Controller (Silverton or Palisade area)

High Country Search Group; Silverton (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Cell phone stipend

Signing bonus

Housing option in Palisade

Job summary

High Country Search Group seeks a hands-on Controller / Senior Accounting Manager to support a diverse family office portfolio across agriculture, real estate, hospitality, and media.

You will manage monthly close for ~25 entities, oversee intercompany activity, and drive AI-enabled improvements across back-office operations in a Colorado-based, primarily in-person role with travel to Montrose, Palisade/Grand Junction, and Silverton.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of GAAP accounting, month-end close, financial reporting.
• Experience working across multiple entities, business units, or portfolio companies preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the monthly close process and preparation of accurate financial statements across multiple entities.
• Maintain and review general ledger activity, reconciliations, accruals, intercompany transactions, and supporting schedules.
• Oversee accounting for approximately 25 legal entities, focusing on active operating companies.
• Prepare financial reporting and analysis for ownership and senior leadership.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow analysis, and strategic financial planning.
• Partner with leadership on new investments, operating initiatives, development projects, and business opportunities.
• Coordinate with external tax professionals for tax planning and year-end requirements.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes and implement AI-driven accounting tools.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Financial analysis

Cross-entity experience

AI/Automation familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred but not required

Tools

QuickBooks

AI tools

Job description

If you are SERIOUS about wanting to make a move to a vibrant mountain town in Colorado with an excellent recreation and entertainment scene, excellent four seasons, a great school system, and infrastructure that is just the right mix, then read on. I have been retained by a long-term client to find a high-performing Controller to assist with financial statement prep, audits, M&A work, and business development projects.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly adaptable, hands-on Controller / Senior Accounting Manager to support a growing and diverse family office portfolio spanning agriculture, food and beverage processing, hospitality and real estate development, media production, and other entrepreneurial investments.

This is not a traditional corporate accounting position. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who enjoys variety, complexity, and building solutions, and who is equally comfortable managing the monthly close as they are visiting an operating facility, evaluating a new project, improving a process, or helping implement new technology.

The position will support approximately 25 legal entities, the majority of which are relatively passive, while taking more direct ownership of several active operating businesses and development projects. The role will work closely with ownership and senior leadership and will have exposure to both Controller-level accounting responsibilities and CFO-level analysis and strategic projects.

A major component of the opportunity will also be identifying ways to leverage AI, automation, and modern financial systems to improve the efficiency and quality of the family office's accounting and back-office operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the monthly close process and preparation of accurate financial statements across multiple entities.
• Maintain and review general ledger activity, reconciliations, accruals, intercompany transactions, and supporting schedules.
• Oversee accounting for approximately 25 legal entities, with particular focus on the portfolio's more active operating companies.
• Prepare financial reporting and analysis for ownership and senior leadership.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow analysis, and strategic financial planning.
• Partner directly with leadership on new investments, operating initiatives, development projects, and business opportunities.
• Support accounting and financial analysis for businesses involving agriculture, processing/manufacturing, hospitality, real estate development, and media production.
• Coordinate with outside tax professionals and assist with tax planning, entity-level reporting, and year-end requirements.
• Evaluate and improve accounting processes, internal controls, documentation, and financial infrastructure as the portfolio grows.
• Help implement and optimize AI-driven accounting tools, automation, reporting platforms, and financial systems, including potential integrations with QuickBooks.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive back-office processes and improve the availability of meaningful financial information.
• Research new technologies and independently develop the knowledge necessary to implement them effectively.
• Participate in strategic planning discussions and provide financial insight into operational and investment decisions.
• Assist with project management and cross-functional initiatives that extend beyond traditional accounting.
• Work directly with operating teams at farms, processing facilities, development projects, and other portfolio businesses as needed.
• Manage multiple priorities across businesses operating at different stages of growth and development.

Ideal Background:

• Approximately 5–8 years of progressive accounting, finance, or related experience.
• Strong understanding of GAAP accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Experience working across multiple entities, business units, subsidiaries, or portfolio companies strongly preferred.
• Previous experience in a family office, entrepreneurial business, private company, manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, hospitality, or project-oriented environment is beneficial.
• Strong analytical skills with an ability to move beyond reporting numbers and understand the operational drivers behind them.
• Comfortable learning new technologies and using AI and automation tools to improve accounting and business processes.
• Experience with QuickBooks or similar accounting platforms.
• CPA preferred but not required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline preferred.

What Will Make Someone Successful:

The right person will be naturally curious, resourceful, and comfortable operating without a rigid playbook. We are looking for someone who:

• Enjoys solving problems rather than simply maintaining established processes.
• Can independently teach themselves new systems, technologies, and business concepts.
• Is comfortable working in a high-complexity, entrepreneurial environment.
• Enjoys variety and does not want their career limited to repeating the same monthly accounting cycle.
• Can move comfortably between detailed accounting work and broader business discussions.
• Is willing to spend time at operating locations and understand how the businesses actually function.
• Has an interest in AI, technology, automation, and the future of accounting and finance.
• Communicates effectively with owners, executives, operating personnel, outside advisors, and vendors.

This is a Colorado-based, primarily in-person position supporting businesses and projects throughout Western Colorado, including operations near Montrose, Palisade/Grand Junction, Silverton, and surrounding areas.

Montrose may provide a particularly central location for accessing the various operations. The role will include periodic travel between portfolio businesses and project sites and is best suited to someone who enjoys spending time both in an office and in the field.

Potential temporary housing may be available in the Palisade area beginning in November.

• Target total compensation of approximately $120,000–$150,000, depending on experience and structure.
• 10%–20% performance bonus opportunity.
• Health insurance benefits.
• Cell phone reimbursement or company-paid cell phone.
• Potential relocation assistance and/or signing bonus for the right candidate.
• Potential housing option in Palisade during the transition period.

Why This Opportunity Is Different:

This position offers the opportunity to help build the financial infrastructure behind a growing collection of entrepreneurial businesses rather than maintaining the accounting department of a single mature company.

The person joining the organization will gain exposure to a uniquely diverse portfolio, participate directly in business and investment decisions, work alongside ownership, and help determine how AI and next-generation financial technology can reshape the family office's accounting and operating model.

For someone who enjoys accounting but wants more variety, autonomy, technology exposure, and direct involvement in building businesses, this role offers a career path that is difficult to replicate in a traditional corporate environment.

YOU WILL NEED TO LIVE IN:

Palisade, Montrose, Grand Junction, Silverton or nearby

Relocation assistance is minimal (5K)

I am ready to chat through this position if you are - a couple of things to note with relocation:

If you have yet to talk to your spouse about this .. please do so before sending me your profile :)