Controller- Small Business

Hands-On Controller - Build & Lead the Finance Function

Alpine Tree Service | Morristown, NJ

Full-Time | On-Site

Salary: $,000 annually + Company Performance-Based Bonus

Alpine Tree Service is a rapidly growing, entrepreneurial company seeking an experienced, highly motivated Hands-On Controller to build and lead our financial function.

This is not a traditional corporate Controller position overseeing an established accounting department.

We need someone with experience in a small to mid-sized business who understands what it means to wear multiple hats, work without layers of support, identify what needs to be done, and take ownership of getting it done.

During the first year, this will be a highly hands-on position. You will work across the entire finance function—from bookkeeping, reconciliations, AP/AR, collections, and month-end close to budgeting, forecasting, job costing, financial analysis, and advising ownership.

As Alpine continues to grow, we plan to add bookkeeping and accounting support, allowing this position to evolve into broader financial leadership.

The opportunity is to build the function first and lead the function as it grows.

• Full-cycle accounting and general ledger
• Monthly and year-end close
• Accounts payable, vendor management, and purchasing controls
• Customer invoicing, accounts receivable, and collections
• Bank and credit-card reconciliations
• Payroll review and labor allocation
• Financial statement preparation and management reporting
• Cash management and cash-flow forecasting
• Annual budgeting and rolling forecasts
• Job-costing and profitability reporting
• Internal controls and accounting procedures
• Financial dashboards and KPIs
• Coordination with accountants, tax professionals, banks, insurance providers, and other financial partners
• Financial analysis to support operational and strategic decisions

During the first year, no accounting responsibility will be considered beneath this position.

You must be equally comfortable reconciling an account, resolving a billing issue, reviewing payroll, analyzing margins, building a forecast, challenging an expense, and presenting financial information to ownership.

The Controller will be responsible for strengthening Alpine's current accounting operation and developing the financial infrastructure required to support continued growth.

This includes:

• A disciplined and timely monthly close
• Accurate management reporting
• Cash-flow forecasting and working-capital visibility
• Annual budgets and rolling forecasts
• Job, crew, department, and service-line profitability reporting
• Job-costing and labor-cost analysis
• Stronger AR and collections processes
• Documented accounting policies and procedures
• Internal financial controls and accountability
• Fleet, equipment, and capital-expenditure reporting
• Better use of accounting technology and automation
• A scalable structure for the future finance department

You will not be handed a finished system. Part of your job is determining what needs to be built and then building it.

The right candidate is:

• Highly motivated, energetic, and action-oriented
• Experienced working in a small to mid-sized business
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Accustomed to wearing multiple hats across accounting and finance
• Willing to perform transactional accounting while also providing higher-level financial analysis
• Able to operate independently without constant direction
• Resourceful when systems, information, or processes are incomplete
• Naturally curious when numbers do not make sense
• Organized, disciplined, and highly accurate
• Comfortable creating structure where it does not currently exist
• Confident enough to challenge assumptions and raise concerns
  
  Able to communicate directly with ownership and leadership
• Looking for a long-term career with increasing responsibility

• Have only worked in large corporate accounting environments
• Only want to review work prepared by others
• Are unwilling to perform bookkeeping or transactional accounting
• Require an established finance team or corporate infrastructure
• Need every task clearly assigned before taking action
• Are uncomfortable with change, ambiguity, or accountability
• View routine accounting work as beneath a Controller-level position
• Want a narrowly defined position with limited responsibilities

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting or…