Controller

Polaris Financial Staffing; Savannah (GA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Polaris Financial Staffing is seeking a seasoned Controller for its Savannah, GA operation. The role oversees day-to-day accounting, month-end close, and financial reporting with a hands-on leadership approach.

The ideal candidate will balance strategic oversight with detailed work, guiding a growing accounting team in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Initial onsite work, followed by remote work within driving distance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful experience managing the month-end close and financial reporting process.
• Experience leading accounting teams such as Controller/Assistant Controller/Accounting Manager.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Experience with balance sheet reconciliations, general ledger accounting, cash management, and internal controls.
• Experience supervising and developing accounting professionals.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP/accounting systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• CPA preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee general accounting, including GL, AP, AR, cash management, and reconciliations.
• Drive monthly, quarterly, and annual close and reporting processes.
• Prepare statements: income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow.
• Maintain GAAP compliance and internal controls.
• Develop accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Coordinate audits with external auditors.
• Partner with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, and analysis.
• Provide variance analysis and financial insights.
• Lead and develop accounting staff.

Skills

Excel skills

Analytical

Communication with executives

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Accounting software

Job description

Please Read! This position is onsite for the first few months and then it will become remote so you will need to live within driving distance of Savannah.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Controller to join its finance and accounting organization in Savannah, Georgia. The Controller will play a key role in overseeing the company’s day‑to‑day accounting operations, financial reporting, month‑end close, internal controls, and overall accuracy and integrity of the financial statements.

This position is ideal for an accounting professional who enjoys operating in a growing, entrepreneurial environment and is comfortable balancing strategic responsibilities with hands‑on involvement in the details of the accounting function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company’s general accounting function, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage and drive the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and in accordance with GAAP.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Prepare and review account reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other accounting schedules.
• Partner with senior finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, cash‑flow management, and financial analysis.
• Provide meaningful analysis of financial results, including budget‑to‑actual and period‑over‑period variances.
• Manage cash reporting and assist with short‑and‑long‑term cash‑flow forecasting.
• Coordinate annual audits and serve as a primary point of contact for external auditors.
• Work with outside tax professionals on federal, state, and local tax compliance matters.
• Ensure compliance with applicable financial reporting, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee and develop members of the accounting team, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and appropriate controls.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve accounting processes, reporting, systems, and workflows.
• Partner cross‑functionally with operations and other departments to ensure financial information is accurate, timely, and useful for decision‑making.
• Support senior leadership with special projects, financial analysis, and other strategic initiatives as the company continues to grow.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• Approximately 7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful experience managing the month‑end close and financial reporting process.
• Previous Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or similar leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Demonstrated experience with balance sheet reconciliations, general ledger accounting, cash management, and internal controls.
• Experience supervising and developing accounting professionals.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP/accounting systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial, growth‑oriented environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with senior executives and non‑financial business leaders.
• CPA preferred but not necessarily required, depending upon the depth of the candidate’s accounting and Controller experience.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a strong technical accountant who is also highly operational and hands‑on. This individual should be comfortable digging into the general ledger and resolving accounting issues personally while also managing the broader accounting function.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of accounting discipline, business judgment, leadership ability, and an improvement‑oriented mindset. Experience within a high‑growth, privately held, technology‑enabled, professional services, marketing, legal services, or similar organization would translate particularly well.