Controller and Finance Manager

Full-Time or Part-Time (32 hours per week)

On-Site downtown Milwaukee

Up to $150,000, commensurate with experience

Full benefits package, including paid indoor parking

The company operates in the staffing and real estate agency sectors and is seeking a hands-on, business-minded accounting and finance professional to support continued operational discipline, financial clarity, and informed decision-making.

The Controller and Finance Manager will oversee core accounting functions while serving as a key financial partner to the owner and management team. This role combines hands-on accounting leadership with forward-looking financial analysis, budgeting, and clear communication of business insights to support operational decision-making.

Reporting to the owner and management team, the position will supervise the Senior Staff Accountant and take ownership of timely, accurate financial reporting. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a hands-on environment, can review the details while understanding the broader business context, and can translate financial results into actionable operational recommendations.

• Oversee the month-end close process to ensure timely, accurate, and complete financial reporting.
• Review accounting activity prepared by the Senior Staff Accountant and provide guidance, oversight, and follow-through.
• Maintain a strong understanding of monthly financial results, including key drivers of performance, unusual activity, and relevant trends.
• Review and present the monthly financial reporting package to the owner and management team.
• Support clear, consistent financial reporting that enables management to understand performance and make informed decisions.

• Prepare budgets in coordination with ownership and the management team.
• Compare actual results to budget and prior expectations, identifying key variances and their operational implications.
• Help management understand financial trends, cost drivers, revenue performance, and areas requiring attention.
• Provide practical financial input to support planning, resource allocation, and operational priorities.

• Analyze financial results and identify meaningful insights that go beyond reporting numbers.
• Clearly articulate recommended operational changes based on financial analysis and business performance.
• Partner with ownership and management to evaluate opportunities for improved efficiency, profitability, and accountability.
• Present financial information in a concise, practical, and decision-useful manner for both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted internal resource for accounting, reporting, budgeting, and financial performance questions.

• Supervise, support, and provide direction to the Senior Staff Accountant.
• Promote accuracy, accountability, and timely completion of accounting responsibilities.
• Communicate expectations clearly and follow up on deliverables in a professional, constructive manner.
• Collaborate effectively with ownership, management, and internal team members.

• Partner with HR and senior leadership on the development, evaluation, and administration of company-wide compensation plans, incentive structures, bonus programs, and workforce budgeting
• Oversee payroll operations and provide financial analysis and oversight of compensation, benefits, retirement plan costs, and other employee-related expenditures
• Collaborate with HR on internal controls, policies, procedures, and employment-related compliance matters, partnering with outside employment counsel as appropriate
• Evaluate benefit plan costs, vendor contracts, and renewals, identifying opportunities to improve cost efficiency while maintaining competitive employee benefits

• 5+ years of experience in accounting leadership, financial reporting, budgeting, and financial analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee accounting processes while also providing business-focused financial insight.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present financial results clearly to ownership and management.
• Ability to identify issues, explain financial implications, and recommend practical operational improvements.
• Experience with employee benefits (401k, insurance), information…