Controller, Accounting, Financial Compliance

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

FLSA Status: Exempt

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, finance, or related field.
• 10+ (Ten) years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 5 (five) years in a Controller or senior accounting leadership role preferred.
• Experience in professional services, staffing, PEO (Professional Employer Organization), or HR outsourcing/services industries preferred.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to move up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to participate in video conferences/meetings.