Operations Controller

KDS Strategic Search Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

KDS Strategic Search Group is seeking an experienced Operations Controller for a privately held distribution company. This role is hands-on and goes beyond traditional accounting, focusing on inventory-driven operations, KPIs, and strategic decision support.

You will partner with CFO/COO, lead improvements across multiple locations, implement ERP improvements, and drive accountability in margins, working capital, AR/AP. Onsite in Staten Island, NY with commuting support.

Qualifications

• Controller-level experience in wholesale distribution or inventory-intensive businesses.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting, costing, gross margins, rebates, chargebacks, working capital, AR and AP.
• Experience using data to establish KPIs, identify problems, improve performance, and drive accountability.
• Hands-on ERP experience, including implementation, migration, or optimization, with knowledge of financial workflows and inventory controls.
• Experience supporting multiple branches or operating locations.
• Ability to drive process improvements and partner with operations, purchasing, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Translate financial and operational data into actionable business decisions.
• Act as a financial and operational thought partner to the CFO and COO.
• Lead process improvements across responsible sites and functions.
• Drive accountability and cross-location coordination to optimize margins and working capital.

Skills

Controller experience

Inventory accounting

KPIs & analytics

ERP systems

Multi-location ops

Cross-functional partnership

Job description

Operations Controller | Privately Held Distribution Company

Amazing Opportunity - We are seeking an experienced, operationally minded Controller for a successful, growing, multi-location distribution company.

This is not a traditional Controller role focused solely on closing the books and reporting the numbers. We need a finance leader who understands how an inventory-driven business actually operates and can turn financial and operational data into better business decisions.

The Controller will report to the CFO and work closely with the COO as a financial and operational thought partner.

What We're Looking For

• Strong Controller-level experience within wholesale distribution, manufacturing, or another inventory-intensive business


• Deep understanding of inventory accounting, costing, gross margins, rebates, chargebacks, working capital, AR and AP


• Experience using financial and operational data to establish KPIs, identify problems, improve performance, and drive accountability


• Strong ERP experience, ideally including an implementation, migration, or major optimization, with an understanding of financial workflows, GL mapping, inventory controls, and reporting


• Experience supporting multiple branches or operating locations


• A hands-on leader who can evaluate existing processes, implement better ones, and drive change across the organization


• Ability to partner effectively with operations, purchasing, sales, and executive leadership

Preferred

(Note required) CPA, multi-channel distribution experience, light manufacturing exposure, and/or M&A integration experience are all valuable but not required.

Compensation: Very strong base salary based on experience (based on experience)

Location: Staten Island, NY, onsite. Assistance with tolls/commuting expenses is available.

If you are a Controller who wants to do more than report what happened and wants the opportunity to help determine what the business should do next, this is an opportunity worth exploring.