Controller

Birnam Wood Golf Club; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Birnam Wood Golf Club seeks a seasoned Controller to lead the accounting and financial operations for the private club and HOA. You will ensure GAAP-compliant reporting, manage monthly close, and maintain strong internal controls while supervising payroll and accounting staff.

You will work closely with the Director of Finance and General Manager, directing fund accounting, budget tracking, and audits for both entities in a luxury hospitality setting.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of progressive accounting experience with at least two years in a senior/controller role.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration from an accredited four-year college.
• CPA or CHAE preferred but not required; HOA and Davis-Stirling Act knowledge highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Direct monthly close for two entities, with GAAP-compliant reporting.
• Manage reconciliations across bank accounts, ledgers, AR/AP, and fixed assets.
• Oversee payroll processing and staff development within the accounting team.
• Coordinate with external firms for annual audits and pro forma budgets.
• Ensure internal controls and financial policies meet regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

GAAP knowledge

Payroll processing

Financial reporting

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Admin

Tools

ClubEssentials

Paycom

Job description

Job Details

• Job Location: BWGC - SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108
• Position Type: Full Time
• Salary Range: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00 Salary/yearController
• Reports to: Director of Finance
• Supervises: Payroll and Accounting Specialist
• Classification: Exempt / Full-Time
• Salary range: $110,000 - $130,000

Education and/or Experience

• Degree: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
• Experience: 5 to 7 years of progressive professional accounting experience, with at least 2 years in a senior accounting role or Controller capacity within a private club, resort, or luxury hospitality operation.
• Dual-Entity Knowledge: Proven experience managing fund accounting and financial operations for a Homeowners Association (HOA) governed under the California Davis-Stirling Act is highly preferred.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success supervising, mentoring, and developing a lean accounting team.
• Licensure: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive (CHAE) designation is preferred but not required.

Job Knowledge, Core Competencies and Expectations

• Technical Stack: Advanced proficiency in club-specific accounting systems (ClubEssentials) and automated payroll/HR platforms (Paycom) is highly desirable.
• Regulatory Compliance: Deep understanding of US GAAP, internal control frameworks (ICFR), payroll taxation, and statutory HOA reserve funding requirements.
• Analytical Skills: Advanced capability in Microsoft Excel; strong aptitude for budget variance analysis, operational metrics, and preparing precise transactional data projections.
• Departmental Culture: Must possess strong communication skills and an approachable, service-oriented mindset, matching the department’s standard as a collaborative partner to club members and department heads.

Job Summary (Essential Functions)

Direct the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of both the Private Golf Club and the Homeowners Association (HOA). Ensure absolute data precision, maintain rigorous GAAP-compliant internal controls, and execute seamless monthly closing cycles. Serve as the primary driver of accurate financial reporting, payroll administration, and transactional tracking to support the Director of Finance and General Manager in long-term strategic and capital planning.

Job Tasks/Duties

Financial Reporting & General Ledger Management

• Prepares and delivers the monthly trial balance and comprehensive financial statements for both distinct entities, including income statements, balance sheets, and fund balance schedules.
• Conducts thorough monthly reconciliations of all bank accounts, subsidiary ledgers, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and fixed asset depreciation schedules.
• Oversees the member billing, statements, and aging collection procedures in accordance with established club policies.

Dual-Entity & HOA Compliance

• Manages strict fund accounting separation between the Club’s operations and the HOA’s restricted capital reserve funds to ensure full compliance with the Davis-Stirling Act.
• Coordinates and verifies the transactional inputs required for annual pro forma budget disclosures and statutory multi-year Reserve Studies.
• Serves as the primary operational liaison for external accounting firms during the annual corporate and HOA audits to maintain a track record of 100% clean audits.

Operational Control & Standardization

• Adheres to, maintains, and continuously improves established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure operational continuity, workflow consistency, and data security.
• Collaborates with the Director of Finance, General Manager, and department heads to monitor budgeted-versus-actual expenditures, flagging variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Directs, may participate in and verifies the taking of inventories for beverages, food, supplies, equipment, furnishings and other club assets.
• Verifies that all insurance records for club property are properly maintained.

Payroll & Team Leadership

• Processes and supervises the bi-monthly payroll framework via Paycom, ensuring strict compliance with federal and state labor laws.
• Selects, trains, schedules, and conducts performance evaluations for the accounting staff, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.
• Safeguards all organizational funds, verifying that allocations and disbursements are fully documented and approved.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Must be able to reach, bend, stoop, stand and lift up to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Birnam Wood Golf Club is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request.