Controller (6 month Contract)

Talent Edge Recruiting; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Edge Recruiting is helping a venture-backed, tech-enabled retail platform in New York find an interim Controller for a ~6-month engagement. The role leads the full monthly accounting cycle, working alongside the current Controller during a structured overlap to ensure a smooth handoff.

The successful candidate will manage month-end close, lease accounting (ASC 842), financial statements, cash flow, budgeting support, and internal controls, while leading a small finance team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• Management experience leading teams of 3+ people.
• Hands-on experience in a smaller company or startup, owning month-end close.
• Strong proficiency in GAAP and financial statement preparation, including month-end and year-end close.
• Lease accounting experience required; ASC 842 strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly brand billing cycle, including building statements and reconciling amounts with brand partners.
• Drive month-end close from start to finish, including journal entries and reconciliations.
• Manage ASC 842 lease accounting across a multi-market retail lease portfolio.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and fixed assets.
• Oversee AP/AR, cash management, and cash flow analysis; support budgeting with FP&A.

Skills

NetSuite

Advanced Excel

GAAP accounting

Full-cycle close

Lease accounting ASC 842

High-volume workflow

Leadership

Tools

Ramp

Job description

Our client is a venture-backed, tech-enabled retail platform that launches and operates branded brick-and-mortar stores for high-growth consumer brands across activewear, apparel, jewelry, and lifestyle. The brand's name is on the door and its product is on the shelves. Our client runs everything behind it, from real estate and leases to store teams, fixtures, and point of sale.

No manufacturing. No inventory. Just a lean, fast-moving corporate finance team powering a national network of stores, and a front-row seat to how modern consumer brands grow offline.

About the Role

• Location: New York, NY (Hybrid, 1–2 days per week onsite in Manhattan)
• Pay Rate: $80–$90/hour

Overview

Our client is bringing on an interim Controller for an approximately 6-month engagement to own the full monthly accounting cycle. The Controller will step in alongside the current Controller, who will cross-train them and hand off a fully built process during a structured overlap. This gives the Controller two complete monthly cycles side by side before taking the lead. The work runs on a predictable monthly rhythm, so a strong Controller can hit the ground running and make an immediate impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly brand billing cycle. This means building performance-based billing statements for every brand partner and store and reconciling amounts owed between the company and its brands. It is the heart of the role and the largest share of the monthly workload.
• Drive month-end close from start to finish, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and review.
• Manage ASC 842 lease accounting across a large, multi-market portfolio of retail store leases.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, including the P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, along with fixed asset accounting.
• Oversee AP/AR, cash management, and cash flow analysis.
• Support budgeting and forecasting in close partnership with the FP&A team.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls and support tax compliance.
• Lead and develop a Senior Accountant and an AP/AR Specialist.
• Partner directly with senior finance leadership and the CEO as the go-to owner of accounting accuracy and timing.

Required Skills

• NetSuite (general ledger, financial statements, payments, and journal entries)
• Advanced Excel, including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs
• GAAP accounting and financial statement preparation
• Full-cycle month-end and year-end close
• Lease accounting (ASC 842)
• High-volume, recurring workflow management with a sharp eye for accuracy
• Hands-on leadership, ownership, and the ability to work independently in a lean environment

Preferred Skills

• Accounting background in retail, high-growth startups, SaaS, or build-the-department environments
• CPA
• Experience with Ramp
• Please note: this role does not involve inventory accounting.

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Management experience, ideally leading teams of 3 or more
• Hands-on experience in a smaller company or startup environment, owning all aspects of the month-end close
• Strong proficiency in GAAP and financial statement preparation, including month-end and year-end close
• Lease accounting experience required; ASC 842 experience strongly preferred
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs
• Available to start in October or November

Pay range and compensation package

• $80–$90/hour, approximately 40 hours per week
• Contract length of approximately 6 months, targeting a November start (October start possible) and running through May, with the possibility of extending through June
• Strong performers may have the opportunity to extend beyond the initial engagement based on business needs
• Standard business hours, roughly 9–5, with occasional evening flexibility during peak close periods
• Hybrid schedule with 1–2 days per week onsite at a modern Manhattan office
• Structured onboarding with hands-on cross-training from the current Controller and a planned overlap period
• Paid time off that accrues during the assignment
• Direct exposure to the CEO and executive team at a growth-stage company
• A fast-growing, collaborative culture where ownership is expected and impact is visible every month

Why This One Stands Out

• The stores our client operates span major shopping destinations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other top U.S. markets.
• Brand partners range from emerging digitally native labels to established names in activewear, intimates, jewelry, and menswear.
• The company is backed by leading venture investors and partners with major national mall operators and commerce platforms.
• Stores go from signed lease to open doors in months, not years, at a pace traditional retail rarely matches.

Additional Information

• This is a hybrid role requiring in-office presence 1–2 days per week in New York City. It is not a fully remote position.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.