Controller

Benskin Talent Partners; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Bonus potential

Ownership potential after 1 year

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Benskin Talent Partners is seeking a Controller for a St. Louis-based consulting engineering firm. You will lead the finance function, report to the COO, and partner with the leadership team to translate financial data into strategic decisions.

The role focuses on close management, budgeting, cash flow, audits, and building a scalable finance function. CPA preferred and 7+ years in accounting/finance within professional services or project-based organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including leading accounting operations and financial reporting.
• Strong leadership and team development experience; ability to manage a finance function.

Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting operations: close, statements, and management reporting.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and reporting on performance, utilization, backlog, profitability, and cash flow.
• Manage cash position, liquidity, banking relationships, and treasury activities.
• Establish internal controls and coordinate audits and tax engagements.
• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting/finance team.
• Partner with COO and leadership to translate financial data into actionable recommendations.
• Streamline processes and improve reporting automation, leveraging Deltek Vantagepoint.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Internal controls

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Deltek Vantagepoint

Excel

Job description

St. Louis, MO (on-site, downtown; one remote day per week)

About the Job

Some Controller roles are about maintaining someone else's machine. This one is about building.

Benskin Talent Partners is leading this search for our client, a St. Louis-based consulting engineering firm with over 125 employees and a track record most companies would envy: decades in business, consistent year-over-year profitability, and a Top Workplace award every year.

With the CFO retiring in early 2027, the firm is hiring a Controller to step in as the senior finance leader and head of the finance function, reporting directly to the COO, with training and support from the outgoing CFO. They want someone who loves the Controller craft: someone energized by a clean close, strong processes, and a finance function other departments trust.

What You Will Do

• Lead all accounting operations: month-end and year-end close, financial statements, and management reporting
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and reporting on performance, utilization, backlog, profitability, and cash flow
• Manage cash position, liquidity, banking relationships, and treasury activities
• Establish strong internal controls and coordinate annual audits and tax engagements
• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting/finance team
• Partner with the COO and leadership team, translating financial data into recommendations that drive decisions
• Streamline processes, improve reporting automation, and strengthen the firm's use of Deltek Vantagepoint

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred
• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including leading accounting operations and financial reporting
• Demonstrated leadership experience with direct reports and team development
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and internal controls
• Advanced Excel and financial systems expertise
• Experience in professional services, engineering, architecture, consulting, or project-based organizations preferred
• A hands‑on leader who understands how a small- to mid-size company works and enjoys being in the details as much as the strategy

What the Firm Offers

• A comprehensive benefit package including employer-paid medical benefits for the employee
• Bonus potential and ownership potential after one year of employment
• An award‑winning, highly collaborative culture that is flexible with life when it matters