Vice President, Controller

Gray Matter Systems, Llc; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer paid short term disability

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays, PTO, and parental leave

Job summary

GrayMatter in Pittsburgh is seeking a VP, Corporate Controller to lead financial strategy, governance, and performance management. This hands-on role partners with the CFO to scale financial health, drive acquisitions and integrations, and ensure a rigorous month-end close in a growth-focused environment.

The ideal candidate will own accounting, controllership, and internal controls, build scalable processes, and manage external auditors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years accounting/finance experience, including 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Partner with CFO on financial strategy, capital planning, and growth initiatives.
• Oversee monthly financial close processes and external audit relationships.
• Lead accounting, controllership, and internal controls across the organization.
• Drive scalable, automated processes and financial systems improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Financial leadership

GAAP expertise

Strategic thinking

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

10+ years accounting/finance experience

5+ years leadership experience

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Dynamics D365

BI tools

CRM

Job description

At GrayMatter, we transform operations and empower people. Our technology and consulting services help manufacturers, water utilities and energy companies digitize operations, eliminate cybersecurity threats and harness analytics to accelerate production.

And that’s where you come in.

GrayMatter is dedicated to creating a team of unmatched talent in industrial technology. Our organizational culture encourages opportunities to learn and collaborate. Five core values woven into our DNA make Team GrayMatter stand above the rest: Accountability, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork.

The VP, Corporate Controller is responsible for leading the organization’s overall financial strategy, governance, and performance management. This role establishes financial standards, ensures compliance, and provides forward-looking insights to support executive decision-making and company growth. This position serves as a key partner to the CFO and leadership team, focusing on scalability, financial health, and long-term planning.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment and is energized by building, improving, and driving results. The ideal candidate is proactive, highly driven, and comfortable operating with a strong sense of urgency while navigating growth, change, and competing priorities. This individual will take full ownership of the accounting and controllership function, establish a high bar for execution and accountability, and lead with the intensity and commitment required to support a growing organization. The role requires a leader who is comfortable being highly engaged during critical business periods, including month-end and year-end close, acquisitions, integrations, and other high-priority initiatives, when extended hours and weekend work may be necessary.

GrayMatter’s core values are a critical aspect of our organization; they are the guiding principles ingrained in us that dictate our behaviors and actions in the workplace. Our core values have helped establish a mindset that our team lives by and have led our team to success. We are all here to support each other in reaching both individual and company-wide goals, so that we can deliver on our promise to help our clients transform their operations and empower their people.

Position Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic financial insights and recommendations to company leadership team
• Partner with CFO on financial strategy, capital planning, and growth initiatives
• Assist Director of FP&A with financial planning, budgeting, and long-range forecasting processes
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics aligned to business objectives
• Lead Treasury and cash management functions including credit agreement compliance
• Manage corporate risk and insurance function
• Serve as a hands-on partner to the CFO, balancing executive-level leadership with the ability to dive into the details when needed
• Proactively identify financial, operational, and accounting issues and drive solutions through completion

Governance & Controls

• Establish and maintain strong internal controls and financial policies
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements
• Oversee audit processes and manage external auditor relationships
• Standardize financial processes across the organization
• Continuously challenge and improve existing processes with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and accountability
• Manage the monthly financial accounting close processes
• Oversee preparation of accurate and timely financial statements
• Analyze financial performance, trends, and variances
• Present financial results and insights to company leadership, Private Equity Sponsor, and Board
• Drive improvements in financial reporting and visibility

Systems & Scalability

• Oversee financial systems strategy (ERP, CRM, reporting tools, etc.), implementation, infrastructure, and hierarchy
• Ensure systems and processes scale with company growth
• Lead automation and efficiency initiatives
• Lead financial integration and accounting for acquired companies
• Drive continuous improvement across the function by challenging the status quo, identifying opportunities to improve and automate processes, and building scalable solutions that support the company’s growth

Leadership

• Lead and develop the accounting and controllership function
• Set standards, expectations, and best practices for the team
• Direct oversight of accounting team, including the Operational Controller
• Responsible for organizational structure, hiring strategy, and team development including performance management, coaching/mentoring, goal setting, hiring/firing, etc.
• Manage controllership team communication with company leadership team and Private Equity Sponsor.
• Lead by example and work alongside the team during demanding periods, including month-end/year-end close, acquisitions, integrations, and major initiatives
• Create a culture of ownership, urgency, and accountability where problems are identified early and solutions are driven through completion

Prerequisites and Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred
• 10+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including 5+ years in leadership roles
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and US GAAP
• Strong background in financial reporting, controls, and audit, with exposure to FP&A and financial strategy
• Experience scaling processes, systems, and teams within a growing organization
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and manage high-performing teams
• Experience in a Private Equity-backed environment is a plus
• Experience with companies in the Professional Services industry is a plus

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities
• High attention to detail with strong organizational skills
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving abilities
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
• Deep understanding of accounting systems, processes, and internal controls
• High level of proficiency with financial systems and reporting tools (e.g., ERP, CRM, BI, Excel, etc.); Microsoft Dynamics D365 is a plus
• Effective communication skills across all levels of the organization
• High level of drive, initiative, and personal accountability
• Strong sense of urgency and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding environment
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to dive into the details when needed
• Proactive problem-solver who takes initiative rather than waiting for direction
• Transformation-oriented leader who actively looks for ways to improve, simplify, automate, and scale the accounting function
• Comfortable navigating change, ambiguity, competing priorities, and periods of sustained high workload with resilience and a strong focus on execution

Featured Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance beginning day one of employment
• Employer paid short term disability and life insurance
• 401(k) with up to 4% company match
• Paid holidays, paid time off, and paid parental leave
• Additional benefits available such as long-term disability, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, EAP, telemedicine, HSA and FSA