Vice President, Controller

CEC Entertainment; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

CEC Entertainment seeks an experienced Controller to lead accounting operations across the United States and Canada. You will own financial reporting integrity, guide a multi-location team and drive policy as well as hands-on month-end close, audits and process improvements.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in accounting/finance, CPA, and proven leadership across dispersed locations with expertise in real estate lease accounting and membership-based revenue recognition.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, incl. Controller or senior accounting leadership.
• CPA required (active and in good standing).
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master's a plus.
• Experience in a geographically dispersed organization with multi-location accounting operations.
• Real estate lease accounting expertise (ASC 842/IFRS 16).
• Membership-based accounting and revenue recognition experience.
• Strong payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable background.
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams.
• Proficient with ERP systems and advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership across time zones.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of 20+ accounting, payroll and AP staff; hire, train, assess performance, allocate workload.
• Direct all day-to-day accounting operations: general ledger, month-, quarter-, year-end closes, consolidated statements.
• Oversee payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable with strong internal controls and cross-border compliance.
• Oversee real estate lease accounting including ASC 842/IFRS 16; asset/liability calculations and disclosures.
• Ensure U.S. GAAP and Canadian accounting standards compliance across entities and currencies.
• Partner with CFO to develop internal controls, policies, and procedures across locations.
• Coordinate external audits and regulatory reporting in U.S. and Canada.
• Prepare monthly/quarterly/annual financial reports for exec leadership and Board.
• Drive continuous improvements in accounting systems, processes and controls.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis with FP&A.

Skills

Team leadership

GAAP compliance

Real estate lease accounting

Revenue recognition

Payroll

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

ERP systems

Excel

Cross-border/multi-currency

Education

CPA certification

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

At CEC Entertainment, we build careers around great food, family, and fun! Our purpose and our passion is to create the best place for kids and families to eat and play!

We are seeking an experienced Controller to lead our accounting operations across a geographically dispersed organization spanning the United States and Canada. This role owns the integrity of our financial reporting, oversees a multi-functional accounting team, and brings specialized expertise in real estate lease accounting and membership-based revenue accounting. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who is equally comfortable setting accounting policy and rolling up their sleeves to support the team through month-end close, audits, and process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of over 20 accountants, payroll and accounts payable personnel, including hiring, training, performance management, and workload allocation.
• Direct all day-to-day accounting operations, including the general ledger, month-end, quarter-end and year-end close, and preparation of consolidated financial statements.
• Oversee payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring timely, accurate processing, strong internal controls and compliance with all applicable federal, state/provincial, and local requirements.
• Oversee real estate lease accounting, including compliance with ASC 842 (and/or IFRS 16 as applicable), lease classification, right-of-use asset and liability calculations, and related disclosures.
• Ensure accounting operations comply with U.S. GAAP and, where applicable, Canadian accounting standards, including cross-border and multi-currency considerations.
• Partner with the CFO to develop and maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures across all entities and locations.
• Coordinate and manage external audits and regulatory reporting requirements in both U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions.
• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for executive leadership and as needed, the Board.
• Drive continuous improvement of accounting systems, processes, and controls to support a growing, multi-location organization.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in partnership with FP&A.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including prior experience in a Controller or senior accounting leadership role preferred.
• CPA required (active and in good standing).
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master's degree a plus
• Proven experience operating across a geographically dispersed organization, with direct experience managing accounting operations for multi-location environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in real estate lease accounting (ASC 842 or equivalent).
• Direct experience with membership-based accounting and revenue recognition.
• Strong background managing payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable functions.
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams
• Strong proficiency with accounting/ERP systems and advanced Excel skills
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and across distributed teams and time zones

Physical Demands:

To perform the duties of this position, the incumbent must have the ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, twist, reach, and carry, lift, pull, push between 1 - 25 lbs. Incumbent must use a computer, with the repetitive movement of both hands. Incumbent must be able to work an 8-hour shift, with some overtime. Incumbent must also be available to travel to various locations by airplane or by operating a vehicle if needed.