporting, close discipline, process improvement, department structure, and financial visibility.

Salary Disclaimer

The salary range for this role reflects the minimum and maximum compensation for the role. Offers are typically made between the range minimum and the range midpoint. Actual compensation will be determined based on job‑related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process. Compensation may also vary based on where a role is performed.

Equal Opportunity Statement

ProSearch is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.