Accounting Controller

Responsibilities : Ensure compliance with GAAP and Manufacturer accounting standards. Monitor daily cash flow activities, including vehicle floor plan reconciliations and checking account sweeps, to maintain accurate and current records. Investigate and resolve discrepancies in pricing, discounts, taxes, and payment methods. Implement separation of duties and dual oversight in high-risk areas to prevent fraud and ensure adherence to internal financial policies. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including those issued by the IRS, EPA, OSHA, NHTSA, FTC, Indiana Secretary of State, and Attorney General. Identify, assess, and mitigate operational and compliance risks, including employee safety, data privacy, and cybersecurity threats. Maintain and continuously improve the dealership group’s Information Security Program through proactive policies, training, and monitoring. Obtain and analyze annual quotes for employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Provide detailed comparisons and recommendations. Oversee and ensure the effectiveness, accuracy, and efficiency of Office Managers at all three dealership locations. Supervise office teams of 3–4 employees per location, ensuring adherence to financial best practices, internal controls, and accurate reporting. Review and verify the accuracy and timeliness of monthly financial statements. Develop and maintain consistent accounting policies and procedures across all dealerships. Regularly analyze general ledger account balances and trends, identifying and resolving discrepancies. Secure and evaluate annual property, liability, cyber, workers’ compensation, and umbrella insurance policies, ensuring adequate coverage for all dealership operations. Oversee all aspects of dealership technology, including hardware, software, networks, and data systems, to ensure optimal functionality and security. Maintain a comprehensive understanding of dealership software applications, including the dealer management system (CDK / Tekion), and manage accounting structures and transaction mapping within these platforms. Solicit bids for IT services, hardware, and software as contracts approach renewal. Collaborate with vendors to manage and secure IT infrastructure. Supervise and reconcile annual physical inventories for parts, reviewing results and providing actionable recommendations for process improvements. Regularly review and reconcile other general ledger inventory accounts, including labor and related items. Oversee HR department operations to ensure compliance with employment laws, dealership policies, and the Employee Handbook. Manage employee benefits administration, audits, compliance testing, and government reporting requirements. Prepare and present monthly financial and operational reports for GMs and ownership, including trend analyses, gross margin reviews, finance comparisons, accounts receivable aging, and inventory aging reports. Provide insights and recommend corrective actions based on data analysis. Verify payroll accuracy, tax compliance, and timely submission of related reports. Ensure adherence to employee benefit requirements and payroll tax regulations. Develop year-end task lists for Office Managers and oversee their execution. Review accruals, schedules, and payroll tax withholdings to ensure detailed reconciliation of all asset and liability account balances. Coordinate with accounting firms and Office Managers to complete year-end adjusting entries, compilations, tax returns, LIFO entries, and other required filings on schedule. Required Experience : Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required. CPA preferred. Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Controller in a franchised automative dealership. Strong understanding of automotive dealership financials. Experience with DMS Systems (CDK / Tekion). Understanding of inventory processes. Ability to adapt to changing demands. Benefits : Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance 401K 401K Matching Health Savings Account FSA Paid Time Off Direct Hire Ajulia Executive Search is a New Jersey based Executive Search Firm specializing in retained searches in multiple sectors, including Manufacturing, Finance, IT, Legal, and Pharmaceutical. We have a nationwide client base and offer services in temporary and direct hire placements. Employment Type : Full Time Salary : $125,000 - $150,000 Annual Bonus / Commission : No