Controller $150-170k plus 15-20% bonus

Bell & Associates, Inc.; DeKalb (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bell & Associates, Inc. is recruiting a hands‑on Controller to own day‑to‑day accounting, close, and reporting. You will carry responsibility for HR/payroll and direct IT vendor coordination while maintaining a GAAP‑based monthly package for leadership review.

The role emphasizes end‑to‑end execution, internal controls, and a focus on timely, accurate financial statements across multiple locations.

Qualifications

• Experience with GAAP and month-end close processes.
• Ability to maintain journal-entry logs and audit trails.
• Cross-functional coordination with HR/payroll and IT vendors.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close end-to-end with working papers and variance commentary.
• Prepare and post recurring and adjusting journal entries with supporting docs.
• Maintain GL integrity, COA discipline, and robust reconciliations.
• Oversee fixed-asset/capex accounting and depreciation schedules.
• Ensure inventory accounting incl. standard costs, cycle counts, and obsolete reserves.
• Manage lease accounting under ASC 842 for multiple facilities.
• Establish internal controls and segregation of duties to safeguard assets.
• Lead annual internal/external audit coordination and tax compliance.
• Oversee AR/AP processing, vendor payments, and cash forecasting.
• Support budgeting, system optimization (Infor), and policy documentation.
• Oversee HR/payroll administration and coordination with third-party benefits providers.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Internal controls

Audit coordination

HR/payroll familiarity

Tools

Infor

Avalara

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Bell & Associates has been engaged to help our client recruit their next Controller. The Controller keeps the train on the track — owning day-to-day accounting, financial close and reporting, and carrying functional responsibility for HR / payroll and IT vendor coordination (expected to be minimal going forward). This is a hands-on, execution-focused role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the month-end close process end-to-end, targeting completion within 10 business days, with full supporting workpapers and variance commentary.
• Prepare, review, and post recurring and adjusting journal entries each close — accruals, prepaids, depreciation, payroll, inventory, and reclasses — with supporting documentation.
• Maintain the journal-entry log and approval workflow, ensuring each entry is reviewed, properly classified, and carries a clear audit trail.
• Prepare accurate, GAAP-compliant monthly financial statements and maintain a clean reporting package for review by the Strategic Finance Leader.
• Maintain general ledger integrity, chart of accounts discipline, and robust account reconciliations across all balance sheet and income statement accounts.
• Own fixed-asset and capex accounting (i.e., capitalization policy, depreciation schedules, etc.).
• Ensure clean inventory accounting — standard costs, cycle counts, and excess / obsolete reserves.
• Maintain lease accounting under ASC 842 across the Illinois and California facilities.
• Establish and maintain internal controls and segregation of duties to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud.

– Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for the annual third-party financial audit — managing timelines, schedules, and a clean audit file.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors on federal and state income tax; manage internal sales and use tax compliance using Avalara across a multi-state footprint.
• Ensure timely filing and payment of all federal, state, and local tax obligations (income, payroll, property, and sales / use).
• Support member tax distributions, K-1 reporting, and lender compliance reporting.

Accounts Payable, Receivable & Treasury

• Oversee and direct the AR / AP direct report, ensuring timely vendor invoice processing, accurate GL coding, and consistent collections.
• Process and review vendor invoices with three-way match (PO, receipt, invoice); manage the AP aging and run scheduled payment batches (checks, ACH, wires).
• Monitor DSO, DPO, and working-capital metrics and escalate as appropriate.
• Manage cash positioning and treasury activity; maintain an accurate cash flow forecast.

Budgeting, Systems & Process

• Support the annual budget — gathering department inputs, consolidating the company-wide plan, and maintaining a reliable monthly forecast (P&L, BS, and CFS).
• Maintain and optimize the accounting system (Infor).
• Document, implement, and continuously improve accounting policies and procedures.

HR, Payroll, IT & Compensation Administration

• Manage bi-weekly payroll processing.
• Alongside third-party insurance / benefits broker, oversee benefits administration and commercial insurance renewals with discretion and professionalism.
• Calculate and administer the company’s various bonus plans each period.
• Own day-to-day HR administration (incl. new employee onboarding and maintenance of employee records).
• Be the primary point of contact with the company’s third-party IT providers and coordinate employee onboarding and offboarding, hardware, and user access. Periodically evaluate and implement process and system improvements to strengthen controls, efficiency, and scalability.

BETTER TALENT. BETTER OPPORTUNITY. FIND IT HERE.

Bellsearchfirm.com

Bell & Associates, Inc. is a recognized Executive Recruiting & Staffing leader based in Kansas City. We focus and specialize in the following practice areas - Accounting/Finance, Engineering, Executive Leadership, Financial Institutions, Healthcare, Human Resources, Information Technology, Manufacturing/Operations Management. We provide top talent to our clients on a Direct Hire, Contract, and Contract-to-Hire basis.