Controller, Accounting, Cost Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

CONTROLLER

Automotive Customizing Company | Athens, GA ~$20M Annual Revenue | Manufacturing & Custom Build Operations

Reports To: General Manager (Day-to-Day) / CFO (Financial)
Direct Reports: Accounting Staff, AP/AR Clerk(s)
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Controller is the senior financial leader for a $20M build-to-order automotive customizing and manufacturing company. This hands-on role owns the full accounting function — financial reporting, cost accounting, internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and ERP oversight (Katana Manufacturing ERP). The Controller partners directly with operations, production, and the Purchasing Agent to build accurate product cost structures that drive pricing, margins, and profitability.

The ideal candidate brings deep cost accounting expertise, thrives in a mid-market manufacturing environment, and operates comfortably at both strategic and transactional levels.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements (GAAP)
• Deliver management reporting packages with variance analysis, trend reporting, and KPI dashboards
• Own month-end and year-end close processes

Cost Accounting & Product Costing

• Own standard cost development, BOM costing, labor costing, and overhead allocation across all product lines
• Analyze material, labor, and overhead variances with root-cause explanations
• Build and maintain cost models capturing materials, labor, subcontractors, overhead, and margin targets
• Partner with production leadership to ensure job costing accuracy

Purchasing & Cost Build-Up Collaboration

• Partner with the Purchasing Agent to maintain accurate material cost inputs for all standard cost models
• Track and report purchase price variances (PPV); support supplier benchmarking and cost reduction initiatives
• Jointly review and approve material cost standards on a periodic basis

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Design and maintain internal controls across purchasing, payables, receivables, payroll, and inventory
• Coordinate with external auditors, tax advisors, and financial institutions
• Oversee fixed assets, depreciation, and capital expenditure tracking

Budgeting, Forecasting & Strategic Planning

• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts; track budget-to-actual monthly
• Provide financial modeling for new product lines, facility investments, and expansion initiatives
• Advise ownership on financial risks, opportunities, and resource allocation

Cash Management

• Manage daily cash flow, working capital optimization, and banking relationships
• Oversee AR collections and AP timing to maintain a healthy cash conversion cycle

ERP System Oversight — Katana Manufacturing ERP

• Serve as finance owner of Katana, ensuring full utilization for inventory, production costing, and BOM management
• Oversee integration between Katana and the accounting platform (e.g., Quick Books)
• Drive continuous improvement in ERP workflows and reporting

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team (AP, AR, staff accountants)
• Set performance expectations, promote cross-training, and ensure process documentation

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance — required
• CPA — strongly preferred
• CMA or MBA — a plus

Experience

• 7–10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience; 3–5 years as a Controller or senior financial leader
• Manufacturing industry experience required — automotive, custom fabrication, or build-to-order strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in cost accounting, standard costing, and product cost build-up methodologies

Company Description

Ulm Automotive customizes vans for various auto manufacturers

Ulm Automotive customizes vans for various auto manufacturers