Position Summary
The Controller is the senior accounting leader for The Training Center and Essential Services, reporting directly to the CFO. This role owns the day-to-day accounting operations, financial close, internal controls, and consolidated financial reporting across both entities, a trade-education online and in-person career development school, and a multi-client field services business with a large pool of technicians and operators. The Controller serves as the CFO’s right hand: translating strategic priorities into disciplined accounting execution, safeguarding company assets, and producing timely, accurate financial information that enables sound decision-making across both lines of business.
Success in this role requires a hands-on operator who is equally comfortable closing the books, managing intercompany transactions between two related entities, partnering with program directors and operations managers, and growing an accounting division to lead a strong growth organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Reporting and Close
Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for both entities, delivering accurate consolidated financial statements to the CFO on schedule.
Prepare GAAP-compliant financial statements, including balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and supporting schedules for each entity and on a consolidated basis.
Manage intercompany transactions, allocations, eliminations, and reconciliations between The Training Center and Essential Services.
Produce management reporting packages including KPI dashboards, departmental P&Ls, program-level profitability (education), and client/job-level profitability (services).
Revenue Recognition and Billing:
Apply revenue recognition principles to education programs (tuition, enrollment fees, online and in-person course delivery, deferred revenue, refunds, and program completion milestones).
Oversee service contract billing, time-and-materials invoicing, retainer arrangements, and milestone billing for the Services entity’s client portfolio.
Manage accounts receivable, collections strategy, and aging review across both entities; partner with program and account managers to resolve billing disputes.
Cost Accounting, Payroll, and Labor Allocation
Oversee job costing and labor allocation for the technician and operator workforce, ensuring accurate assignment of direct labor, burden, and overhead to client engagements.
Coordinate with payroll to ensure proper classification of W-2 employees, 1099 contractors, instructors, and field technicians across multiple states and pay structures.
Track instructor compensation, course delivery costs, and program margins for the Education entity.
Maintain certified payroll reporting where required by client contracts or government-funded training programs.
Internal Controls, Compliance, and Audit
Design, implement, and maintain a robust system of internal controls over financial reporting, procurement, and payroll across both entities.
Serve as primary coordinator for external audits, reviews, tax preparers, and lender reporting; and respond to auditor inquiries.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax filings including sales/use tax, payroll tax, 1099 reporting, and any education-specific regulatory filings (e.g., state licensing boards, accreditation bodies).
Maintain compliance with client contractual requirements, insurance certificates, and bonding where applicable to the Services entity.
Treasury, Cash Management, and FP&A Support
Manage bank reconciliations, and short-term cash forecasts for both entities.
Support the CFO in annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis.
Provide financial analysis to support pricing decisions on new programs, new service contracts, technician utilization, and capital investments.
Maintain banking relationships at the operational level and support covenant reporting.
Systems, Process, and Team Leadership
Serve as the power user and administrator of the accounting/ERP system; lead system optimization, automation initiatives, and integrations with payroll, CRM, LMS (learning management), and field service management platforms.
Document accounting policies and procedures; drive continuous improvement in close cycle time, accuracy, and scalability.
Hire, mentor, and develop the accounting team; set clear performance expectations and foster cross-training.
Partner with HR, Operations, Education leadership, and Service delivery leadership to ensure financial processes support.
Key Competencies
Integrity and discretion handling confidential financial and personnel information.
Detail-oriented with exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
Hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach, comfortable doing the work, not just supervising it.
Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle competing priorities across two entities.
Business partner mindset — able to translate accounting into operational insight for program and service leaders.
Qualifications
Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Years of progressive accounting experience, including 3+ years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or Accounting Manager role.
Hands-on experience with mid-market accounting systems and proficiency in Excel/ Google Drive at an advanced level.
Experience managing payroll for a workforce that includes hourly field employees, salaried staff, and contractors across multiple jurisdictions.
CPA License is a nice to have and/or MBA.
Experience implementing or upgrading accounting systems and practices.
Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonus eligibility. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan with company contribution, and paid time off.
Compensation details: 80000-125000 Yearly Salary
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