We are looking for a Controller to lead the accounting and financial oversight of our manufacturing operation in Escondido, California. This position will guide core financial reporting, cost accounting, inventory control, and planning activities while partnering closely with plant leadership and corporate finance. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical judgment, hands-on accounting expertise, and the ability to improve financial visibility and operational performance in a production environment.<br><br>Responsibilities:<br>• Direct daily accounting operations for the plant, ensuring transactions are recorded accurately and financial records remain complete and reliable.<br>• Lead the monthly close cycle by preparing and reviewing journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, cost adjustments, and supporting analyses for timely reporting.<br>• Produce monthly financial statements and management reports, delivering clear insights to plant leadership and corporate finance teams.<br>• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting by evaluating material, labor, overhead, and production variances to identify trends and improvement opportunities.<br>• Partner with operations leaders to assess scrap, yield, usage, labor efficiency, and volume performance in support of cost control and stronger plant performance.<br>• Maintain effective controls over raw materials, work-in-process, packaging, and finished goods inventory, including physical counts, reconciliations, and discrepancy resolution.<br>• Support budgeting and forecasting activities by preparing expense and capital plans, comparing results to expectations, and explaining key performance gaps.<br>• Administer plant accounting processes within QuickBooks Enterprise, generate required financial reports, and help document and reconcile data for corporate reporting and system-related needs.<br>• Strengthen accounting procedures, documentation standards, and internal controls to ensure compliance with company policies and dependable audit support.
Our client, a private equity firm based in San Diego, is seeking an experienced Interim Controller Consultant to support oversight of approximately 18 portfolio companies. This highly visible role will partner closely with the PE operating team and portfolio company leadership to review financial performance, evaluate liquidity needs, improve reporting processes, and provide guidance on complex accounting matters.<br><br>The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with advanced financial analysis and cash flow forecasting capabilities. Experience with close management and account reconciliation platforms such as BlackLine, FloQast, or similar solutions is required. Exposure to Numeric and accounting process optimization initiatives is highly preferred.<br><br>Responsibilities<br>Review and analyze monthly financial statement packages for approximately 18 portfolio companies.<br>Evaluate financial performance, trends, key metrics, and areas of operational risk.<br>Participate in weekly cash flow reviews with C-suite and portfolio company leadership teams.<br>Develop, maintain, and analyze rolling 12-week cash flow forecasts.<br>Assess liquidity requirements and support recommendations regarding cash infusions and capital allocation decisions.<br>Serve as a trusted advisor on complex accounting transactions and technical accounting matters.<br>Review month-end close processes and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and reporting accuracy.<br>Support implementation, optimization, and adoption of Numeric across portfolio companies.<br>Drive process improvements related to financial reporting, close management, account reconciliations, and internal controls.<br>Create ad hoc financial analyses and presentations for executives and PE stakeholders.<br>Partner with finance leaders across multiple entities to establish best practices and reporting consistency.<br>Qualifications<br>Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA strongly preferred.<br>10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including Controller or Assistant Controller leadership.<br>Prior experience supporting private equity-backed organizations preferred.<br>Strong understanding of financial statement analysis, cash flow management, and technical accounting.<br>Experience reviewing multi-entity or multi-company financial results.<br>Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, modeling, pivot tables, and financial analysis.<br>Hands-on experience with BlackLine, FloQast, Numeric, or similar close management platforms.<br>Ability to communicate effectively with CFOs, Controllers, CEOs, and PE operating partners.<br>Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced, remote consulting environment.