Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Reporting

About the Role

The Controller is responsible for leading the full accounting function for Ace Retail Group (ARG), ensuring enterprise-level financial integrity, governance, and reporting accuracy across a multi‑entity, $800M+ retail organization. This role owns the accounting strategy, internal control environment, and financial reporting processes, and serves as a key finance partner to senior leadership to support business performance and decision‑making.

Ace Retail Group (ARG) is a division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates several well‑known Ace brands, including Westlake Ace, Great Lakes Ace, Buikema’s Ace, Outer Banks Ace, Dennis Company, and Breed & Company. As one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States, ARG operates more than 250 neighborhood stores nationwide and maintains its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

• Own the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting across a multi‑entity retail organization
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including consolidation and financial statement preparation in accordance with GAAP
• Ensure consistency and rigor in general ledger management and account reconciliation processes

• Establish and maintain a strong internal control environment and financial governance structure
• Own audit readiness and lead internal and external audit processes, including issue resolution and remediation
• Develop, implement, and enforce accounting policies, standards, and compliance requirements across the organization

• Build, lead, and scale a high‑performing accounting organization aligned to business needs
• Establish clear accountability, performance expectations, and operational discipline within the team
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and capability building across the function

• Serve as a key finance partner to senior leadership, providing financial insights to support strategic decision‑making and business performance
• Partner closely with FP&A, Finance, and operational leaders to evaluate financial results, risks, and opportunities
• Support executive‑level initiatives related to growth, integration, and organizational alignment

• Drive continuous improvement of accounting processes, systems, and workflows to enhance efficiency, scalability, and accuracy
• Lead efforts to standardize processes across a multi‑location, multi‑entity structure
• Leverage automation and system capabilities to strengthen financial operations

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (CPA strongly preferred)
• Progressive accounting leadership experience, including responsibility for a multi‑entity or multi‑location organization
• Deep expertise in GAAP, financial reporting, and accounting operations
• Demonstrated ownership of full‑cycle financial close processes, including consolidation and financial statement oversight
• Experience establishing and leading internal controls, financial governance, and audit processes
• Proven ability to operate within organizations of similar scale and complexity, ideally supporting a business generating approximately $800M+ in annual revenue
• Experience partnering with senior leadership to support financial and operational decision‑making
• Strong understanding of financial systems, data integrity, and process scalability
• Proven ability to build and lead high‑performing teams in a fast‑paced, evolving environment
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights

• Experience with in a multi‑location retail or consumer‑facing business
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, or organizational transformation
• Track record of strengthening financial controls and scaling processes in a growing organization

• Opportunity to play a key leadership role in a large, multi‑entity retail organization
• Exposure to executive leadership and strategic business priorities
• Ability to shape the accounting function, governance model, and…