Controller (Maternity Leave Coverage, Fixed Term Contract)

Taking on the Controller (Maternity Leave Coverage, Fixed Term Contract) role means stepping into a pivotal position responsible for maintaining seamless financial oversight during a critical transition period. This role exists to ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting and controls at a company with approximately $80 million in revenue, supporting a lean but dynamic team navigating a key phase across accounting processes and systems. The successful candidate will directly influence month-end closes, financial statements, and cash flow management, contributing clear insights to senior leadership and fostering continuous improvement within the accounting function.

The Controller (Maternity Leave Coverage, Fixed Term Contract) will take charge of the accounting operations on an interim basis, starting Monday 16 November through to about early June. This handover covers the latter half of one financial close and the first stages of the next, with the existing controller providing overlap for knowledge transfer until late December. Reporting to the EVP Strategy and Finance, the role involves direct supervision of a Senior Accountant and an Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable specialist, with close collaboration alongside the FP&A function and the CEO. This is a hands-on role that demands autonomy, precision, and an ability to manage and develop junior team members effectively within a busy environment.

Ownership of the accounting function is broad and detailed. Day-to-day responsibilities include managing brand billing processes, overseeing month-end closures, preparing monthly financial statements under US GAAP, and analysing cash flows. Given the current complexity of lease accounting for over 100 locations—tracked outside the main ERP system—this role requires deep expertise in lease accounting standards and a hands-on approach to maintaining fixed asset schedules, which are also migrating into the NetSuite environment this year. In addition, the Controller will be responsible for bank reconciliations, managing revenue recognition policies including deferred revenue, and monitoring bad debt expenses.

The role further encompasses tax compliance duties, acting as merchant of record for sales tax and handling related state and federal filings, which demands a strong working knowledge of sales tax rules and filings. An ongoing focus of the role will be to identify system, process, and control improvements across financial reporting and transactional workflows. The Controller’s ability to recommend and implement enhancements will be vital in maintaining an agile, accurate finance operation aligned with the business’s growth and complexity.

NetSuite experience is essential, as it underpins the core financial architecture, including general ledger management and emerging fixed asset functionality. Candidates will be expected to leverage this technology fluency to support smooth month-end processes and ensure accurate reporting. The environment is hybrid, based in the NYC area, with a preference for three days per week in the office though a minimum of a couple of times a month onsite can be accommodated. The contract is full time at 40 hours per week, starting 16 November and expected to run until early June, covering maternity leave and ensuring robust continuity in the accounting function.

Ideal candidates for the Controller (Maternity Leave Coverage, Fixed Term Contract) position will have between 10 and 15 years of finance experience at companies ranging from $50 million to a few hundred million in revenue. While retail or high-growth startup experience is beneficial—particularly companies with direct-to-consumer models involving sales tax—this is not mandatory. A background combining operational accounting leadership with practical ERP navigation, lease accounting, fixed assets, and tax compliance will prove decisive. Candidates should have past controller or senior accountant roles demonstrating ownership of month-end close, journal entries, and financial statements. CPA qualification is regarded as a plus but is not a strict requirement. The ideal individual will be neither too junior nor overly senior, with experience transitioning beyond public accounting into a more strategic, operational finance role.

This contract demands a proactive, hands-on professional able to step into an established but lean finance team and manage responsibilities confidently without extensive ramp-up. The role offers the chance to contribute specialist expertise in a busy, fast-paced environment, supporting the company through a period of change and continuity.

The company operates within the retail sector, managing a complex business model that requires precision in financial controls, accounting operations, and tax compliance. The Controller (Maternity Leave Coverage, Fixed Term Contract) will play a vital part in supporting the finance team’s goals and maintaining the integrity of financial reporting during this maternity leave period.