Corporate Controller

Confidential; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential, a leading global manufacturer in the Dallas area, seeks a Global Corporate Controller to build standardized accounting policies and controls across NA and Europe. You will drive automation, implement end-to-end workflows, and lead the policy framework for a $250+ million, PE-backed operation.

You will partner with FP&A, Operations, and Supply Chain; manage a growing team, and shape the future-state controllership in a scalable manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA is required.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting or controllership experience in private-equity-backed or multi-site manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with standard costing, inventory accounting, and work-in-process.
• Proven ability to build or rebuild accounting policies and core processes.
• Strong track record in process automation across GL, AP, and AR; SOX/Governance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, documentation, and implementation of accounting policies across regions and segments.
• Own end-to-end transformation to automated, system-enabled processes.
• Redesign DOA framework with clear ownership, thresholds, and approvals.
• Oversee tax function and support future go-forward structure.
• Partner with CFO, regional Controllers, FP&A, and internal/external auditors.

Skills

Policy development

Cross-functional leadership

SOX compliance

Automation & transformation

Manufacturing accounting

Intercompany accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA

Job description

Our client is a leading global manufacturer headquartered in the DFW Area. The company delivers integrated technology solutions to improve safety, efficiency, and communication for transit operators worldwide. This is a middle market global industrial organization.

Scope and Responsibilities

The Global Corporate Controller will play a critical leadership role in building, from the ground up, standardized accounting policies, processes, and controls for the company, a $250+ million, blue chip private-equity-backed manufacturer

Specific Responsibilities

Accounting Policy & Process Ownership

• Lead the development, documentation, and implementation of accounting policies, procedures, and process standards across all regions and both operating segments.
• Establish a clear framework for accounting judgments, estimates, and recurring processes, starting with critical areas such as:
• Standard costing, inventory accounting, and work-in-process valuation
• Warranty accruals and reserves
• Period-end close standards
• Intercompany accounting between North America and Europe
• Partner with FP&A, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure policies are operationally grounded and scalable to a manufacturing environment.

Accounting Transformation & Automation

• Drive the transition away from highly manual, tactical accounting work toward automated, system-enabled processes.
• Lead initiatives to improve automation and efficiency across:
• General Ledger (journal entry automation, reconciliations, close orchestration)
• Accounts Payable (invoice processing, approvals, vendor setup controls)
• Accounts Receivable (billing, cash application, credit management)
• Partner with Finance Systems, IT, and Shared Services to design future-state processes aligned with system capabilities.
• Act as the primary owner of core accounting processes, ensuring consistent execution across North America and Europe.
• Leverage dotted-line relationships with the three regional/business-unit Controllers to:
• Drive adoption of common standards
• Identify gaps, redundancies, and regional variations
• Balance consistency with local statutory requirements.

Controls, Governance & Delegation of Authority

• Lead the redesign of the delegation of authority (DOA) framework, including clear ownership, approval thresholds, and escalation paths.
• Design and implement end-to-end workflows that embed appropriate controls, approvals, and documentation into processes.
• Ensure alignment with SOX/internal control expectations and support audit readiness through strong process design rather than manual controls.

Tax Oversight

• Oversee the Tax Leader and the company's existing third-party tax support relationships.
• Assess the current tax operating model and help define the right go-forward structure as the company matures.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership

• Serve as a trusted business partner to the CFO, the General Manager, regional Controllers, FP&A, Internal Audit, and external auditors.
• Build out and develop the Assistant Controller role, creating a strong bench for future succession.
• Influence without direct authority, using strong change management and communication skills to drive global alignment.
• Coach and develop regional accounting leaders on policy interpretation, process discipline, and control thinking.

Key Selection Criteria

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA required.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting or controllership experience, including private-equity-backed or multi-site manufacturing environments.
• Current or recent manufacturing industry experience with direct, hands-on exposure to standard costing, inventory accounting, and work-in-process.
• Demonstrated experience building or rebuilding accounting policies and core processes, preferably in a growing or transforming organization.
• Proven track record of process automation and finance transformation across GL, AP, and AR.
• Deep understanding of internal controls, SOX, and governance frameworks.
• Exceptional influencing skills with experience leading through dotted-line relationships.
• Candidates who have carried this level of scope and impact but have not formally held the "Controller" title will be considered, provided they can point to direct evidence of having built comparable processes and controls.

Personal / Professional Attributes

• Comfortable overseeing or partnering closely on a tax function; prior direct tax responsibility is a plus but not required.
• Strong ability to operate at both strategic and detailed levels, with a mindset focused on simplification and scalability.
• Willingness to work onsite in Plano, TX and partner day-to-day with the General Manager; no significant travel required.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Clear, well-documented accounting policies are in place and consistently applied across North America, Europe, Aerospace, and Bus.
• Manual, spreadsheet-driven accounting work is materially reduced through automation and standard workflows.
• Critical judgmental areas (standard costing, inventory, warranty, reserves) are supported by disciplined processes and controls, not heroics.
• Delegation of authority and approval workflows are clear, embedded, and consistently followed.
• The Assistant Controller has been hired and developed, and the tax function operates on a clearly defined, right-sized model.
• The controllership organization operates as one team with shared standards, not a collection of regional practices.