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.