Controller, Accounting, Financial Compliance

Job Title
:
Controller

Department: PuzzleHQ

Location: Hybrid – Central and Southwest Florida (Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Sarasota areas)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Revised: 08/20/2026

The Controller is a senior, hands‑on accounting leader responsible for the integrity of the company's financial records, the monthly and annual close process, internal controls, and day‑to‑day accounting operations. The Controller is a highly experienced accounting professional who has operated in a high‑transaction‑volume, multi‑entity, and/or multi‑state environment, ideally within professional services, staffing, PEO, or HR services, and who is comfortable both directing a team and personally rolling up their sleeves.

The Controller will manage a team of accounting professionals and play a central role in financial reporting, compliance, cash management, and process improvement as the company continues to grow.

This is a hybrid position requiring the need to travel to our Tampa, Florida office as needed.

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring accurate and timely GAAP-compliant financial statements.
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements across multiple entities and/or locations, as applicable.
• Deliver management reporting packages, KPI dashboards, and variance analysis to the executive team and ownership/board as required.
• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and month‑end close checklist; drive continuous reduction in close‑cycle time.

• Directly manage accounts payable, accounts receivable/billing, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and general accounting functions.
• Design, document, and enforce internal controls (SOX-lite or formal SOX, as applicable) to safeguard company assets and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee client billing and revenue recognition specific to a professional services / HR services model, including gross vs. net billing treatment where relevant.
• Ensure accurate accounting for payroll tax liabilities, workers' compensation, benefits administration, and other HR‑services‑specific cost pools.

• Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors, tax preparers, and banking relationships; manage the annual audit and/or review process.
• Ensure compliance with multi-state payroll tax, sales/use tax, and other regulatory filing requirements relevant to multi-state professional services.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including coordination on 401(k)/benefit plan audits where applicable.

• Partner with the executive team on annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long‑range financial planning.
• Manage daily cash positioning, banking relationships, and line‑of‑credit compliance and reporting.
• Monitor working capital, including accounts receivable aging/collections and accounts payable, to support healthy cash flow.

• Act as a trusted financial advisor to the executive leadership, and operational leaders across the business.
• Lead or support ERP and finance systems improvements, automation, and process standardization as the company scales.
• Support due diligence, M&A integration, or new‑entity onboarding activity as the company grows (as applicable).
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high‑performing accounting team; set clear goals and provide ongoing coaching and performance management.

• Deep working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated ownership of a full‑cycle, monthly/annual close process.
• Proven experience managing and developing an accounting team (staff accountants, AP/AR).
• Hands‑on experience with a modern ERP/accounting system (e.g., Quick Books, Net Suite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar) and advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with payroll tax compliance across multiple states and/or co‑employment/PEO accounting models.
• Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to present financial information clearly to non‑financial executives and ownership.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting,…