Controller

CONFIDENTIAL – CONTROLLER

Company: Confidential – PE-Backed Residential Services Company

Location: Monmouth County, New Jersey – On-Site at Corporate Headquarters

Title: Controller

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

Company Overview

Our client is a large, established, private equity-backed residential services company generating $500M+ in annual revenue . The organization has a significant multi-state operating footprint, more than 2,500 employees , and is continuing to invest in the infrastructure, systems, and leadership required to support its scale and continued growth.

The company is seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to lead and strengthen its accounting organization. This is a highly visible leadership position reporting directly to the CFO, with regular interaction with executive leadership and the company's private equity sponsor.

The Opportunity

This is not a maintenance-oriented Controller role. The successful candidate will have a meaningful mandate to stabilize and elevate the accounting function, strengthen controls and processes, develop the team, and modernize the organization's financial infrastructure .

The Controller will need to be comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial, fast-moving environment where processes are still maturing. The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with a practical, business-oriented approach and is willing to work hands-on alongside the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day operations and overall performance of the accounting organization.
• Oversee the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and month-end/year-end close processes .
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and company standards.
• Develop and strengthen accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and financial reporting processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team while establishing clear priorities, expectations, and accountability.
• Analyze financial results, identify trends and risks, and provide actionable insights to the CFO and executive leadership.
• Partner with the CFO on annual budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial planning, and strategic initiatives .
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, manage costs, and strengthen overall financial performance.
• Oversee the integrity and effectiveness of accounting systems and financial data.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, financial institutions, tax professionals, and other outside partners.
• Partner with external CPAs on annual tax preparation and reporting across multiple legal entities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including multi-state income, sales, and use taxes .
• Drive continuous improvement and automation across accounting processes, reporting, systems, and controls.
• Serve as a credible finance partner to the CFO, senior leadership, and private equity sponsor.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline .
• Active CPA or CMA certification required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience.
• 3+ years serving as a Controller or in a comparable accounting leadership position .
• Strong command of GAAP, financial reporting, general ledger accounting, and internal controls .
• Demonstrated ownership of month-end and year-end close processes.
• Knowledge of multi-state income, sales, and use tax requirements across multiple entities.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting professionals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a track record of identifying issues and driving solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior executives, business leaders, auditors, external partners, and private equity stakeholders.
• A level-headed, stabilizing leadership style with the ability to bring structure, accountability, and process discipline to a less mature accounting environment.
• Willingness to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within a service-based or field-services organization , particularly construction, HVAC, home improvement, renewable energy, or a similar multi-location environment.
• Experience with job-costing systems and customer billing platforms.
• Strong ERP experience; NetSuite experience is highly preferred .
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience operating within a private equity-backed environment and interacting directly with a financial sponsor is highly desirable.

Why This Opportunity

• High-visibility leadership role reporting directly to the CFO.
• Regular exposure to executive leadership and the company's private equity sponsor .
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact rather than simply inherit and maintain an established accounting function.
• Significant mandate to build the team, improve processes, strengthen controls, and modernize accounting operations .
• Join a large, established organization at an important stage in the continued evolution of its finance function.
• Opportunity for a hands-on accounting leader to help build the infrastructure required to support a $500M+ multi-state business .