Interim Controller

Korn Ferry; Stamford (CT); Hybrid; USD 286,541,000 - 315,195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

PTO

401(k)

Job summary

Korn Ferry is partnering with a confidential premium consumer products company to appoint an Interim Controller in Stamford, CT. The role leads a seven‑person team, oversees GAAP close and reporting, and stabilizes the accounting function during transition.

The position reports to the VP of Finance, involves hands‑on journal entries and technical accounting decisions, and offers potential conversion to direct hire. Onsite 1–2 days weekly with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required.
• Significant controller/director-level accounting leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting.
• Extensive inventory and cost accounting in inventory‑intensive business.
• Hands‑on ownership of close, journal entries, reconciliations, and audits.
• Ability to lead and develop accounting team.
• Onsite work in Stamford, CT 1–2 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and stabilization for the accounting function during transition.
• Lead a seven‑person accounting organization.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Prepare GAAP‑compliant financial statements and management reporting.
• Serve as primary technical accounting resource for complex transactions.
• Review journal entries, reconciliations, close schedules, and balance sheets.
• Maintain inventory accounting, valuation, COGS, and related accounts.
• Oversee inventory reconciliations across warehouses and channels.
• Review inventory adjustments and reserves for aging or slow‑moving stock.
• Analyze inventory and COGS variances and report risks to leadership.
• Evaluate and challenge existing accounting processes and controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting speed and accuracy.
• Support internal and external audits and coordinate responses.
• Collaborate with FP&A, supply chain, merchandising, and operations.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Inventory accounting

Close processes

Team leadership

Audit coordination

Education

CPA designation

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Confidential Premium Consumer Products Company
Location: Stamford, Connecticut | Hybrid, onsite 1-2 days per week
Engagement: Interim/Interim to Hire |6 Months + Extension or Conversion to Direct Hire
Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, Standard Daytime Business Hours
Compensation: $100-$110 per hour W2, with access to medical benefits, PTO, and a 401(k)

Confidential Premium Consumer Products Company
Location: Stamford, Connecticut | Hybrid, onsite 1-2 days per week
Engagement: Interim/Interim to Hire |6 Months + Extension or Conversion to Direct Hire
Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, Standard Daytime Business Hours
Compensation: $100-$110 per hour W2, with access to medical benefits, PTO, and a 401(k)

About the Company

Interim Controller

Korn Ferry is partnering with a growing premium consumer brand operating across retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and other distribution channels. The company offers a fast-paced, collaborative environment with the financial and operational complexity of an inventory-intensive apparel and consumer-products business.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Interim Controller to provide immediate accounting leadership and business continuity following the departure of its previous Controller. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, this individual will lead an accounting organization of approximately seven employees, including three direct reports and four indirect reports.

This is a Director-level Controller position, with the potential to be elevated to Senior Director for a candidate with the appropriate experience and leadership capabilities. The Interim Controller will serve as the company's technical accounting authority, oversee the close and GAAP reporting processes, strengthen inventory accounting, evaluate existing procedures and controls, and provide independent guidance on accounting decisions.

This is a hands-on player-coach role. The successful candidate must be comfortable leading and developing the team while also personally handling journal entries, reconciliations, close schedules, technical accounting analysis, and other detailed accounting work when necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide immediate leadership and stabilization for the accounting function during a period of transition.
• Lead, coach, and review the work of a seven-person accounting organization.
• Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring timely and accurate results.
• Own the preparation and review of GAAP‑compliant financial statements and management reporting.
• Serve as the primary technical accounting resource for complex transactions, reporting matters, and accounting‑policy decisions.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, close schedules, supporting documentation, and balance‑sheet accounts.
• Maintain direct ownership of inventory accounting, inventory valuation, cost of goods sold, and related balance‑sheet accounts.
• Oversee inventory reconciliations across warehouses, third‑party logistics providers, retail locations, e‑commerce operations, and other distribution channels.
• Review inventory adjustments, transfers, returns, shortages, damages, and reserves for aged, obsolete, excess, or slow‑moving inventory.
• Analyze inventory and COGS variances and communicate material risks or findings to finance and operating leadership.
• Evaluate and challenge existing accounting processes, controls, policies, and reporting practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve the speed, accuracy, documentation, and consistency of the accounting function.
• Support internal and external audits and coordinate responses to audit requests.
• Partner with FP&A, supply chain, merchandising, retail, operations, and other business leaders.
• Provide accounting guidance and make well‑supported decisions without significant day‑to‑day oversight.
• Remain personally involved in detailed accounting activities wherever additional support is required.

Required Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant designation is required.
• Significant Controller, Assistant Controller, Director of Accounting, or comparable accounting‑leadership experience.
• Deep technical accounting foundation with strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting.
• Extensive, directly demonstrated inventory and cost‑accounting experience within an inventory‑intensive business.
• Hands‑on ownership of close, financial reporting, journal entries, reconciliations, controls, audits, and accounting‑policy decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold an accounting team accountable.
• Ability to operate as the senior technical accounting authority and independently challenge existing practices.
• Willingness to work at both the leadership and detailed transactional levels.
• Experience stabilizing or improving an accounting function during periods of transition or change.
• Ability to work onsite in Stamford, Connecticut, 1-2 days per week.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Big Four public accounting experience.
• Controller‑level experience in retail, apparel, consumer packaged goods, consumer products, footwear, activewear, or another inventory‑intensive consumer business.
• Experience supporting an omnichannel organization with retail, e‑commerce, wholesale, warehouse, and third‑party logistics operations.
• NetSuite or comparable ERP‑system experience.
• Equity‑accounting experience.
• Experience within a growing, investor‑backed, or operationally evolving company.
• Prior interim, consulting, transformation, or business‑stabilization experience.

Engagement Details

The engagement is expected to begin as soon as the selected candidate is available and is initially anticipated to last approximately six months, with the possibility of extension and/or conversion to direct-hire. The interim consultant may be considered for the permanent position if there is mutual interest, but conversion is not guaranteed.

Candidates may work on a W2 basis through Korn Ferry at a targeted rate of $100-$110 per hour, with access to medical benefits, PTO, and a 401(k). Candidates operating through their own established LLC may also be considered under a C2C arrangement; Korn Ferry employee benefits would not apply under that structure.