Hands-on Controller Needed

Display-Supply-; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

PTO after 180 days

Job summary

DS&L Group Holdings, Inc. in Itasca, IL seeks a hands‑on Controller to lead the accounting department and partner with executives. You will own daily accounting, cash flow visibility, cost accounting, and project profitability.

A key initiative is migrating financial accounting from Sage to QuickBooks Online and implementing Odoo as the inventory system to achieve real‑time accuracy.

Qualifications

• CPA license required.
• 5+ years of total accounting experience, with 2–3 years in a senior/leadership role.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Strong GAAP, cost accounting, cash flow management and financial reporting skills.
• Excellent written/verbal communication and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day accounting department operations.
• Oversee migration from Sage to QuickBooks Online and implement Odoo for inventory.
• Manage WIP, project margins, and timely closes (monthly/quarterly/annual).
• Provide weekly cash flow forecasts and reporting to leadership and board.
• Collaborate with leadership on budgeting and KPI tracking.

Skills

CPA license

GAAP

Cash flow management

Financial reporting

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

QuickBooks Online (QBO)

Odoo

Sage

Job description

Controller – DS&L Group Holdings, Inc.

Location: Itasca, IL

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports To: Leadership / Board Liaison

Salary Range: $100,000 – $115,000 per year

About the Role

DS&L Group Holdings, Inc. (Display Supply & Lighting) is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Controller to lead our accounting department and serve as a strategic partner to executive leadership. Based in Itasca, IL, you will take ownership of daily accounting management, cash flow visibility, cost accounting, and project profitability.

A primary strategic initiative for this role will be driving our upcoming systems modernization‑leading the migration of our financial accounting from Sage to QuickBooks Online, alongside implementing Odoo exclusively as our dedicated inventory management system.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Modernization & Optimization

• Lead the transition from Sage to QuickBooks Online (QBO) for core financial accounting and reporting.
• Oversee the setup and integration of Odoo for inventory management, ensuring accurate, real‑time alignment between inventory tracking and QBO.

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage day‑to‑day accounting department operations.
• Partner directly with company leadership and board liaisons to communicate financial health, project margins, and emerging risk areas.
• Prepare and maintain weekly cash flow forecasts to guide check runs and capital allocation decisions.
• Track and update company KPI metrics ahead of weekly review meetings.
• Drive the annual budgeting process and update forecasts dynamically as revenue projections evolve.

Core Accounting & Operational Oversight

• Maintain strict GAAP compliance and oversee cost‑accounting procedures tailored to industry standards.
• Oversee Work‑In‑Progress (WIP) schedules and monitor project gross margins, alerting leadership when margins require intervention.
• Manage recurring monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting closes with high precision and timeliness.
• Complete bank, credit card, AP/AR, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Prepare or approve weekly payroll and analyze fixed asset capitalizations above the $2,500 threshold.
• Oversee quarterly inventory tracking in Odoo to maintain accurate inventory accounting.

Compliance, Tax & Administration

• Prepare and submit monthly sales tax filings and payments.
• Enforce new‑vendor onboarding procedures, including W‑9 and COI collection, and oversee annual 1099 processing.
• Maintain insurance coverage schedules and fulfill external audit data requests.
• Support new‑hire onboarding and internal HR administration as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

Requirements:

• Certification: Active CPA license is required.
• Software Expertise: Direct experience with QuickBooks Online (QBO) is required.
• Experience: 5+ years of total accounting experience, including at least 2–3 years in a senior accounting or leadership role.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Core Competencies: Proven expertise in GAAP, cost accounting, cash flow management, and financial reporting.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with top‑tier organization, analytical thinking, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading or executing accounting system migrations (specifically Sage to QBO).
• Prior exposure to Odoo or other dedicated inventory management platforms.
• CMA certification or advanced financial management credentials.
• Senior accounting experience in project‑based, inventory, or cost‑accounting‑intensive industries.
• Direct experience with payroll processing, inventory tracking, and WIP management.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $100,000 – $115,000 / year (commensurate with experience)
• Health & Wellness: Health, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage (eligible after 90 days of employment).
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with a 3% company‑sponsored Safe Harbor contribution (eligible after 1 year of employment).
• Paid Time Off: Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO, eligible after 180 days of employment).

Equal Opportunity Statement

DS&L Group Holdings, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.