Automotive Controller - Fairfax, VA

Chantilly, United States | Posted on 08/27/2026

A top-performing luxury brand dealership in Fairfax, VA is hiring a Controller to run the business office. This is a high-volume store in one of the strongest retail automotive markets in the country — meaningful new and used volume, a heavy F&I and fixed ops contribution, and a factory that expects clean, on-time reporting every month.

This is not a caretaker seat. The dealer principal and GM want a Controller who protects the numbers, tightens the schedules, and gives leadership a real read on where gross is coming from and where it's leaking.

• Monthly financial statement preparation and on-time submission to the factory
• Month-end close, journal entries, accruals, and reconciliation of all balance sheet schedules
• Daily cash management, bank reconciliations, floor plan reconciliation, and curtailment tracking
• Factory receivables: warranty claims, incentives, holdback, and rebate collection — aged and cleared, not carried
• Full oversight of the business office: title and tag clerks, billing, AP/AR, warranty administration, and payroll
• Internal controls, deal jacket compliance, and Safeguards Rule adherence
• Payroll processing and commission/pay plan calculation for sales, service, and management
• Expense control, vendor management, and month-over-month variance analysis for the GM and dealer
• Working capital, insurance, licensing, and Virginia DMV compliance
• Partnering with department managers to explain the statement — not just publish it

• 3+ years as a dealership Controller or Office Manager ready to step up; automotive experience is required
• Strong command of a dealership DMS — CDK / Reynolds & Reynolds / Dealer track preferred
• Proven ability to close on time and keep schedules clean
• Comfort with luxury or high-line brand reporting requirements and factory audits
• Hands‑on leadership of a business office team, including hiring, training, and accountability
• Advanced Excel and a genuine analytical instinct — you find the problem before it shows up on the statement
• Discretion, integrity, and the judgment to tell a dealer something they don't want to hear
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance preferred; CPA a plus, not a requirement
• $170,000+ total compensation commensurate with experience
• Performance bonus tied to store profitability
• Medical, dental, and vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee purchase and service discounts
• A stable, well-capitalized ownership group with room to grow into a multi-store role

Element Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.