Controller

Controller

Apparel Company | Midtown Manhattan | Full-Time, 100% In-Office

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller/CFO to take ownership of the financial and operational controls of an established apparel business.

This is a highly visible leadership role for a seasoned finance professional who understands that successful financial management goes beyond the numbers. The ideal candidate has previously held the #1 finance position within a small to mid-size company and knows how to connect accounting, costing, inventory, production, sales, and warehouse operations to drive accuracy, efficiency, and profitability.

We are looking for a strong accountant and business partner who can identify issues, improve processes, establish accountability, and bring financial discipline to all areas of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Accounting

• Partner with the President to develop annual budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.
• Oversee all accounting and financial functions, including general ledger, inventory, COGS, and gross margin analysis.
• Ensure accurate product costing and profitability reporting by style, customer, and sales channel.
• Oversee monthly and year-end closings and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting and operational processes.
• Prepare and present meaningful financial and operational reports to senior leadership.
• Monitor cash flow, working capital, and overall financial performance.

Operational Controls & Process Improvement

• Take an active role in improving the flow and accuracy of information between sales, production, sourcing, warehouse, and finance.
• Partner with production and sourcing teams to validate product costing, monitor variances, and identify margin improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with warehouse operations to ensure inventory accuracy, proper controls, reconciliations, and physical counts.
• Identify operational inefficiencies, strengthen procedures, and implement improvements across departments.
• Ensure financial and operational systems provide accurate, timely, and actionable information.

Cross-Functional Business Partnership

• Serve as the financial liaison across departments, helping translate financial information into practical business decisions.
• Work closely with department heads to improve processes, accountability, and operating performance.
• Communicate financial results and business implications clearly to both financial and non-financial teams.
• Support strategic planning, forecasting, budgeting, and special projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• Active CPA license is a huge plus.
• 15+ years of senior-level Controller/CFO experience.
• Must have previously served as the #1 finance executive or had full responsibility for the finance and accounting function within an organization.
• Extensive experience in consumer products, manufacturing, or apparel; apparel industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting, cost accounting, product costing, COGS, and gross margin analysis.
• Experience overseeing the financial and operational aspects of a product-based business.
• Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) experience is a plus.
• Strong ERP and inventory management systems experience.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• A hands-on management style with the ability to work strategically while remaining close to day-to-day operations.

The Ideal Candidate

You are an experienced finance leader who has successfully run the finance function of a small to mid-size company and understands the complexities of an apparel or consumer products business.

You are equally comfortable reviewing financial statements, analyzing product margins, investigating inventory discrepancies, working with production on costing issues, and partnering with ownership on business strategy.

You are proactive, solutions-oriented, highly accountable, and able to bring departments together to improve how the business operates.