About the Company
Co-Source Solutions is partnering with a growing food manufacturing business based in Essex County, New Jersey, assisting in their search for an experienced, hands-on Controller to lead and oversee all accounting and financial operations.
About the Role
The Controller will lead the transformation of the company's accounting and cost accounting processes to establish GAAP-compliant financial reporting, strengthen inventory accounting, improve internal controls, and prepare the organization for external audits and lender due diligence. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical accounting expertise with a practical operational mindset.
Responsibilities
- Oversee all day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and compliance.
- Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial planning activities.
- Deliver operational and financial analysis to support leadership decision-making.
- Establish accounting policies and procedures consistent with U.S. GAAP.
- Create and maintain supporting schedules, reconciliations, and documentation necessary for annual audits and lender reviews.
- Ensure balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and documented monthly.
- Lead preparation for external audits, quality of earnings reviews, and financial due diligence processes.
- Evaluate and remediate internal control weaknesses.
- Oversee ERP financial integrity, reporting structures, and accounting workflows.
- Demonstrated success improving accounting processes and internal controls.
- Drive process improvement initiatives, automation opportunities, and scalable financial operations.
- Collaborate with operational teams to improve reporting accuracy and financial efficiency.
- Assess current inventory, purchasing, production, and accounting processes for GAAP compliance.
- Design and implement a GAAP-compliant manufacturing cost accounting framework.
- Develop and maintain standard costing methodologies, BOM structures, labor allocations, and overhead absorption processes.
- Establish procedures for inventory capitalization, inventory reserves, and proper matching of costs to production.
- Analyze and correct inventory valuation discrepancies and historical accounting issues.
- Build monthly inventory reconciliation and manufacturing variance reporting processes.
- Partner with operations to improve inventory accuracy, cycle count effectiveness, and financial visibility into production activities.
- Lead efforts to improve gross margin reporting and product profitability analysis.
- Foster accountability, collaboration, and operational partnership across departments.
- Support a culture of continuous improvement and financial discipline.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
- 7–10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
- Demonstrated experience implementing or significantly improving manufacturing cost accounting systems.
- Experience bringing accounting functions into GAAP compliance.
- Experience supporting external audits, reviews, lender reporting, or due diligence engagements.
- Strong understanding of inventory accounting under U.S. GAAP.
- Proven ability to build accounting processes, controls, and documentation in growing companies.
- Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills.
- CPA strongly preferred.
- Prior experience in food manufacturing or CPG environment preferred.
- Experience leading ERP or accounting system transitions.