Financial Controller

Guaranty Media; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Guaranty Corporation, a Baton Rouge-based holding company, is seeking a Controller to lead the accounting function across its subsidiaries and investment portfolio. You will own the monthly close, consolidate financials, and drive internal controls and audits while partnering with the CFO on planning and growth initiatives.

The role offers the opportunity to build a scalable finance function, streamline processes, and leverage AI tools to improve efficiency and insights, with exposure to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required.
• Active CPA license is required.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including some supervising.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP; consolidations and noncontrolling interests a plus.
• Ability to own the close and deliver audit-ready financial statements.
• Ability to present financial information clearly to senior leadership and ownership.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close for Guaranty Corporation and subsidiaries.
• Review journal entries, reconciliations, and schedules to ensure GAAP compliance.
• Oversee revenue accounting for advertising and digital services, including billing and deferred revenue.
• Maintain fixed assets, leases, and prepaid schedules for operating companies and real estate holdings.
• Direct accounts receivable, invoicing controls, cash application, and collections across brands.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements with intercompany eliminations and KPI reporting.
• Lead annual external audit and coordinate tax filings with outside advisors.
• Design and enforce internal controls and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Support planning, forecasting, and decision support with financial analysis.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Time management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Active CPA license

Tools

NetSuite

AI tools (Claude)

Job description

The Controller directs the accounting and financial reporting functions of Guaranty Corporation, a Baton Rouge-based holding company with a 100-year history. The company's operations include Guaranty Media, a locally owned radio group and a digital marketing agency, and Guaranty Health Solutions, a national healthcare marketing brand, along with a sizable investment portfolio. Guaranty is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy, bringing its businesses together as one company and investing in the brands and capabilities that will drive its next stage of expansion. Reporting to the CFO, the Controller owns the multi-entity close and consolidation, accounts receivable, internal controls, audit, and financial reporting. This is an opportunity to help build a scalable finance function that supports the company's growth, with meaningful room to expand the role's scope and leadership as the company grows.

Duties And Responsibilities

Essential Functions Only:

Leads the accounting function and financial close for Guaranty Corporation and subsidiaries

• Owns the monthly, quarterly, and annual close for the holding company, its operating businesses, and its passive investment portfolio, delivering accurate results on a firm, predictable calendar.
• Reviews journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules to ensure the general ledger is complete, accurate, and prepared in accordance with GAAP.
• Oversees revenue accounting for advertising and digital services, including contract and campaign billing, agency commissions, trade and barter arrangements, and deferred revenue, in partnership with the sales support and billing teams.
• Maintains the fixed asset, lease, and prepaid schedules for the operating companies and real estate holdings.

Oversees accounts receivable, billing accuracy, and collections

• Directs the accounts receivable function, including maintenance of invoicing controls, cash application, and timely collection of client and agency balances across all brands.
• Monitors AR aging, days sales outstanding, and collection trends, and escalates past-due accounts in partnership with Sales & Strategy and Client Success teams.
• Establishes and maintains credit, collections, and write-off policies, and ensures an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts.
• Reconciles the AR subledger to the general ledger and works with the billing team to resolve billing discrepancies quickly.

Accountable for timely and accurate consolidated financial reporting

• Prepares consolidated income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for Guaranty Corporation, including intercompany eliminations and allocation of corporate costs across departments and brands.
• Consolidates financial results of investment portfolio, including review of financial information provided by the operating partners and proper accounting and presentation of noncontrolling interest.
• Accounts for real estate holdings and the company's stock and bond portfolio, including reconciliation to custodial statements, fair value measurement, and investment income reporting.
• Delivers monthly financial packages, variance analysis, and department and brand-level reporting that leadership trusts and can act on.
• Leads the annual external audit and coordinates with outside advisors on tax filings, including preparation of supporting schedules and financial statement footnotes.

Protects company assets through strong financial policies, procedures, and internal controls

• Designs, documents, and enforces internal controls that scale with the business, with clear segregation of duties and review.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local reporting and tax requirements, and advises the CFO of emerging risks and required actions.
• Maintains the chart of accounts, close checklist, and accounting policies across all entities.

Partners with the CFO on planning, forecasting, and decision support

• Supports the annual budget and rolling forecasts, including forecasted balance sheets and cash flow projections.
• Provides financial analysis that supports company strategy, including profitability by department and brand, cost-saving opportunities, and investment decisions.
• Develops and reports key performance indicators for the Finance and Admin department and supports KPI development for other departments.

Builds a scalable finance function to support the company's growth

• Plays a leading role in the company's growth strategy, working alongside the Continuous Improvement team to design finance processes that scale as the business expands.
• Streamlines and automates the close, reconciliations, and reporting so the team can spend more time on analysis and decision support.
• Optimizes use of the ERP system and identifies practical uses of AI tools to increase speed, accuracy, and insight.

Leads and develops the accounting team

• Directly manages a Senior Accountant, an Accounts Receivable Specialist, and two Bookkeepers.
• Sets priorities, reviews work, coaches staff, and builds skills and capacity as the department grows.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises the Senior Accountant, Accounts Receivable Specialist, and two Bookkeepers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policies, including hiring, training, assigning and reviewing work, appraising performance, and addressing issues.

Growth Opportunity

As Guaranty executes its growth strategy, the finance function will grow with it. The Controller will have the opportunity to take on broader leadership responsibilities and increased scope over time, and to play a direct role in shaping how finance supports the company's expansion.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Active CPA license.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including some supervising experience.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, experience with consolidations and noncontrolling interests is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to own a financial close and deliver audit-ready financial statements.
• Ability to present financial information clearly to senior leadership and ownership.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Nice To Have

• Experience with NetSuite or similar ERP system.
• Experience with multi-entity consolidations.
• Experience using AI tools, such as Claude, to improve accounting workflows.
• Industry experience in media, advertising, real estate, or family office.