Controller

Vaco by Highspring; Windham (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks an experienced Controller to lead its accounting and financial operations. This hands-on leadership role manages a multi-level team and ensures accurate, compliant financial processes in a fast-growing environment.

The ideal candidate is a CPA or Master's-level accounting professional with strong technical expertise, who thrives on improving systems, driving efficiency, and guiding strategic finance initiatives alongside the CFO and senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Active CPA license strongly preferred.
• Previous experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or in a senior-level accounting leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience with M&A transactions, including due diligence and integration.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and technical accounting.
• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and developing an accounting team.
• Experience working in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to partner with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting function: ledgers, reconciliations, AP/AR, payroll, close.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes with timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, forecasts and analyses.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and financial planning.
• Partner with leaders to provide financial analysis for decision-making.
• Coordinate audits and liaise with external auditors.
• Drive process improvements and system enhancements, including M&A integration.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

GAAP proficiency

Financial analysis

Education

Active CPA license

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Controller

My client is a growing and evolving organization seeking an experienced Controller to oversee its accounting and financial operations. This is a hands-on leadership position with responsibility for managing a multi-level accounting team while ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of the organization's financial processes.

This is an excellent opportunity for a CPA or Master's-level accounting professional with strong technical accounting expertise and leadership experience. The ideal candidate will thrive in a high-growth, fast-paced environment and enjoy the opportunity to improve processes, enhance systems, and contribute to significant business initiatives.

The Controller will work closely with the CFO, fellow Controller, and senior leaders across the organization, including divisional, sales, and quality leadership.

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day accounting function, including general ledger, reconciliations, AP, AR, payroll, and financial close


• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting


• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, forecasts, and financial analyses


• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls


• Partner with the other Controller to ensure consistency and accuracy across financial reporting and accounting activities


• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and financial planning


• Partner with operational and business leaders to provide financial analysis and insights to support decision-making


• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and federal, state, and local requirements


• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls, and increase finance department efficiency


• Participate in accounting system enhancements, technology initiatives, and other finance-related projects


• Play an active role in M&A transactions, including financial due diligence and post-acquisition integration


• Assist with integrating accounting processes, systems, controls, and reporting following acquisitions


• Coordinate external and annual financial audits and serve as a key contact for outside auditors


• Identify and address control weaknesses to safeguard company assets and maintain financial data integrity


• Manage, coach, and develop the accounting team, including senior/staff accounting professionals and AR/AP personnel


• Establish clear expectations and performance standards while fostering a collaborative and accountable team environment


• Develop team members and build the capabilities needed to support continued organizational growth


• Take ownership of special projects and process improvement initiatives as business needs evolve

Qualifications

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


• Active CPA license strongly preferred


• Previous experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or in a senior-level accounting leadership role


• Demonstrated experience with M&A transactions, including due diligence and integration


• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and technical accounting


• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and developing an accounting team


• Experience working in a high-growth, fast-paced environment


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to partner effectively with senior leadership and cross-functional teams


• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or a comparable ERP system highly desirable


• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills


• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a rapidly changing environment

Why This Opportunity?

• High-impact leadership role with significant visibility across the organization


• Opportunity to work closely with the CFO and senior leadership


• Hands-on involvement in M&A, integration, and strategic finance initiatives


• Ability to improve and build upon accounting processes and systems


• Opportunity to lead and develop a multi-level accounting team


• Growing organization with significant opportunity to make an impact

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (\"we,\" \"our,\" or \"Vaco by Highspring\") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.


• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.


• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.


• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.


• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.