Controller

Julison Sell Search Team; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Julison Sell Search Team partners with an established financial institution in the South Puget Sound area to recruit a Senior Controller. This role leads accounting, reporting, internal controls, and regulatory compliance, shaping policy and guiding the accounting team.

The ideal candidate has CPA credentials, deep GAAP knowledge, SEC experience, and a proven track record in banking or highly regulated environments. Expect senior leadership collaboration and cross-functional oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Active CPA designation required.
• Progressive accounting and finance leadership experience, ideally within banking or financial services.
• Experience working within a public company and highly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, SEC reporting, financial reporting, internal controls, and SOX compliance.
• Experience with bank regulatory reporting and familiarity with applicable federal banking regulations strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of CECL and allowance for credit losses processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting teams.
• Strong technical accounting, analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience with enterprise accounting/ERP systems and accounts payable platforms.
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• CMA designation is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the organization’s accounting and financial reporting functions, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements and regulatory filings.
• Lead SEC and bank regulatory reporting, including quarterly and annual filings and applicable regulatory reports.
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and ensure appropriate controls are designed, documented, and operating effectively in accordance with SOX requirements.
• Establish and oversee accounting policies, procedures, and practices in accordance with GAAP and applicable financial reporting standards.
• Manage core accounting functions including the general ledger, investment accounting, accounts payable, fixed assets, income taxes, prepaid and accrued expenses, and related accounting systems.
• Analyze complex transactions and determine appropriate accounting treatment under GAAP and applicable regulatory guidance.
• Provide accounting guidance and support to business units and senior leadership throughout the organization.
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors and support financial, regulatory, and SOX-related audits.
• Monitor new accounting standards and regulatory developments and lead implementation of applicable changes.
• Oversee the quarterly allowance for credit losses process, including CECL modeling, supporting documentation, controls, and related analysis.
• Support financial analysis, due diligence, and financial modeling related to potential acquisitions, mergers, business combinations, and other strategic initiatives.
• Guide the continued development and optimization of accounting systems, processes, reporting capabilities, and controls.
• Lead, coach, and develop accounting professionals while establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
• Partner across the organization on strategic initiatives, regulatory matters, risk management, and other projects impacting accounting and finance.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Financial modeling

Problem-solving

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA designation

CMA designation (nice to have)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Controller – South Puget Sound Washington

We are partnering with an established financial institution in the Tacoma market to identify an experienced Controller to lead key accounting, financial reporting, regulatory reporting, and internal control functions.

This is a senior accounting leadership position with significant responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the organization’s financial reporting, accounting operations, regulatory filings, and internal controls. The Controller will work closely with executive leadership, internal business partners, auditors, and regulatory stakeholders while leading and developing the accounting team.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the organization’s accounting and financial reporting functions, ensuring accurate and timely financial statements and regulatory filings.
• Lead SEC and bank regulatory reporting, including quarterly and annual filings and applicable regulatory reports.
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and ensure appropriate controls are designed, documented, and operating effectively in accordance with SOX requirements.
• Establish and oversee accounting policies, procedures, and practices in accordance with GAAP and applicable financial reporting standards.
• Manage core accounting functions including the general ledger, investment accounting, accounts payable, fixed assets, income taxes, prepaid and accrued expenses, and related accounting systems.
• Analyze complex transactions and determine appropriate accounting treatment under GAAP and applicable regulatory guidance.
• Provide accounting guidance and support to business units and senior leadership throughout the organization.
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors and support financial, regulatory, and SOX-related audits.
• Monitor new accounting standards and regulatory developments and lead implementation of applicable changes.
• Oversee the quarterly allowance for credit losses process, including CECL modeling, supporting documentation, controls, and related analysis.
• Support financial analysis, due diligence, and financial modeling related to potential acquisitions, mergers, business combinations, and other strategic initiatives.
• Guide the continued development and optimization of accounting systems, processes, reporting capabilities, and controls.
• Lead, coach, and develop accounting professionals while establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
• Partner across the organization on strategic initiatives, regulatory matters, risk management, and other projects impacting accounting and finance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Active CPA designation required.
• Progressive accounting and finance leadership experience, ideally within banking or financial services.
• Experience working within a public company and highly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, SEC reporting, financial reporting, internal controls, and SOX compliance.
• Experience with bank regulatory reporting and familiarity with applicable federal banking regulations strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of CECL and allowance for credit losses processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting teams.
• Strong technical accounting, analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience with enterprise accounting/ERP systems and accounts payable platforms.
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• CMA designation is a plus but not required.

What They Are Looking For

The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with the ability to lead people and operate effectively across a complex financial institution. This person should be comfortable owning critical reporting and control processes, researching technical accounting issues, working directly with auditors and senior leadership, and translating complex financial information into clear recommendations.

Banking or financial services experience will be particularly valuable given the regulatory reporting, CECL, and industry-specific accounting responsibilities of the position.