Financial Controller

People Architects; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

People Architects, partnering with a fast-growing chemical manufacturing company, seeks a Controller to own accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls. This on-site role covers month-end, quarterly, and annual closes, external audits, and treasury activities, including AR/AP and payroll.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance and 5+ years of progressive finance experience, with ERP expertise (Datacor preferred) and strong GAAP knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5 years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including Controller or Finance Manager responsibilities.
• Experience managing external financial audits.
• Hands-on treasury functions, including ACH and wire transfers.
• Experience with ERP systems, with Datacor specifically preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, standard cost accounting, and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including journal entries and reconciliations.
• Prepare and present GAAP-compliant financial statements and management reports.
• Lead external audit processes and serve as primary liaison with auditors.
• Develop, document, and strengthen internal controls and accounting policies for a growing organization.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in partnership with leadership.
• Manage treasury activities and oversee accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Hands-on approach

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Datacor

Job description

People Architects is partnering with a fast-growing, multi-brand consumer products company to recruit a Controller.

This position is fully on-site, five days per week

.

A Chemical Manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Controller to own the company's accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls. This is the core of the role: managing the close process, ensuring GAAP-compliant financial statements, and serving as the primary point of contact for our external auditors. The Controller will also take on Finance Manager responsibilities, including treasury activities (ACH/wire processing) and oversight of accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll, making this a hands-on, high-visibility position for a growth-oriented company. As a small but scaling organization, this role works directly with business leaders and offers the opportunity to build scalable financial infrastructure as the company grow

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure financial records comply with GAAP.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting packages for leadership.
• Lead external audit processes, serving as the primary point of contact for external auditors and ensuring documentation and internal controls support a clean audit.
• Develop, document, and strengthen internal controls and accounting policies appropriate for a growing organization.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in partnership with company leadership.

Treasury Management & Finance Operations

• Manage daily cash positioning and process ACH and wire transfer (WFT) transactions.
• Oversee accounting structures and treasury operations.
• Monitor cash flow and liquidity, providing forecasts and recommendations to leadership.
• Serve as a key partner on business financial planning, capital needs, and growth initiatives.

Accounts Receivable

• Oversee the accounts receivable function, including invoicing, collections, and customer account reconciliations.
• Partner with sales and operations to support credit decisions and resolve billing or collection issues.

Accounts Payable

• Oversee the accounts payable function, ensuring timely and accurate invoice processing, payment execution, vendor account reconciliations, and compliance with company policies and approval processes.

Payroll

• Oversee payroll processing to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time, maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll regulations, and coordinate with internal stakeholders or third-party payroll providers as needed.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5 years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including prior Controller or Finance Manager experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing or supporting external financial audits.
• Hands-on experience with treasury functions, including ACH and wire transfer processing.
• Experience with ERP systems required; experience with multiple ERP platforms or Datacor specifically strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, standard cost accounting, and internal controls.
• Proven ability to work hands-on in a small-company environment while helping build scalable processes for growth.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work directly with ownership and cross-functional leaders.

Preferred qualifications

Experience in manufacturing or chemical industry accounting